Coast Guard Inspects Cleveland's First Containership

MarineLink.com April 21, 2014

Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Johnson, a marine inspector stationed at Marine Safety Unit Cleveland, inspects navigation equipment aboard the motor vessel Fortunagract for compliance with international and domestic regulations April 19, 2014. Fortunagracht was the first vessel of its kind to enter the Great Lakes as part of the newly-formed Cleveland-Europe Express. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Stephanie Pitts

U.S. Coast Guard marine inspectors conducted safety and security examinations on the first-ever containership to arrive in Cleveland Saturday morning.

The Fortunagracht, a 450-foot Dutch-flagged containership, delivered the first-ever load of containerized cargo to the Great Lakes.

Before the establishment of the Cleveland-Europe Express, shippers relied heavily on rail service to transport goods from the larger east coast container ports, such as New York and Baltimore, to the Great Lakes region.

Talks to bring CEE to Cleveland began in the fall with cooperation between the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, the FBI and other government agencies.

“Marine Safety Unit Cleveland worked closely with the Cleveland Port Authority’s facility security officer, CBP, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to ensure safe and secure operations for the CEE,” said Lt. Cmdr. J. Wade Russell, commanding officer of MSU Cleveland. “MSU personnel focused primarily on maritime domain awareness surrounding the operations and compliance with safety and security regulations within the port.”