Research Focus Areas

• Evaluate short sea shipping market opportunities on the Great Lakes
• Evaluate export and import markets for foreign trade between ports on the Great Lakes and foreign ports such as those located in Europe and Africa
• Evaluate the environmental benefits of waterborne transportation in the Great Lakes region and assist in developing sustainable solutions to the environmental effects of maritime transportation and port operations
• Analyze the methods and effects of taxes and fees imposed on Great Lakes shipping
• Evaluate the state of shipbuilding and repair bases on the Great Lakes and the impact to the industry and national security
• Analyze the origin-to-destination flow of freight in the Great Lakes
• Analyze the economic viability of establishing transshipment facilities and intermodal for ocean-going and intra-lake cargoes on the Great Lakes, which may include the evaluation of 12-month operations of the locks and shipping lanes
• Evaluate new vessel designs for domestic and international shipping on the Great Lakes
• Develop new products and technologies to enhance port security and port operations
• Provide education and outreach activities to the public on Great Lakes maritime shipping, port security and intermodal operations
• Identify ways to improve the integration of the Great Lakes Marine Transportation System (MTS) into the national transportation system
• Examine the potential of expanded seasonal operations on the Great Lakes MTS
• Identify ways to include intelligent transportation applications into the Great Lakes MTS
• Analyze the effects and impacts of aging infrastructure and port corrosion on the Great Lakes MTS
• Establish and maintain a model Great Lakes MTS database
• Identify market opportunities for, and impediments to, the use of United States-flag vessels in trade with Canada on the Great Lakes