Iron ore cargos in September totaled 5.2 million net tons, an increase of 13.6 percent compared to a year ago. However, that increase must be taken in context - 12 months ago, LTV Steel was fading fast, whereas today its facilities are blooming under new ownership. On a season-to-date basis, the U.S.-Flag ore float is still 6 percent behind last year's depressed total.
Stronger demand for western coal pushed the fleet's September coal total to 2,546,951 net tons, an increase of 14 percent compared to a year ago. For the season, the coal total through September is virtually unchanged.
A slight increase in stone cargos in September helped narrow the gap in that commodity, but for the season, sluggish demand from the construction industry has produced a 2.1 percent decrease in limestone moved in U.S. bottoms.
During September, the straight-decker KINSMAN INDEPENDENT ended its summer-long lay-up and resumed moving grain cargos between Duluth/Superior and Buffalo. The INDEPENDENT is the only U.S.-Flag straight-decker to see service, albeit sporadic, in recent years. The EDWARD L. RYERSON has not sailed since 1998 and the JOHN SHERWIN has slumbered since 1981.
U.S.-FLAG CARRIAGE
SEPTEMBER AND SEASON-TO-DATE: 2002 - 2001
(net tons)
Commodity | September 2002 | September 2001 | S-T-D 2002 | S-T-D 2001 |
| Iron Ore | ||||
| Direct Shipments | 4,893,656 | 4,388,961 | 30,502,751 | 31,032,975 |
| Transshipments | 279,738 | 166,031 | 1,119,403 | 2,611,138 |
Total - Iron Ore | 5,173,394 | 4,554,992 | 31,622,154 | 33,644,113 |
| Coal | ||||
| Lake Superior Ports | 1,700,621 | 1,426,738 | 9,102,687 | 9,526,766 |
| Lake Michigan Ports | 233,904 | 217,720 | 1,465,124 | 1,471,308 |
| Lake Erie Ports | 612,426 | 589,182 | 3,871,997 | 3,444,804 |
Total - Coal | 2,546,951 | 2,233,640 | 14,439,808 | 14,442,878 |
| Limestone | 3,220,901 | 3,150,984 | 18,422,321 | 18,824,492 |
| Cement | 415,851 | 408,108 | 2,630,463 | 2,874,599 |
| Salt | 89,070 | 99,612 | 395,850 | 518,546 |
| Sand | 43,565 | 94,458 | 147,854 | 412,031 |
| Grain | 33,171 | 32,297 | 198,730 | 178,746 |
| Totals | 11,522,903 | 10,574,091 | 67,857,180 | 70,895,405 |
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: October 11, 2002
