Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) recently launched a one-stop online portal for information about maritime careers on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The website, which provides information on types of maritime careers, employers, training and certifications, is also now accepting postings for available jobs. Employers interested in posting a maritime job on the career portal can click here.

“In our longstanding role of advocating for the regional water-based economy, the Great Lakes Commission is proud to present this new maritime jobs website,” said Steve Fisher, executive director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association and GLC commissioner from Indiana. “Ports and shippers support real jobs and economic development across the Great Lakes region, and this website will allow them to more efficiently attract talent. With growing demand for jobs both aboard ships and on shore, and a projected shortage in qualified personnel, the maritime industry offers attractive career opportunities in the Great Lakes and beyond.”

“We’re strategically focusing our efforts on finding, developing and training a team of professionals for a growing workforce to successfully accomplish current and future contracts,” said Joe Starck, President, The Great Lakes Towing Company. “This starts with hiring world-class talent and the Great Lakes Maritime Careers website would be another great way to find qualified candidates.”

A comprehensive online careers website for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River maritime industry was called for as a tool to better connect industry with prospective applicants in the 2016 Strategy for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Maritime Transportation System, developed by the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers. The strategy recommends actions to maintain and expand the maritime transportation system. As part of its work to support commercial navigation in the Great Lakes region, the GLC developed the online portal with input from regional stakeholders. The maritime industry on the Great Lakes moves 200 million tons of freight each year, generates 227,000 jobs and $34 billion (USD) in business revenue, and supports industries such as manufacturing, steel production, agriculture and power generation.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chairman John Linc Stine, commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors’ appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at www.glc.org.