The Michigan Maritime Strategy is a 10-year, forward-looking plan to capitalize on the State’s strategic position in the Great Lakes region and its extensive maritime assets. The Strategy proposes a holistic approach and addresses economic development, modernization of maritime infrastructure, marine manufacturing, clean energy transition and innovation, maritime research, workforce development, emission reductions and resiliency, and sustainable port and harbor development and practices. The multi-agency collaborative effort is led by the Office of the Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Materials Management Division and Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Prepared in collaboration with a team from the University of Michigan, the Strategy was developed through a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process, bringing together business, industry, academia, communities, and local state and tribal governments. This process involved conducting interviews with maritime interests, a stakeholder workshop, focus groups, consulting with a maritime champion group, and multiple rounds of stakeholder review.
With 33 active ports, a $3.3 billion contribution to the state economy, and supporting 17,000 jobs in commercial maritime, Michigan’s maritime sector connects communities, trade, and industry. Michigan is also home to 83 recreational harbors, part of an industry that provides nearly $12 billion in economic impact annually and over 45,000 direct jobs.
Pictured: East Tawas State Harbor in East Tawas, MI
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP) is a coalition of executives from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, and Wisconsin with a goal to double maritime trade, shrink the environmental footprint of the region’s transportation network, and support the region’s industrial core as the maritime sector supports a regional economy estimated at $9.3T annually.
The Office of the Great Lakes along with the Michigan Department of Transportation serve as Michigan’s and the Governor’s designees to the GSGP Maritime Steering Committee. The Committee is made of state and provincial agency representatives from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence states and provinces who meet to guide GSGP’s maritime work including implementation of the Great Lakes Regional Maritime Strategy, share information on maritime work in their jurisdiction, and learn about regional maritime initiatives.
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers Regional Maritime Strategy
The Office of the Great Lakes is the lead agency within state government for the development of policies, programs, and procedures to protect, enhance, and manage the Great Lakes. The OGL represents the state of Michigan at the national and international level on Great Lakes interests and advocates the interests of the state in actions, policies, and legislation affecting the Great Lakes proposed in other Great Lakes states, Canadian provinces, Great Lakes policy development bodies, and the federal government.
This work includes promoting the wise use of the ports and Great Lakes water transportation as well as the Great Lakes tourism industry.
The OGL plays a vital and central role in leading sustainable maritime development by convening and collaborating across the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy divisions and other state agencies on maritime activities including the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Office, Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, Departments of Nature Resources and of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to advance maritime innovation and environmental stewardship.
Construction of the new Soo lock with a ship in the current operating lock, photo taken in October 2025. Credit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Dr. Thomas McKenney leads a small group discussion at the Maritime Strategy stakeholder workshop in March 2025 Credit: University of Michigan Pictured: J.W. Wells State Park in Cedar River, MI
