The people who run the St. Lawrence Seaway are putting more incentives in place to attract business to the inland waterway.
The seaway corporation last week announced the launch of a new Service Incentive Program for the 2011 shipping season.
The purpose is to help carriers develop or expand services between the Great Lakes and global markets.
The new program, combined with the existing New Business Incentive, is expected to provide a total discount of 40 percent on tolls and assist in developing new business.
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The seaway also announced last week that a three-year freeze on tolls introduced in 2008 will be carried on at least through 2011.
Bruce Hodgson, director of market development for the seaway corporation, said shipping statistics over the last few years underscore the success of incentive programs.
“This reinforces the need to continue to promote the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System by continuing to offer incentives that highlight the benefits of the system,” he said.
Total tonnage increased by 15.5 percent in 2010 to 35.5 million tonnes, including one million tonnes of new business under the incentive programs.
Grain movement was higher by about 10 percent in 2010 at nine million tonnes.
“Given the recuperation of the economy, an extra year with no toll increase will assist our stakeholders in their efforts to develop new business,” said Hodgson, director of marketing for the seaway corporation.
Seaway president and chief executive officer Terry Bowles said in a news release the freeze is part of the corporation’s efforts to reduce the cost and complexity of the system and attract new cargo.
He said the freeze plus various incentive programs represent “tangible steps” toward meeting those objectives. Seaway officials are expecting an increase in business of about four to nine percent in 2011, to around 37 million tonnes.
