With ice conditions largely abated by mid-month, cargo movement in U.S.-Flag lakers rebounded significantly in May. The major U.S.-Flag fleets working the Great Lakes carried 13.3 million net tons of dry- and liquid-bulk cargos in May, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Iron ore cargos carried in U.S.-Flag lakers totaled 6.6 million net tons in May, an increase of 1.2 percent compared to a year ago. Lead by an 11 percent increase in western coal cargos, the coal float for U.S.-Flag lake carriers increased 75,000 tons to 2.4 million tons. Stone cargos increased 3 percent to 3.3 million tons.
The slight decrease in cement loadings in May reflects that two large U.S.-Flag cement carriers had to be removed from service for repairs, some of which was ice-related. In fact, a number of U.S.-Flag lakers have been idled for short periods this season to repair damage resulting from the extreme ice conditions in March and April.
The ice conditions that prevailed in March and April (and on Lake Superior, into May) continue to impact the Season-To-Date totals for U.S.-Flag carriers. Iron ore loadings in U.S. bottoms total 13.5 million tons through May, a decrease of 5.3 percent. The U.S.-Flag coal float stands at 3.8 million tons, a decrease of 16 percent. Stone cargos are 12 percent behind last year's pace. When all cargos are totaled, U.S.-Flag lakers have carried 24.5 million tons to date, a decrease of 9 percent.
Only three U.S.-Flag lakers available for service have yet to sail this season. Two of these ships are straight-deckers and one will be reactivated if demand for grain merits. The third is a cement carrier and it too will be commissioned should demand justify its fit-out.
| Commodity | May 1996 |
May 1995 |
Season to Date 1996 |
Season to Date 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore | 6,614,747 | 6,535,371 | 13,481,415 | 14,240,435 |
| Coal - Western | 1,536,618 | 1,383,970 | 2,324,777 | 2,962,009 |
| Coal, Coke - Eastern | 872,444 | 951,712 | 1,517,451 | 1,599,705 |
| Total - Coal | 2,394,299 | 2,335,682 | 3,842,228 | 4,561,714 |
| Limestone, Gypsum | 3,338,037 | 3,240,240 | 5,091,086 | 5,813,981 |
| Cement | 431,109 | 446,963 | 782,693 | 837,510 |
| Salt | 149,356 | 107,694 | 265,546 | 202,124 |
| Sand | 13,874 | 33,666 | 13,874 | 53,752 |
| Grain | 81,357 | 157,899 | 91,326 | 247,475 |
| Liquid Bulk | 302,837 | 256,768 | 886,519 | 928,458 |
| Totals - All Commodities | 13,340,379 | 13,114,283 | 24,454,687 | 26,885,449 |
| Liquid Bulk - Barrels | 2,047,179 | 1,735,753 | 5,992,879 | 6,276,376 |
Notes: The May and 1996 season-to-date totals were revised on July 29, 1996.
Given the limited number of gypsum producers (two), that commodity must be combined with limestone to insure confidentiality. Since tankers operate year-round, that trade is reported on a calendar-year basis. The 1995 totals include carriage by two non-members of Lake Carriers' Association - Kinsman Lines, Inc., [grain] and Hannah Marine Corporation [liquid bulk]. Starting with 1996, this survey also includes Upper Lakes Towing (one self-unloading tug/barge unit in various dry-bulk trades), Upper Lakes Barge (one self- unloading tug/barge unit in various dry-bulk trades) and Merce Transportation (cement).