Lake Carriers Association

{{Infobox organization
| name = Lake Carriers Association
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| predecessor = Lake Carriers Association, Cleveland Vessel Owners' Association
| formation = {{start date and age|1892|04|28}}
| founding_location =
| type = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit]]
| status = Trade association
| headquarters = [[Westlake, Ohio]], US
| membership =
| membership_year =
}}

The '''Lake Carriers Association''' is a nonprofit organization based in [[Westlake, Ohio]], in the United States which acts as an advocacy body for U.S.-flagged shipping on the [[Great Lakes]].

==Predecessor groups==
There were several local associations representing vessel owners on the Great Lakes in the 1880s and 1890s.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Good Meeting at Detroit|work=The Plain Dealer|date=April 16, 1892|page=3}}</ref> The Cleveland Vessel Owners' Association was formed in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], on March 27, 1868.<ref name=cva>{{cite news|title=Cleveland Vessel Owners' Association|work=The Cleveland Leader|date=March 28, 1868|page=4}}</ref> The Lake Carriers' Association was formed in [[Buffalo, New York]], on May 21, 1885.<ref name=lca>{{cite news|title=Harbor, Canal and Lake|work=Buffalo Courier Express|date=May 22, 1885|page=6}}</ref>

Both bodies were formed to address general issues regarding navigation on the Great Lakes and tributary rivers, issues involved the freight and shipping business, and to advance the common interest of Great Lakes shippers.<ref name=cva /><ref name=lca />

==Merger==
By 1892, many Cleveland area owners felt that a regional association would be more effective in advocating for federal and state funds to improve shipping conditions. [[James Corrigan (businessman|James Corrigan]], owner of the Corrigan fleet, and [[Morris A. Bradley]], owner of Bradley Transportation (a major Great Lakes fleet as well as shipbuilder), proposed that the Cleveland Vessel Owners' Association merge with the Lake Carriers Association.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Shippers' Association|work=The Inter Ocean|date=May 22, 1885|page=3|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=Marine|work=The Plain Dealer|date=December 31, 1899|page=8}}</ref> The Cleveland group appointed a committee of its members in March 1892 to effect a merger.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marine Matters|work=The Plain Dealer|date=March 30, 1892|page=3|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=Are Becoming Alarmed|work=Detroit Free Press|date=March 31, 1892|page=2|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=In the Corridors|work=Detroit Free Press|date=April 16, 1892|page=5}}</ref> Largely through Corrigan's influence, the consolidation occurred.<ref name=IronTradeobit>{{cite news|title=Death of James Corrigan|work=The Iron Trade Review|date=December 31, 1908|accessdate=March 9, 2025|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015014701257?urlappend=%3Bseq=1110%3Bownerid=13510798900837716-1146|pages=1086-1087}}</ref>

The two organizations merged on April 28. Bradley was elected the LCA's first president.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reorganization Effected|work=Detroit Free Press|date=April 29, 1892|page=9|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=Strength in Union|work=The Cleveland Leader|date=April 29, 1892|page=6}}</ref> Corrigan was elected president in January 1894.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lake Carriers|work=The Plain Dealer|date=March 28, 1895|page=23|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=Coal Bills of Lading|work=The Duluth News Tribune|date=January 18, 1894|page=1|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=Lake Carriers|work=The Saint Paul Globe|date=January 18, 1894|page=6}}</ref>

==Current membership and leadership==
The Lake Carriers Association continues to represent U.S.-flagged shippers on the Great Lakes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ellison|first=Garret|title=Ballast Water Rule Exempts Existing Ships|work=The Flint Journal|date=October 1, 2024|pages=A1, A5}}</ref> As of June 2025, the organization had 13 members, which operated a total of 43 [[lake freighter]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Laura|title=US Great Lakes iron ore cargoes down notably through May|website=SteerlMarketUpdate.com|date=June 10, 2025|accessdate=July 4, 2025|url=https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/2025/06/10/us-great-lakes-iron-ore-cargoes-down-notably-through-may/}}</ref> George J. Ryan, formerly the director of the Great Lakes Region of the [[United States Maritime Administration]], served as president from January 1, 1983,<ref>{{cite news|title=Carriers' President|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 15, 1982|page=C10}}</ref> to January 14, 2002. He was succeeded by James Weakley, a former [[United States Coast Guard]] commander.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lake Carriers' Assn. Names President|work=The Plain Dealer|date=July 1, 2002|page=E1}}</ref>

==Citations==
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[[Category:1892 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Trade associations based in the United States]]

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