In 1959 the Saint Lawrence Seaway opened the Great Lakes to oceangoing ships and international markets. In the years since, international trade has always been present, but nowhere near its full potential.
In Europe the Baltic Sea is the artery connecting the European Heartland to the global economy. Nearly 700 million tons of cargo are moved on the Baltic each year. The Great Lakes system is approximately 60% the area of the Baltic, but only sees 20% of cargo throughput. Just 140 million tons; and of that only a small fraction is international freight.
Our Mission
At Livingstone Marine we see the future. As it is today The Great Lakes exists as a vast untapped market. A direct line to the America’s industrial heartland and the center of the world’s largest consumer economy. Our core mission is to support commerce and prosperity on North America’s greatest waterway.
Our Name
Livingstone Marine owes its namesake to William Livingstone Jr (1844-1925). William Livingstone was an influential industrialist in 20th century Detroit and long serving President of the Lake Carriers Association.
He was instrumental in the development of Great Lakes shipping and the dredging of Livingstone Channel. His efforts transformed regional shipping and enabled the industrialization of the American Midwest. After his death in 1925 a lighthouse was erected on Belle Isle in his honor.
We recognize the Great Lakes not just for their natural beauty, but also as a fantastic medium for trade and economic growth. William Livingstone recognized that opportunity at the turn of the century, and it still exists today.
Livingstone Lighthouse
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