Lake Carriers Association News

The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) honored Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow in recognition of the significant contributions made throughout her Congressional career protecting the Great Navigation System and supporting American jobs with investment in U.S.-flagged Great Lakes shipping.Senator Stabenow, who co-chairs the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, has been the driving force behind the protection of the U.S.' largest freshwater resource and the maritime highway that supports U.S.

American shipping companies are spending more than $120 million to repair and maintain their fleets of Great Lakes bulk carriers this winter.The fleet of U.S.-flagged ships, known as "lakers", can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually, including iron ore, stone, coal, grain, salt and sand. Each year after the shipping season draws to a close, these vessels enter shipyards and repair facilities around the Great Lakes for a period of winter maintenance and repair. This…

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) announced the election of new leadership for the organization. Jennifer Carpenter takes the helm as president, and, in doing so, becomes the first woman to lead the organization. She is joined by vice president Sara Fuentes and James “Jim” Weakley who will serve the dual role of secretary and treasurer. Elected officers will hold their positions for a two-year term.“AMP plays a pivotal role in championing the strength and vitality of our domestic maritime industry…

Inland maritime transportation systems (MTS) play major roles in domestic and international supply chains, with unique challenges related to upstream and downstream sources disruption, accessibility and shifts in commodities, as well as demand and supply imbalances. With a 20% on-time arrival statistic, the U.S. east coast serves as an example for the increasing appeal of inland waterways as a cost-effective, alternative, with Port of Cleveland traffic reportedly increasing 70% between 2020 and 2021.

Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in September, a decrease of 5.6% compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) said on Tuesday. Shipments were below the month’s five-year average by 6.5%.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 29.2 million tons, a decrease of nearly 21.8% compared to the same point in 2021, according to latest figures from LCA.Through September iron ore loadings are 20.1% below their five-year average for the first three quarters, LCA.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.5 million tons in September, a decrease of 3.7% compared to a year ago, according to latest figures published by the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA). Limestone cargos were below the month’s five-year average by 2.7%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 5.4% from 2021, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 675,023 tons, a decrease of 1.3%, LCA said.Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 21.1 million tons, a near match compared to a year ago, LCA said.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.8 million tons in August, an increase of 5.3% from 2021, according to trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Limestone cargos were below the month’s 5-year average by 1.6%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 3% compared to a year ago, LCA said. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 740,122 tons, an increase of 16.3%.Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 17.5 million tons, an increase of less than 1% compared to a year ago, according to LCA.

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 81.8 million tons of cargo in 2021, an increase of 16.8 percent compared to 2020, the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) reported. The 2021 float was less than 1% below the fleet’s five-year average.Iron ore cargos totaled 41.7 million tons, an increase of 12.4% compared to a year earlier. Shipments of all other commodities increased as well in 2021. Coal cargos were up 42.7% to 10.4 million tons. Limestone and cement shipments increased by 16.7% and nearly 5%, respectively. Salt cargos were up by 34.2%.

This year, U.S.-flagged Great Lakes shipping companies will spend nearly $83 million for annual vessel maintenance and upgrades, according to trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).The winter ship repair work programs are performed annually to help keep iron ore, stone and cement moving on the Great Lakes during the nine-month operating season from March through January, when the Soo Locks are open for business. Work will range from engine and navigation system upgrades…

Iron ore and limestone shipments rose 32.4% and 8.3% respectively in October, according to the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA). Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.5 million tons in October, an increase of 32.4% compared to a year ago. Shipments were above the month’s five-year average by 7.7%.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 42.9 million tons, an increase of 32.7% compared to the same point in 2020.Through October iron ore loadings are 4.4% above their…

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million tons in September, an increase of 10.4% compared to a year ago, trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reports. Limestone cargos were above the month’s five-year average by 5.2%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3 million tons, an increase of  12.2% from 2020, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 684,234 tons, an increase of 8.3%, LCA said.Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 21 million tons, an increase of 9.1% compared to a year ago.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million tons in May, an increase of 4.8% compared to a year ago, reports trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).While the month’s totals were up year over year, May’s loadings were below the month’s five-year average by 2.9%.Loadings from U.S.

