U.S.-Flag carriers hauled 13.9 million net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargo on the Lakes in May, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to the same period last year.
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry totaled 7,045,225 tons, an increase of 6.5 percent. Stone loadings in U.S. bottoms rose 8.4 percent to 3.6 million tons. Coal cargos increased slightly to 2,452,422 tons.
For the season, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 28.5 million tons, an increase of 16.4 percent. While the increase reflects continued strong demand for cargo, the industry benefitted from more normal ice conditions in March and April which allowed vessels to resume operations without the excessive delays encountered at the start of the 1996 navigation season.
With the June 13 sailing of the CALCITE II (USS Great Lakes Fleet, Inc.), all boom-type self-unloaders are in service. The only U.S.-Flag ships yet to sail this year are the small cement carriers E. M. FORD and S. T. CRAPO and the straight-decker KINSMAN ENTERPRISE.
| Commodity | May 1997 |
May 1996 |
Season to Date 1997 |
Season to Date 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore | 7,045,225 | 6,614,747 | 15,202,575 | 13,481,523 |
| Coal - Western | 1,392,577 | 1,536,618 | 2,940,089 | 2,324,777 |
| Coal, Coke - Eastern | 1,059,845 | 872,444 | 2,250,958 | 1,517,451 |
| Total - Coal | 2,452,422 | 2,409,062 | 5,191,047 | 3,842,228 |
| Limestone, Gypsum | 3,619,962 | 3,338,037 | 6,052,987 | 5,089,658 |
| Cement, Potash | 440,810 | 431,109 | 921,768 | 782,693 |
| Salt | 86,580 | 149,356 | 285,155 | 265,546 |
| Sand | 45,803 | 46,434 | 45,803 | 59,677 |
| Potash | 10,000 | 0 | 10,000 | 0 | Grain | 96,332 | 81,357 | 96,332 | 91,326 |
| Liquid Bulk | 125,735 | 302,837 | 641,817 | 886,519 |
| Totals - All Commodities | 13,922,869 | 13,372,939 | 28,512,889 | 24,499,170 |
| Liquid Bulk - Barrels | 849,968 | 2,047,179 | 4,338,381 | 5,992,879 |
Note: Given the limited number of gypsum producers, that commodity must be combined with limestone to insure confidentiality. Since tankers operate year-round, that trade is reported on a calendar year basis.
This survey represents carriage by the members of Lake Carriers' Association, Kinsman Lines, Hannah Marine Corp., Andrie, Inc. (cement only), Upper Lakes Barge, Upper Lakes Towing and Merce Transportation.