Inland Lakes Management, Inc.

What Inland Lakes Management, Inc. does

Inland Lakes Management, Inc. operates as the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), a non-profit trade association founded in 1880 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio. It represents the operators of U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping vessels, collectively referred to as the U.S.-flag laker fleet, which moves 90+ million tons of bulk cargo annually and supports approximately 237,000 jobs and $36 billion in broader U.S. economic activity. The association employs a small staff of 1-10 people, while member companies collectively employ more than 1,600.

LCA's core function is advocacy and member services on behalf of the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet. Its activities include direct engagement with Congress, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and state governments on navigation infrastructure, icebreaking, and regulatory policy. The association also publishes monthly and annual cargo reports documenting tonnage moved across the Great Lakes and commissions periodic economic impact studies, most recently with Martin Associates in 2023.

LCA is funded through member dues paid by shipping companies operating under the Jones Act framework. Its strategic priorities include completion of the Soo Lock project, sustained icebreaker availability to prevent navigation shutdowns, and environmental compliance on air emissions and ballast water. Members have committed significant capital to fleet renewal, with approximately $120 million of investment in 2024 and roughly $150 million earmarked for 2025 winter maintenance and upgrades.

Name

Inland Lakes Management, Inc.

Legal name

Lake Carriers' Association

Website

https://lcaships.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inland Lakes Management, Inc. (DBA Lake Carriers' Association) is a 145-year-old U.S. non-profit trade association that represents operators of U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping vessels, advocating for navigation infrastructure, regulatory policy, and member interests on behalf of its dues-paying shipping company members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Trade Association

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (483113), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Mainline Container Liner Carriers (TLADABAA)

Keywords

• Great Lakes shipping advocacy
• Maritime trade association
• Bulk cargo transportation
• Jones Act shipping
• Shipping industry representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Westlake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Association membership dues: Lake Carriers' Association operates as a trade association representing U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping companies. Revenue is generated through membership dues from shipping company members who operate the Great Lakes fleet. The association does not sell products or services commercially but serves as an advocacy and industry representation organization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lake Carriers' Association represents the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping fleet, providing government relations, regulatory advocacy, infrastructure advocacy (Soo Locks, dredging, icebreaking), and industry publications including monthly cargo reports and the annual State of the Lakes report. The association's member fleet moves more than 90 million tons of bulk commodities annually, including iron ore, limestone, coal, cement, grain, salt, and sand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Federal and State Advocacy Program Government relations, regulatory representation, and policy advocacy on behalf of U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping companies, covering infrastructure, Jones Act defense, icebreaking, dredging, and trade issues.
• Monthly Cargo Reports Monthly industry reports tracking movement of iron ore, limestone, coal, and other bulk commodities across the Great Lakes, available to stakeholders and the public via the LCA website.
• State of the Lakes Annual Report Annual publication providing comprehensive analysis of Great Lakes shipping performance, economic impact, and industry trends for policymakers, members, and the public.
• Industry Publications and Position Papers Fact sheets, position papers, congressional testimonies, and press releases supporting LCA's advocacy on Jones Act, Soo Locks, icebreaking, dredging, ballast water, and air emissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports 237,000 jobs in the Great Lakes region
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Martin AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2023Martin Associates conducted the 2023 economic impact study of maritime shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, quantifying the industry's economic contributions including $36 billion in annual economic activity and 147,350 U.S. jobs.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2018The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on the construction of a new Poe-sized lock at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Corps formally allocated $32 million in FY2018 for design and construction, with the project authorized in 1986. Total project cost is estimated at $922 million. This partnership is critical for providing redundancy to the existing Poe Lock, which carries over 90 percent of all cargoes.
• State of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2018Michigan Governor Rick Snyder committed $52 million toward the new Soo Lock construction project, combining with federal funds to accelerate the project timeline and save costs.
• U.S. Coast GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2018The U.S. Coast Guard provides icebreaking services critical for winter shipping on the Great Lakes. LCA has advocated for additional icebreaker capabilities, noting that inadequate icebreaking during 2018-2019 winter caused over $1 billion in economic losses.
• Great Lakes Congressional DelegationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBipartisan support from Great Lakes Congressional members has been instrumental in securing funding for the new Soo Lock and other critical infrastructure investments.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Maritime Partnership: American Maritime Partnership is a broad coalition that advocates for the U.S. domestic maritime industry and Jones Act. It functions similarly to LCA in representing shippers, labor, and vessel operators seeking to preserve U.S.-flag coastwise trade protections.
• American Waterways Operators (AWO): AWO is the national trade association for the U.S. tugboat, towboat, and barge industry, the most direct functional peer to Lake Carriers' Association given its advocacy role on behalf of U.S.-flag domestic commercial vessel operators on inland and coastal waterways.
• Chamber of Shipping of America: The Chamber of Shipping of America represents U.S.-flag shipowners and operators across multiple maritime segments, sharing with LCA the role of advocating for the U.S.-flag fleet on regulatory, Jones Act, and labor matters before federal agencies.
• Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals (IRPT): IRPT represents operators of inland waterway ports and terminals across U.S. river systems, with similar advocacy on dredging, lock-and-dam infrastructure, and federal funding that overlaps directly with LCA's core programs for Great Lakes navigation.
• Passenger Vessel Association: The Passenger Vessel Association represents owners and operators of U.S.-flag passenger vessels. While focused on passengers rather than cargo, it shares LCA's role as a Jones Act trade association advocating on safety, regulatory, and infrastructure matters for domestic waterborne operators.

Regional players

• Great Lakes Commission: The Great Lakes Commission is a binational (U.S.-Canadian) agency representing the eight Great Lakes states and provinces on regional water issues. While focused on broader water policy rather than shipping, it is a peer-level institution that engages on Great Lakes navigation, ports, and infrastructure that overlap with LCA's mandate.

Broad incumbents

• World Shipping Council: The World Shipping Council represents the international container shipping industry, providing policy and public affairs advocacy. While focused on ocean container liners rather than Great Lakes bulk, it shares LCA's role as a shipping industry trade association engaging on trade, infrastructure, and environmental policy.
• International Chamber of Shipping: The International Chamber of Shipping is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, covering global regulatory advocacy at the IMO. It serves a similar institutional role to LCA but at global rather than U.S.-flag domestic scope.

Emerging players

• Intermodal Association of North America: IANA represents the combined intermodal transportation industry including rail, motor, and ocean container segments. It shares with LCA an interest in policy and infrastructure that supports freight movement, though it spans all intermodal modes rather than Great Lakes maritime specifically.
• National Industrial Transportation League: The NITL represents U.S. shippers (cargo owners) across all transportation modes in regulatory and policy matters. It is a partial peer given its focus on freight transportation policy that overlaps with the supply-chain interests LCA advocates for on behalf of Great Lakes bulk carriers.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lcaships

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inland Lakes Management, Inc.