A preponderance of climate studies on the Great Lakes predict a trend toward reduced ice cover. Ice is expected to form later and melt earlier. With Wisconsin Sea Grant funding, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS) are looking into how this might impact the shipping industry on the Great Lakes.Richard Stewart, director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center at UWS, is undertaking the yearlong study with Daniel Rust, UWS assistant professor of transportation and logistics.

New legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) will codify the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking mission on the Great Lakes and increase the icebreaking capacity of the Great Lakes fleet.The Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act aims to increase Great lakes icebreaking capacity, which the lawmakers say will help the businesses and workers that rely on the maritime industry to transport their goods to market and grow the regional economy.“In recent years…

U.S.-flag lakers idled for the winter season will undergo more than $97 million in maintenance and modernization work at multiple Great Lakes shipyards before returning to service in March. The $97 million figure is an increase from $70 million in 2019, according to the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA).After working around the clock for 10 months hauling cargo over more than 70,000 miles per vessel, the ships and their crews are given a brief rest to recoup before the Soo Locks reopen and the next season starts in March…

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.4 million tons in October, a decrease of 7.5 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers' Association said. Limestone cargos also trailed the month’s five-year average by 4.6 percent.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.8 million tons, a decrease of 6 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 568,000 tons, a decrease of 14.6 percent.Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 24.2 million tons, an increase of 1.9 percent compared to a year ago.

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.8 million tons in October, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers' Association reported. Shipments also outpaced the month’s 5-year average by nearly 9 percent,Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 44.7 million tons, a decrease of 1.8 percent compared to the same point in 2017. The shortfall has been decreasing over the course of the shipping season. At the end of April, iron ore shipments were…

Bill now heads to White House for President Trump’s signature.Today, the Senate voted 99-1 in favor of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018/Water Resources Development Act, otherwise known as WRDA 2018. The Bill passed in the U.S. House by unanimous voice vote (435-0) in August.“The passage of WRDA 2018 is a win for the Nation’s towboat operators, freight shippers, ports and labor and conservation groups that rely on an efficient inland waterways system,” said Mike Toohey, President and CEO of the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI).

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in September, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reported. Limestone cargos also bettered the month’s five-year average by 8 percent.According to the LCA, Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, an increase of 1.8 percent, or 54,000 tons compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 685,000 tons, an increase of 12.4 percent, or 76…

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 6.4 million tons in August, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported. Shipments outperformed the month’s five-year average by nearly 13 percent.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 33 million tons, a decrease of 2.4 percent compared to the same point in 2017. The gap has been steadily decreasing over the course of the shipping season. At the end of April, iron ore shipments…

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled nearly 4 million tons in August, a near carbon copy of both a year ago and July of this year, The Lake Carriers’ Association reports. The 3,941,085 tons of limestone cargos in August also bettered the month’s five-year average by 5.8 percent.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.248 million tons, a decrease 3.3 percent, or 110,000 tons, compared to a year ago, LCA said. Shipments from Canadian quarries, meanwhile, totaled 693,003 tons…

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 9.8 million tons of cargo in July, a virtual tie with a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported. The July float was, however, 6.4 percent below the month’s five-year average.Iron ore cargos for steel production totaled 5.2 million tons, an increase of 5 percent. The July ore float was also the highest monthly total for U.S.-flag lakers since December 2014.Coal loads totaled 1.3 million tons, a decrease of nearly 11 percent.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3,985,544 tons in July, an increase of 3.1 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported. The trade also bettered the month’s 5-year average by 5.5 percent.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.142 million tons, a decrease equal to one cargo in a mid-sized laker. Shipments from Canadian quarries rose to 843,000 tons, an increase of 20 percent, and the highest monthly total this decade.Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 13.3 million tons, an increase of 5 percent compared to a year ago.