U.S.-Flag lakers moved 11.6 million net tons of dry-bulk cargo on the Great Lakes in July, the first time this season the float really exceeded the corresponding period last year. (One U.S.-Flag laker moved a few, sporadic cargos of iron ore in February of this year, but that is not typical of the industry.)
Iron ore cargos moved in U.S. bottoms totaled 5.4 million tons in July, an increase of 10 percent compared to the corresponding period last year. The increase reflects in part the gradual start-up of ISG's mills in Cleveland and Indiana Harbor. However, on a season-to-date basis, iron ore loadings still trail last year by nearly 13 percent.
Coal cargos carried by U.S.-Flag lakers totaled 2.5 million tons in July, a decrease of 7.7 percent. It must be noted, however, that July 2001 loadings of western coal set a record for the U.S.-Flag fleet, so the decrease is not as significant as it appears at first glance. For the season, the U.S.-Flag coal float stands at 9.4 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent.
Stone shipments in U.S.-Flag lakers decreased 2.6 percent in July to 3,155,649 tons. Sluggish demand for aggregate has plagued the trade all season and through July, U.S.-Flag loadings have fallen 3.1 percent to 11,853,595 tons.
As July began, the U.S.-Flag Lakes fleet had 57 of its 66 vessels in service. On July 8, the mid-sized self-unloader AMERICAN REPUBLIC (American Steamship Company) began its season . Four lakers remain idle this season: ELTON HOYT 2ND (Interlake Steamship); EDWARD L. RYERSON (Central Marine Logistics); RICHARD REISS (Erie Sand); and JOSEPH H. FRANTZ (Oglebay Norton Marine Services Company).
U.S.-FLAG CARRIAGE
JULY AND SEASON-TO-DATE: 2002 - 2001
(net tons)
Commodity | July 2002 | July 2001 | S-T-D 2002 | S-T-D 2001 |
| Iron Ore | ||||
| Direct Shipments | 5,166,508 | 4,790,569 | 20,117,268 | 21,648,269 |
| Transshipments | 241,910 | 124,502 | 552,905 | 2,073,692 |
Total - Iron Ore | 5,408,418 | 4,915,071 | 20,670,173 | 23,721,961 |
| Coal | ||||
| Lake Superior Ports | 1,783,624 | 1,932,708 | 5,860,555 | 6,542,988 |
| Lake Michigan Ports | 218,271 | 252,596 | 988,991 | 1,027,469 |
| Lake Erie Ports | 539,705 | 523,748 | 2,591,272 | 2,161,609 |
Total - Coal | 2,541,600 | 2,709,052 | 9,440,818 | 9,732,066 |
| Limestone | 3,155,649 | 3,242,908 | 11,853,595 | 12,236,629 |
| Cement | 421,963 | 474,099 | 1,751,666 | 1,946,499 |
| Salt | 49,016 | 83,602 | 262,062 | 349,417 |
| Sand | 14,113 | 59,965 | 96,994 | 245,408 |
| Grain | 0 | 0 | 133,695 | 130,496 |
| Totals | 11,590,759 | 11,484,697 | 44,209,003 | 48,362,476 |
In addition to the U.S.-Flag Lakes operators who comprise Lake Carriers' Association, this survey includes Andrie, Inc.
(cement only), Great Lakes Associates (grain), Hannah Marine Corp. (cement only), Pere Marquette Shipping Company and
Upper Lakes Towing Company, Inc. (both various dry-bulk cargos).
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DATE OF PUBLICATION: August 15, 2002