Largest Loads Down 10,000 Tons Per Trip
Water Levels Take Toll On U.S.-Flag Float In April

As expected, the now 4-year decline in Great Lakes water levels translated into a decrease in U.S.-Flag carriage in April. Shipments of dry-bulk cargos in U.S. bottoms totaled 11,041,405 net tons, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.

 

Lake levels have been in decline since roughly the summer of 1997. With loaded drafts being reduced by 2 feet or more, the largest vessels in the fleet, the l,000-footers, are trimming roughly 10,000 tons from their per-trip capacity when loads at the beginning of this and the 1997 season are compared.

 

Vessel operators of all flags face a tremendous challenge in meeting what is strong demand for cargo this year. It is not possible to increase vessel speed by any appreciable degree. Furthermore, the Head-of-the-Lakes trade (Lake Superior to lower Lakes ports) is governed by the fixed opening and closing dates of the Soo Locks. By Federal regulation, the Soo Locks open on March 25 and close on January 15, regardless of demand for cargo or weather conditions.

 

The mild winter of 1999-2000 did allow some vessels to resume sailing ahead of schedule in March, so for the season, U.S.-Flag carriage is only 178,000 tons behind last year's pace. However, now that vessel utilization rates are essentially the same as a year ago, the effects of water levels will become even more apparent.

 

U.S.-FLAG CARRIAGE
APRIL AND SEASON-TO-DATE: 2000 - 1999
(net tons)

(a) Includes Lorain/Cleveland shuttle.

ggn@lcaships.com