Cleveland Europe Express Moving Economy Full Steam Ahead
In service for a little over a year, the Cleveland-Europe
Express (CEE) has doubled its ports of call in Cleveland, seen
increases in amount being shipped and is showing promise to be a
global economic driver in Northeast Ohio.
Making its first voyage in May 2014, the CEE provides service
between the Cleveland Harbor and Europe, via the Saint Lawrence
Seaway. It is the only regularly scheduled international container
and non-containerized cargo service on the Great Lakes and is a
partnership between The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
and Dutch company, The
Spliethoff Group.
Since that first voyage, interest in the service has steadily
increased with vessels now making ports of call twice a month in
Cleveland. Initially trips were made once a month.
In addition, international tonnage has increased 37 percent
compared with this time to 2014, and total volume of shipping
container traffic has increased more than 300 percent, according to
Dave Gutheil, Port Vice President of Maritime & Logistics.
“We are connecting Greater Cleveland to over 30 countries
across four continents now,” Gutheil said, “That is
critical for our region to compete in the global
economy.”
The Port of
Cleveland is a key to Northeast Ohio’s global
competitiveness by providing the quickest route between North
America’s heartland and Northern Europe. The CEE allows
regional companies to ship their goods up to four days faster than
using water, rail and truck routes via the U.S. East Coast ports.
In addition, the Port of Cleveland provides direct access to major
highways and rail lines. In Northern Europe, The Spliethoff Group
has connections from the Port of Antwerp to Russia, Finland, Spain,
UK and the Baltic States.
“The Cleveland-Europe Express continues to grow and serve
Ohio and Midwest companies as we
envisioned,” said Will Friedman, Port President and CEO.
“Last year, the CEE attracted mostly break-bulk cargo, but
this year we are making significant inroads to the containerized
cargo market. This is further proof that the service is a winner
and here to stay.”
Annually the Port brings 13-million tons of cargo through the
Cleveland Harbor, and with it $1.8 billion in economic activity and
nearly 18,000 jobs. The City of Cleveland began shipping operations
at the Port of Cleveland in 1825. During its first year of
operation, the port recorded $38,000 in exports and imports of
$196,000. Today the Port of Cleveland is one of the largest ports
on the Great Lakes.