Limestone Trade

News: Lakes Shipping Down 1.4 Percent in 2002

Dry-bulk cargo movement on the Great Lakes totaled 162.3 million net tons in 2002, a decrease of 1.4 percent compared to 2001 and a drop of 6 percent compared to the 5-year average. Iron ore shipments totaled 58.9 million net tons in 2002, an increase of 5.8 percent compared to 2001, but a decrease of 9.2 percent compared to the 5-year average. North American raw steel production totaled an estimated 101.7 million tons in 2002, an increase of 2.4 percent compared to 2001, but the amount of steel made in Basic Oxygen Furnaces that turn pellets into hot metal fell 4 percent to an estimated 50.1 million net tons. The Lakes iron ore trade was essentially non-stop in 2002. Shipments ceased from Lake Superior ports when the Soo Locks closed on January 15, but Escanaba continued to ship throughout February, albeit at a much slower pace, as the iron ore was being railed down from the Minorca Mine in Minnesota. The Mesabi Range ore was then loaded into the tug/barge unit Joyce Vanenkevort/Great Lakes Trader. The March 25 opening of the Soo Locks allowed the Lake Superior iron ore trade to resume in earnest, but for the first time in 45 years, Taconite Harbor remained silent. The iron ore mine that shipped through "Tac Harbor" ceased operations in January 2001 and the dock has not loaded a cargo since August of 2001. The March, April and May totals from U.S

Lakes Limestone Trade Down 3.6 Percent in 2012

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 27,145,219 tons in 2012, a decrease of 3.6 percent compared to 2011.    The trade was 7 percent below its 5-year average. Shipments from U.S. ports fell 2.4 percent when compared to 2011, and slightly more – 4.1 percent – when compared to their 5-year average.  Loadings at Canadian quarries decreased 9 percent compared to 2011, and slipped almost 19 percent compared to their 5-year average.

Oglebay Norton Sells Six Vessels

Oglebay Norton Company announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Oglebay Norton Marine Services Company, LLC, has completed the sale of six of its nine remaining self-unloading freighters for $120 million to American Steamship Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GATX Corporation. Acquired were: M/V Oglebay Norton, M/V Columbia Star, S/S Armco, S/S Middletown, S/S Courtney Burton, and M/V Fred R. White. The Company is also

Great Lakes Iron Ore Dips in Oct

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.7 million net tons in October, a slight decrease from both a year ago and the month’s 5-year average. Shipments from Canadian Seaway ports reacted much quicker to the downturn in steel production, falling some 32 percent from a year ago. U.S. ports actually outperformed a year ago, but shipments did start to fall off in the final week of October. For the year, the Great Lakes iron ore trade stands at 51

Great Lakes Coal Trade Down Almost 25 Percent in August

Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes totaled 2,956,930 net tons in August, a slight dip compared to July (131,000 tons), but a decrease of almost 25 percent (959,000 tons) compared to a year ago. Loadings at Lake Superior ports fell 26.7 percent compared to a year ago.  Shipments from Lake Michigan terminals rose nearly 71 percent.  Loadings at Lake Erie docks slipped 35.7 percent. Year-to-date, the coal trade stands at 15,656,348 tons, a decrease of 16

U.S.-Flag Lakers' September Cargo Up 7.6 PCT

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 10.1 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in September, a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to August, but an increase of 7.6 percent compared to a year ago.  The September float was also virtually tied with the month’s 5-year average.   Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 16.3 percent compared to a year ago.  Limestone cargos for construction, steel production

Barge Mounted CFB Power Plant Contracted

A contract for the supply and construction of what is being called the world's first barge mounted circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) boiler electrical generating facility has been awarded to Waller Marine Inc., Houston, TX. The nominal 100 MW coal fired power plant will be installed at Pickwick, Tennessee under a contract with Pickwick Power LLC, who will be supplying power into the Tennessee Valley Authority system.

Great Lakes Coal Trade Up 27 Percent in March

Coal shipments on the in March totaled 1.6 million net tons, an increase of 27 percent compared to a year ago. The trade outperformed its 5-year average for March by 34 percent. Strong demand for coal loaded at ports destined for Canadian customers spurred the surge. Despite the increase, lightloading was rampant again. The largest coal cargo loaded in March totaled only 58,944 net tons. The cargo was carried by a 1,000-foot-long ship and vessels this size have carried nearly 71

U.S.-Flag Lakes Float Off a Third in September

With America’s economy still not hitting on all cylinders, the U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleet continued to struggle with slumping cargo demand in September. Shipments in U.S. bottoms totaled seven million net tons, a decrease of 36.2 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings were down 39 percent compared to the month’s 5-year average. The year-long slump in iron ore and limestone cargos continued in September. Loadings were off 57 percent and 15 percent respectively

Great Lakes Shipyards Eying Busy Winter

Investment Averages $1.4 Million Per Vessel Maintaining and Modernizing U.S.-Flag Lakers Will Keep Great Lakes Shipyards Busy This Winter.   More than 1,200 boilermakers, welders, electricians and other skilled craftsmen will be hard at work this winter maintaining and modernizing U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters when they lay up between late December and mid-January.  The major U.S.-flag operators will invest more than $75 million in their 56 vessels so the fleet will be ready to