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Redefining Steel & Moving Maritime Forward

In this episode, the logistics, transportation and maritime innovators at the Port of Cleveland interview Mike Madar, Vice President & General Manager, ArcelorMittal Cleveland.

Great Lakes Forward is a podcast series by the Port of Cleveland that tells the untold story of maritime and tackles topics of shipping, logistics and trade. Find us on the web at www.portofcleveland.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube we are @portofcleveland Email us with comments and questions at info@portofcleveland.com


Introducing Great Lakes Forward

Introducing Great Lakes Forward, a new podcast series from the Port of Cleveland, coming September 3rd.


Exhaustive Studies of Project Icebreaker

Originally published in Crain’s Cleveland Business

The June 16 opinion piece in Crain’s regarding Project Icebreaker, the proposed Lake Erie wind energy demonstration project, begs a response. In full disclosure, I serve on the board of the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo), the wind energy project’s nonprofit sponsor.

The author calls for additional environmental review of the project despite exhaustive reviews already conducted by numerous public agencies at the federal, state and local level. In truth, this project has been studied nearly to death. The findings contained in the voluminous reports and analyses, which regulators relied on to issue their permits, speak for themselves: The project poses very minimal environmental risk. Thanks to years of hard work by project proponents, we are finally poised to build it, propelling Cleveland to the forefront of a burgeoning energy sector.

At the federal level alone, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) completed a two-year environmental impact assessment of the project. DOE’s massive review, conducted with input from other federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, concluded last year with the issuance of a “Finding of No Significant Impact.” The DOE report reads, “The proposed project will not significantly adversely affect any endangered or threatened species or any critical habitat,” and it further concludes there would be no potential for population-level impacts to any species of birds. Furthermore, any future offshore wind project would have to undergo the same rigorous regulatory reviews.

As the first freshwater wind energy installation in North America, Project Icebreaker represents a once- in-a-generation (perhaps a lifetime) opportunity to vault Cleveland to the forefront of an industry poised for explosive growth. The first U.S. offshore wind project, a pilot like ours, went into operation in December 2016 off the coast of Block Island, R.I. In just two-and-a-half years, a wave of projects are now in the development pipeline along the Eastern Seaboard, representing at least $70 billion in new investment. European countries have installed more than 4,500 turbines in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea that generate enough energy to power 14 million homes. Asian countries are now moving very quickly to harness their offshore wind resource. When built at scale, offshore wind energy projects are now competitive, with zero subsidy, with all other energy sources.

Establishing Cleveland as a leader in offshore wind energy is not only good for the environment and smart energy policy, it holds significant economic development potential — meaning new jobs and investments in Ohio. Ohio already has a formidable wind energy component-part manufacturing presence. Picture Ohio-made wind turbine components shipped around the world from the Port of Cleveland and skilled Ohio workers meeting the demands of a growing industry here and abroad. With Mother Nature providing a world-class wind resource and good old Ohio ingenuity powering the supply chain, we have very real and substantial comparative advantages in this sector that we’d be foolish to squander.

Resistance to change is an all-too-familiar drag on progress. Let’s not look back with regret because others seized the day.


2019 AAPA Communications Award Winner

American Association of Port Authorities

2019 AAPA Communications Awards

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas, notified 31 of its 130-member seaports throughout the Western Hemisphere that they’ve earned one or more awards for exemplary communications projects and programs as part of the trade association’s annual Communications Awards Program.

Sponsored by the AAPA Public Relations Committee, the annual Communications Awards Program has recognized excellence in port communications since 1966. For its 53rd Annual Communications Awards Program, the Port of Cleveland earned three awards:

  • Award of Distinction – Port of Cleveland – Field Guide (Directory/Handbook)
  • Award of Distinction – Port of Cleveland – Port50 (Campaign)
  • Award of Distinction – Port of Cleveland – Rock the Port (Special Events)

“The Communications Awards Program judges told us that this year’s entries set a new, higher standard of excellence than ever before,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO. “This competition helps our member ports by rewarding strategic communications through peer-reviewed analyses of their programs and projects, and by showcasing best practices and lessons learned.”

He added: “When port authorities communicate strategically with their many audiences, including their communities, business leaders and policymakers, they’re better able to show their tremendous value as drivers of economic development, environmental enhancement and job creation.”

