Lakes Iron

November Ore Shipments Up on Great Lakes

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes reached their highest level so far this year in November. The trade totaled 4.6 million net tons, an increase of 27 percent over the preceding month. The upturn reflects higher operating rates at the nation’s steel mills that, in turn, have required the sailing of some U.S.-Flag lakers that had been idled. The most recent reactivation was on November 25 when the American Republic returned to service. The vessel was designed specifically to shuttle iron ore on the twisting Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. Comparisons with a year ago and the month’s five-year average illustrate the depth of this recession. November loadings were six percent off the pace of a year ago, and nearly 14 percent behind the month’s five-year average. For the year, the Great Lakes iron ore trade stands at 27.5 million tons, a decrease of 50.1 percent compared to a year ago. The decrease is only slightly less when compared to the trade’s five-year average for the January-November timeframe – 49.3 percent.

Great Lakes Ore Trade Down 11.3% in March

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 1.9 million tons in March, a decrease of 11.3% from a year ago. Loadings were 9.3% ahead of the month’s five-year average, however. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 1.8 million tons, a decrease of 9.7% compared to a year ago. The March total included 116,000 tons shipped to Quebec City for loading into oceangoing vessels and delivery overseas. Shipments from Canadian ports totaled 113,000 tons

Great Lakes Ore Trade Off 7 PCT in September

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.9 million tons in September, a decrease of 7.3 percent compared to August, and 7 percent below the level of a year ago.  Shipments were, however, 6.1 percent ahead of September’s 5-year average.   Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5,052,532 tons, a decrease of 10.2 percent compared to a year ago.  Included in that total were 360,000 tons shipped to Québec City for final delivery overseas

First U.S.-Flag "Lakers" Back In Service; 52 More To Follow

The 2013 Great Lakes shipping season began on March 2 with the sailing of the tug/barge unit Prentiss Brown/St. Mary’s Conquest. The vessel, operated by Port City Marine Services, departed its winter lay-up berth in Milwaukee and sailed for Charlevoix, Michigan, where it loaded 9,200 tons of cement for delivery to Chicago. Next to get underway was the tug/barge unit Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder. The vessel, one of 10 operated by The Interlake Steamship Company, loaded about 13

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Off 3.6 Percent

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.5 million tons in October, a decrease of 6 percent compared to September, and 3.6 percent below the level of a year ago.  Shipments were, however, marginally ahead of October’s 5-year average. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 4.5 million tons, a decrease of 11.1 percent compared to a year ago.  Included in that total were 81,000 tons shipped to Québec City for final delivery overseas.  

U.S.-Flag Laker Cargos Down 8.7 Percent

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 9.2 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in November, a 6.6 percent increase over October’s total that was noticeably impacted by Hurricane Sandy.    However, compared to a year ago, the U.S.-flag float was down by almost 9 percent.  November’s loadings were also 4 percent below the month’s 5-year average. Iron ore cargos for the steel industry totaled 4.1 million tons in November, a decrease of 11

April U.S.-Flag Lakes Float Little Changed from a Year Ago

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 8.2 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in April, a virtual repeat of a year ago, and 2.7 percent better than the month’s 5-year average.   Iron ore cargos for the steel industry registered a modest increase compared to a year ago.  Coal for power generation and steel production dipped 16.5 percent.  Aggregate and fluxstone for the construction and steel industries rose by more than 14 percent.  

U.S.-Flag Lakers' October Cargo Up 3 PCT

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 9.8 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in October, a weather-driven decrease of 3 percent compared to September, but an increase of 3.2 percent compared to a year ago.   The October float was 5 percent below the month’s 5-year average, but the decrease partially reflects the significant weather-related delays the fleet experienced. Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 12.8 percent compared to a year ago

Great Lakes Iron Ore Up 8 PCT in November

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.8 million tons in November, an increase of 2 percent over October, and an increase of 8 percent compared to a year ago.   November loadings were also up about 8 percent compared to the month’s 5-year average. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.2 million tons, an increase of 9 percent compared to a year ago.  Loadings at Canadian ports were virtually unchanged from a year ago. Through November the iron ore trade stands at 54

U.S.-Flag Lakes Fleet Back to Work

Cleveland—The U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet is returning to service to keep industrial America on the mend. The first vessel to get underway was the tug/barge unit DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER on March 5.  The vessel will spend the month shuttling iron ore within Cleveland Harbor.  Next to sail was the cement carrier SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN/INNOVATION. The tug/barge unit left its winter berth in Cleveland on March 7 and sailed to Alpena, Michigan