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Maritime Industry

The maritime industry continues to experience growth in the United States and internationally. As a multi-billion dollar global market, our industry continues to demand higher levels of education, certification and security from its employees. Our graduates are fully compliant with international quality standards (STCW) which enables them to compete for positions in the global marketplace.

Consider these facts

• The Great Lakes, North America's largest inland transportation corridor, are located at the core of North America's industrial heartland, which contains a quarter of North America's population, and accounts for 55 percent of its manufacturing and service industries.
• 110 million people live in the provinces and states adjoining the Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Ontario and Quebec.)*
• 60,000 jobs in the United States and Canada depend directly on the movement of cargo on the Great Lakes. 300,000 jobs are provided in related industries. However, the Maritime industry's future stability — and thus the jobs and people dependent on it — is threatened by the shortage of qualified mariners.
• Every year, U.S. commercial traffic through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system generates more than $4.3 billion in personal income, $3.4 billion in transportation-related revenue and $1.3 billion in federal, state and local taxes.*
• Starting salaries for Great Lakes mariners average $10,000 per month.

* From a 2007 study of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway by a consortium of seven U.S. and Canadian agencies.