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Safety
Marine shipping is the safest way to transport goods. In both Canada and the U.S., the marine mode has fewer injuries per ton of cargo transported than either rail or road. Great Lakes ships also have fewer accidents resulting in spills than land-based alternatives.
The industry's safety practices are grounded in more than 200 years of maritime tradition. Ships' crew are highly trained and licensed by government authorities to ensure competency. Meticulous regulatory oversight verifies the integrity of equipment and adoption of sound operating procedures. Investments in advanced navigation technology have led to the safest marine environment in the world.
Commercial vessels are operated by highly-trained professional mariners, who have received specialized educations and have been licensed by government authorities.
The Great-Lakes Seaway System uses one of the most technologically advanced traffic control systems in the world.
The Grat Lakes-Seaway marine industry works in partnership with federal, state/provincial and local government to develop contingency plans to be prepared in the event of marine emergencies.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada oversee every aspect of shipping on self-propelled vessels, including construction, ship maintenance, and qualifications of the crew.