Québec Marine Transportation Policy - Transport - Gouvernement ...

8
Transportation on
the Mississippi has the
advantage of being
toll free
Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi ports
Container traffic in ports situated south of Washington has
grown far in excess of that in Montréal. During the last
decade, container traffic has increased by 242% in Port
Everglades, 164% in Miami, 137% in Jacksonville, 119% in
Norfolk and 111% in Charleston. The port of Norfolk near
Baltimore and New York represents a serious threat for the
port of Montréal. Since 1987 it has seen such growth that it
has now practically caught up with Montréal in terms of
numbers of containers handled.
Purely in terms of transhipping volume, the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico system is the most
important coastal front in North America. Traffic has been increasing steadily since 1975, from
450 to 700 MLT 1 for the Mississippi system. The network relies on a unique system of barge transportation
for the section upriver from Baton Rouge, which serves some of the richest regions in
terms of natural resources on the North American continent and reaches the industrial heartland
of America. It also boasts a well-organized and effective rail network.
This network provides serious competition for the ports of the Saint-Laurent for the shipment of
grain and raw materials, such as coal and ore, towards Canadian and American markets. It is
interesting to note that in 1980 14.4 MT of American grain was transported through the Great
Lakes and the Saint-Laurent, compared to only 12.4 MT of Canadian grain. Shipment of American
grain has, however, steadily decreased to reach its current level of 6.6 MT. Canadian grain
reached its highest level, at 17.4 MT in 1983, but fell back to just 6.9 MT in 1998.
Transportation on the Mississippi has the advantage of being toll-free and getting assistance from
the US Army Corps of Engineers for maintenance. On the other hand, two separate business taxes,
a US$0.244/gallon gasoline tax and the Harbour Maintenance Tax (HMT) must be paid. The HMT
is levied to finance 40% of the dredging costs, whereas the gasoline tax partly finances the
maintenance of inland navigable waterways. In comparison, the Saint Lawrence Seaway
Management Corporation finances its operations in their entirety. Due to American tax policies
supporting the cost of new barge construction and competition from rail transportation, the cost
of freight transportation has been maintained at a relatively low level.
Because of its shallow draft, the poor condition of some locks and the successive droughts and
flooding that have plagued the area, the competitiveness of the upper part of the Mississippi and
the reliability of the system are, however, weakened. The situation is totally different in the
southern section of the Mississippi, from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico. This important
industrial zone is home to many ports and can handle vessels with a forty-foot draft. The traffic
there is among the busiest in the world.