The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) have announced a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Great Lakes Alliance of Shipyards (GLAS). It brings together leading organizations representing Great Lakes ports and American shipyards around shared priorities in domestic shipbuilding, commerce, workforce development, infrastructure, and federal policy.
Signed on July 31, 2026, during AGLPA’s 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago, the MOU marks the first formal partnership between the U.S. Great Lakes port and shipyard communities.
By connecting public port authorities with leading American shipyards, the organizations will work more closely to expand the region’s industrial capacity, pursue new cargo and export opportunities, develop the next generation of skilled maritime workers, and advance national priorities to restore American shipbuilding and strengthen the maritime industrial base.
The partnership also recognizes the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System’s critical role in connecting American industry to domestic and global markets.
Captain Paul LaMarre III, President, American Great Lakes Ports Association, declared: “The Great Lakes have long served as one of America’s most strategic maritime gateways, and their continued success depends on the strength of the industries that support them. This agreement brings our ports and shipyards together around a common vision: expanding American shipbuilding, supporting economic growth, creating skilled jobs, and reinforcing the Great Lakes as a vital part of our nation’s transportation and industrial infrastructure. These capabilities are increasingly important to America’s economic and national security and the future of American maritime leadership.”
Signing on behalf of the Great Lakes Alliance of Shipyards, Patrick Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Fraser Industries, stated: “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to building a stronger future for the Great Lakes. By working together, shipyards and ports can expand domestic vessel construction, improve supply-chain resilience, invest in skilled workers, and ensure this region remains one of the nation’s premier centers of maritime commerce and industrial capability.”
(Photos of signing and Port of Duluth from the AGLPA)