The 2002 dry-bulk shipping season on the Great Lakes has gotten off to one of its slowest starts in recent memory. U.S.-Flag lakers moved a mere 1.8 million tons of cargo in March, a decrease of 35.5 percent compared to a year earlier and not even half what the fleet was moving just four years ago.
It is immediately apparent that the problems confronting American steelmakers will again impact this shipping season. U.S.-Flag iron ore cargos in March were down by 1 million tons. Much of that decrease reflects the continued idle status of LTV Steel. All iron ore transshipments were destined for LTV's Cleveland Works. Its Indiana Harbor mill was a major consumer of direct shipments. International Steel Group (ISG) is preparing to reopen the mills and recently signed a contract for its iron ore requirements, but it will probably be several months before there is any impact on the trade.
March coal loadings into U.S. bottoms were in line with last year. There was a slight increase in limestone cargos. The fall-off in cement partially reflects the extended closure of the Norfolk Southern bridge at the mouth of Cleveland's Cuyahoga River that delayed the sailing of a large cement carrier for 20 days and prevented other cement carriers from delivering to Cleveland.
As a result of weak demand for iron ore, U.S.-Flag Great Lakes operators had only 34 of their 67 vessels in operation on April 1, a decrease of two hulls compared to a year ago. However, turn the clock back to April 1, 1998, and the active fleet totaled 60 vessels. As of today, eight U.S.-Flag lakers do not have a sail date for 2002. Included in that total is one of the 1,000-footers. That vessel alone represents a seasonal carrying capacity of 2.5 million tons (more if water levels were not at their lowest level in 35 years).
U.S.-FLAG CARRIAGE
MARCH AND SEASON-TO-DATE: 2002 - 2001
(net tons)
Commodity | March 2002 | March 2001 | S-T-D 2002 | S-T-D 2001 |
| Iron Ore - Direct Shipments | 870,959 | 1,398,562 | 1,093,999 | 1,398,562 |
| Iron Ore - Transshipments | 0 | 488,458 | 0 | 537,461 |
Total - Iron Ore | 870,959 | 1,887,020 | 1,093,999 | 1,936,023 |
| Coal - Western | 297,396 | 331,620 | 297,396 | 331,620 |
| Coal - Eastern | 263,631 | 220,217 | 263,631 | 220,217 |
Total - Coal | 561,027 | 551,837 | 561,027 | 551,837 |
| Limestone and Gypsum | 176,218 | 76,867 | 176,218 | 76,867 |
| Cement | 148,009 | 181,037 | 175,562 | 210,212 |
| Salt | 12,158 | 43,233 | 12,158 | 43,233 |
| Sand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 1,768,371 | 2,739,994 | 2,018,964 | 2,818,172 |
In addition to the 12 U.S.-Flag Lakes operators who comprise Lake Carriers' Association, this survey includes Andrie, Inc.
(cement only), Great Lakes Associates (grain), Pere Marquette Shipping Company and Upper Lakes Towing Company, Inc.
(both various dry-bulk cargos).
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For more information, contact Glen Nekvasil (216-861-0592).