U.S.-Flag Lakes Fleet Up By 5 Hulls On December 1
The active U.S.-Flag Lakes fleet totaled 58 vessels on December 1, an increase of 5 hulls compared to a year ago. The difference is significant. A year ago, two 1,000-footers, the JAMES R. BARKER and the WALTER J. MCCARTHY, JR., had ended their season in the last week of November ... The 854-foot-long ROGER BLOUGH had been in lay-up since mid-August ... LTV Steel was about to close its doors....
This season the lay-up pattern is expected to be more typical. A number of smaller and mid-sized vessels will lay-up in mid-December as the stone quarries wrap up operations for the year. The coal and cement trades will continue into January, and the iron ore trade below the Soo Locks will continue until late January.
Vessel Utilization Rates
U.S.-Flag Great Lakes Fleet
December 1, 2002
| Year | Dry-Bulk Carriers | Cement Carriers | Tankers | Total |
| 2002 | 49 | 5 | 4 | 58 |
| 2001 | 45 | 4 | 4 | 53 |
| 2000 | 50 | 5 | 5 | 60 |
| 1999 | 52 | 6 | 5 | 63 |
| 1998 | 53 | 6 | 65 | 65 |
Date of Publication: December 5, 2002.
