Fleet Pays High Price for Thick Lakes Ice

Cargo movement in U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) in March fell to its lowest level since 2009., the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reported.

Shipments totaled only 825,000 tons, a decrease of more than 60 percent compared to the month’s five-year average.  Another brutal winter, coupled with a number of casualties to U.S. and Canadian icebreakers, slowed the resumption of navigation.  

A number of vessels delayed their fit-out because of the heavy ice. Only 26 U.S.-flag lakers were in service on April 1. In some years, nearly 50 hulls are underway by that date.

Iron ore felt the brunt of the delays.  Loadings totaled just 535,000 tons, a decrease of 66 percent compared to the month’s five-year average.

This is the second year in a row a harsh winter has stalled the new shipping season. Lake Carriers’ Association has called on the U.S. government to build another heavy icebreaker to pair with the MACKINAW and assign another 140-foot-long icebreaking tug to the Lakes while the 140s already stationed here are rotated to the Coast Guard yard in Baltimore for service life extension.