The 2019 AAPA Communications Awards Program utilized 32 professional public relations practitioners from the Washington, D.C. area who cumulatively spent 128 hours over two weeks judging the 15 classifications of entries, ranging from advertisements, periodicals, videos and websites, to social media and overall campaigns.

Based on the number of points awarded each entry by the judges, three of the 79 entries earned an Overall Award of Communications Excellence trophy, while 24 entries earned an Award of Excellence (similar to first place), 33 entries scored an Award of Distinction (similar to second place), and 15 entries netted an Award of Merit (similar to third place).

Founded in 1912 and recognized as the unified voice of seaports in the Americas, AAPA today represents 130 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 200 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. According to IHS Markit’s World Trade Service, combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere ports in 2017 totaled 4.303 billion metric tons in volume and US$2.675 trillion in value. Of that total, ports in Central and South America handled 1.741 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.024 trillion, while North American ports handled 1.90 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.305 trillion. To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable.  For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org.


2019 TMSA Compass Award Winner

Nowhere else is there more meaningful recognition of the best in marketing, communications and sales in transportation and logistics than the Transportation Marketing & Sales Association Compass Awards. The competition brings out the best of thought leadership, strategic management, creativity, successful solutions, and business results within our industry.

Port of Cleveland

Rock the Port

  • Award/Accolade: TMSA Compass Award of Merit
  • Category: Events
  • Firm: shark&minnow
  • Client: Port of Cleveland

Read the AnnouncementRead the Article

Port of Cleveland Elects First Female Chair in 50 Year History; Chairwoman Supported by All Female Officers

Cleveland, OH (March 7, 2019) – For the first time in its 50 year history, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (Port of Cleveland) has a female Chairperson leading the board of directors. The Board met for their monthly meeting to review projects and to elect their new slate of officers. Newly elected Chairwoman Jan Roller takes over for her predecessor Darrell L. McNair, today upon completion of his chairmanship.

New Port of Cleveland Board of Directors Leadership

The Port Authority also made history by appointing an all-female slate of officers; Director Patricia Ramsey was elected Vice Chair and Director Harriet Applegate was elected Secretary/Fiscal Officer. Chairwoman Roller graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and went on to establish herself as a leader in the regional law community. Chairwoman Roller has sat on boards and committees in service of the community throughout her career. Vice Chair Patricia Ramsey is Vice President of Community and Economic Development for Fifth Third Bank in Northeastern Ohio. Ramsey has more than 30 years of experience in community and economic development roles within the financial services industry. Secretary/Fiscal Officer Harriet Applegate currently serves as Executive Secretary of the North Shore Federation of Labor. Harriet has a passion for advocating for common sense economics and for involving working people in politics and policy. Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority President Will Friedman expressed his excitement at the new phase of leadership. “We are so proud of our board and our board leadership. All three new officers are very accomplished professionals, leaders and public servants, whom happen to be women. We are very excited to work with our new board leadership and look forward to a successful 2019 shipping season.”

New Cargo Development Partnership

Board of directors also discussed the Port of Cleveland’s new partnership with Logistec. Spokesmen from Logistec presented to the board their goals and vision for the partnership as the exclusive terminal operator for the Port of Cleveland general cargo terminal. On the elevated relationship with the company, Will Friedman said “We are glad to partner with Logistec with our joint goal of growing cargo volume and economic activity throughout Northeast Ohio and at the Port of Cleveland.”

The presence of Logistec as the operator of the general cargo terminal brings all maritime and logistics operations for the Port of Cleveland under one terminal operator. This provides all shippers with a seamless solution for all cargoes including: bulk commodities such as iron ore and stone as well as general cargo commodities including containerized cargo and breakbulk/project cargo.

About Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority

The Port of Cleveland is one of the largest ports on the Great Lakes. Over 20,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in annual economic activity are tied to the roughly 13 million tons of cargo that move through Cleveland Harbor each year. The Port of Cleveland is the only local government agency whose sole mission is to spur job creation and economic vitality in Cuyahoga County. The Port is an economic engine for the community, a key to Northeast Ohio's global competitiveness, and a crucial partner in building Cuyahoga County's future. For more information, please visit: www.portofcleveland.com