Lake Carriers’ Association highlights effects of dredging crisis

News – June 24, 2008

The Lake Carriers’ Association says that despite an 8 per cent increase in the iron ore tonnage, total cargo movement on the Great Lakes in US-Flag Lakers fell 2 per cent in May compared to a year ago.

However, the May float – 11.9 million net tons – was, almost to the ton, on par with the month’s five-year average.

The iron ore float approached 5.9 million tons, a reflection of the high operating rates at North American steel mills.

However, both the coal and stone floats were more than 200,000 tons off last May’s pace.

The effects of the dredging crisis were evident across the fleet. The 1,000ft long vessels designed to carry approximately 70,000 tons per trip generally left the dock with less than 64,000 tons of iron ore in their holds.

Only two coal cargos topped 65,000 tons.

Even the smaller vessels had to reduce their payloads. The largest cement cargo carried in May – 15,434 tons – was more than 2,300 tons less than the record for the Lakes trade.