MARAD holding hearings on the Lakes Fleet

[SoundSaltie]

From ProfessionalMariner.com:

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Maritime Administration:

(Washington) - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration will hold three public meetings to gather data and comments for the agency's U.S.-Flag Great Lakes Fleet Revitalization Study.

It will include reviewing investment options for the revitalization of the fleet and related regional maritime infrastructure, an overview of existing market conditions, an inventory of the U.S.-flagged Great Lakes vessels and regional port infrastructure, an examination of private/public sector financing options, and a benefit-cost analysis for each of the investment options.

Meetings will be held in Cleveland on Feb. 15; Duluth, Minn. on Feb. 23; and Chicago on Feb. 25. The Federal Register notice can be found at http://federalregister.gov/a/2010-32761.

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Hopefully part of the discussion will be the urgent need for dredging and lock upkeep funding to keep the lakes a viable trade route. Personally, I'd like to see the Govt take a bigger role in pursuing intermodal freight transport on the lakes, but thats just me.