Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 43,755,837 net tons during the 2001 navigation season, a slight increase over
2000. While the aggregate total represents an increase, performance varied from dock to dock. Superior Midwest Energy
Terminal (SMET) set a record for the eighth year in a row. Loadings at Thunder Bay, South Chicago and Sandusky, Ohio,
also increased noticeably. On the other hand, coal shipments from Toledo, Ashtabula and Conneaut all decreased.
The 2001 coal trade began on March 17 when the CANADIAN ENTERPRISE loaded at Conneaut for Nanticoke and
ended on January 30, 2001 when the JOHN B. AIRD loaded at Conneaut, again for Nanticoke. In comparison, the 2000
coal season stretched from March 3 until February 8, 2001.
The largest coal cargo of the season was 68,021 net tons, loaded by the U.S.-Flag 1,000-footer INDIANA HARBOR at
SMET on August 13 and delivered to Northshore Mining Company's power plant in Silver Bay, Minnesota.
There was also a significant increase in U.S.-Flag coal cargos to Canada. American lakers delivered 2,632,826 tons of coal to Canada in 2001, more than triple the 2000 total, and the highest tally ever recorded by LCA. Unfortunately, this development is not as positive as it seems; with demand for iron ore at its lowest level in decades, U.S.-Flag capacity was available for other trades.
Shipping Port | January 2002 | January 2001 | Season Total 2001 | Season Total 2000 |
| Superior | 58,948 | 345,281 | 16,637,682 | 16,530,545 |
| Thunder Bay* | 0 | 0 | 1,783,635 | 666,755 |
| South Chicago | 103,852 | 81,006 | 2,607,025 | 2,363,983 |
| Toledo | 0 | 0 | 4,633,463 | 5,709,600 |
| Sandusky | 0 | 0 | 4,853,072 | 3,862,321 |
| Ashtabula | 525,957 | 319,693 | 6,405,837 | 6,913,002 |
| Conneaut | 610,286 | 891,972 | 6,835,123 | 7,229,015 |
Totals | 1,299,043 | 1,637,952 | 43,755,837 | 43,275,221 |
* There have been some minor adjustments (increases) in Thunder Bay's 2001 monthly totals.