Cleveland sees seaway link from faraway Halifax trumping rail

A DELEGATION led by Cleveland's mayor Frank Jackson is to visit the Canadian port of Halifax with a view to exploring container freight business along the St Lawrence Seaway to Cleveland far inland on Lake Erie.

This vision, shared by Cleveland port authority president Adam Wasserman, is regarded with scepticism because it competes with rail lines from US east coast ports.

The Cleveland delegation includes port chairman Steven Williams, International Longshoreman's Association local representative John Baker and Cleveland Foundation president Ron Richard, will visit the Melford deep-water port as well as the Halifax terminal, industrial park and cruise ship docks at a cost to the port authority of US$10,000-$12,000.

The authority is keen to develop a "mutually beneficial" cross-border relationship with its city as a gateway to the Midwest, Mr Jackson told The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

(Source: www.schednet.com)