Lead by a significant increase in western coal cargos, U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleets hauled 13.5 million net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargo in June, an increase of 2.2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Cargos of western coal loaded in U.S. bottoms in June totaled 1,765,651 tons, an increase of 27.8 percent compared to last year. For the season, the western coal trade in Jones Act lakers stands at 4.7 million tons, again an increase of 27 percent.
The June U.S.-Flag stone float totaled 3.4 million tons, an increase of 7.5 percent. There was a slight dip in iron ore loadings, but that reflects the capacity working the western coal trade.
For the season, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 42.1 million tons, an increase of more than 4.4 million tons. Salt cargos have decreased slightly, but only because salt shipments from Cleveland did not resume until June.
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 (both of which are currently holding storage cargos of cement) and the straight-decker KINSMAN ENTERPRISE.
| Commodity | June 1997 |
June 1996 |
Season to Date 1997 |
Season to Date 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore | 6,451,913 | 6,642,148 | 21,654,488 | 20,123,671 |
| Coal - Western | 1,765,651 | 1,381,431 | 4,705,740 | 3,706,208 |
| Coal, Coke - Eastern | 892,098 | 1,028,869 | 3,143,056 | 2,382,102 |
| Total - Coal | 2,657,749 | 2,410,300 | 7,848,796 | 6,252,528 |
| Limestone, Gypsum | 3,395,082 | 3,158,887 | 9,448,069 | 8,248,545 |
| Cement, Potash | 492,654 | 416,234 | 1,424,422 | 1,198,927 |
| Salt | 91,769 | 165,677 | 376,924 | 431,223 |
| Sand | 41,114 | 28,000 | 86,917 | 88,308 |
| Grain | 66,824 | 64,309 | 228,561 | 155,635 |
| Liquid Bulk* | 275,551 | 300,380 | 1,040,718 | 1,186,899 |
| Totals - All Commodities | 13,472,656 | 13,185,935 | 42,108,895 | 37,685,736 |
| Liquid Bulk - Barrels | 1,862,719 | 2,030,567 | 7,034,946 | 8,023,446 |
* Season-to-date total amended
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.