Great Lakes
of North America
Polish Steamship Company P.P. is one of the largest and most experienced shipowners operating ocean shipping services to the ports of the North American Great Lakes. Voyages are carried out via the St. Lawrence Seaway system, which enables seagoing vessels to reach deep into the North American continent.
Operations in this area focus mainly on the transport of bulk and general cargo, such as steel and steel products, fertilisers and various types of grain. The Company’s vessels regularly call at the most important ports in the region, including Milwaukee, Cleveland, Duluth, as well as the Canadian ports of Hamilton and Thunder Bay. Many years of presence in this market have allowed PŻM to build a strong position and a reputation as a shipowner specialised in operationally demanding voyages requiring extensive navigational and organisational expertise.
Ready for challenges
For Polish Steamship Company, the North American Great Lakes are of strategic importance primarily due to the high barrier to entry into this market. Navigation through the system of locks and canals requires not only suitably adapted vessels, but also crews with specialised knowledge and familiarity with local regulations and procedures. Thanks to its long-standing experience, PŻM holds a competitive advantage in this area that is difficult for other shipowners to replicate quickly. At the same time, the Great Lakes region is one of the most important industrial and agricultural areas in the United States and Canada, ensuring steady demand for maritime transport, often under long-term contracts characterised by relatively stable and attractive freight rates.
Stability through diversification
The importance of this market is further strengthened by the fact that presence on the Great Lakes allows PŻM to diversify its geographical operations and reduce dependence on economic fluctuations in other regions of the world. Seasonal navigation on this waterway fits well into the Atlantic trading patterns of the fleet, enabling efficient use of vessels for steel shipments from Europe to North America as well as for backhaul cargoes. As a result, the Great Lakes constitute not only an important source of revenue for Polish Steamship Company, but also an element of its long-term development strategy, based on specialisation, stable business relationships and building a lasting position in a demanding yet profitable market.
