Lakes Trade News

Eureka Shipping announced it has ordered a new cement carrier from Holland Shipyard Group in the Netherlands for scheduled for delivery in 2025.Eureka Shipping, jointly owned by SMT Shipping and The CSL Group, said the 12,500 dwt mechanical/pneumatic cement ship will replace two older vessels in the Great Lakes region while maintaining the same cargo capacity for operations.The newbuild will be fitted with a diesel-electric a propulsion system consisting of four generator sets…

A keel laying ceremony on Tuesday marked the official start of assembly on the first new U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in more than 35 years.During the ceremony held by The Interlake Steamship Company and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, (FBS) the keel was laid within the shipyard’s large graving dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. following more than nine months of engineering and prefabrication work of its modular sections by the FBS team.Though the build project is already well underway…

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said it will initiate an investigation into whether ballast water regulations proposed by the Government of Canada discriminate against U.S. flag vessel operators in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.The FMC commissioners voted unanimously to accept a petition filed by trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) asking the commision to perform the investigation and examine the detriment and harm to the U.S. flag fleet resulting…

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 5,355,855 tons in April, an increase of 23.4 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Shipments also topped the month’s 5-year average by 18.4 percent. LCA said shipments from U.S. ports totaled 4,981,058 tons in April, an increase of 27 percent compared to a year ago, while loadings at Canadian terminals dipped by 11.6 percent to 374,797 tons. Although water levels on all five Great Lakes are currently above long-term average, U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters are still not carrying full loads. The largest iron ore cargo to ever move in the Head-of-the-Lakes trade (Lake Superior to Lower Lakes ports) is 72,300 tons, but only two iron ore shipments topped 70,000 tons in April.

The S.S. Herbert C. Jackson made its final journey as a steamship this month when it sailed into Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wis., where it will undergo a six-month conversion to a highly automated diesel propulsion system. As the last steam-powered ship in Interlake Steamship Company’s fleet, the Jackson is the fifth ship to undergo a major overhaul and its fourth steam-to-diesel conversion since 2006. This conversion represents the final phase of the company’s 10-year, $100 million modernization effort.

Prospects for ending the dredging crisis and resolving other pressing issues on the Great Lakes are the best in 12 years according to Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA), the trade association representing U.S.-flag vessel operators on the inland seas, in its State of the Lakes report issued today. Only uniform, Federal regulation of ballast water remains elusive, particularly since Canada has yet to issue its ballast water regulations. According to LCA, the greatest progress has been made on the dredging crisis. Just a few years ago more than 18 million cubic yards of sediment clogged ports and waterways and the backlog was projected to grow. Now, the backlog is down to approximately 17 million cubic yards and shrinking.

Coal shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 2.6 million tons in August, a decrease of 18 percent compared to a year ago. Loadings also trailed the month’s long-term average by nearly 19 percent. Shipments from Lake Superior ports totaled 1,542,703 tons, a decrease of 28 percent compared to a year ago, and a drop of 20 percent compared to the month’s long-term average. Loadings on Lake Michigan totaled 196,413 tons, a decrease of 34 percent compared to a year ago, and some 38 percent off the month’s long-term average.

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 7,231,506 tons in July, the highest level since July 2008 when 7,318,961 tons were loaded at U.S. and Canadian ports. This July’s total also represents an increase of 8.6 percent over June and 10.2 percent over a year ago. U.S. Great Lakes ports accounted for the upturn. Loadings totaled 6,681,796 tons, an increase of nearly 18 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian ports in the Seaway decreased nearly 30 percent, in part because of the closure of Wabush Mines.

The rise in Great Lakes water levels has yet to translate into full loads for the U.S.-flag freighters moving iron ore, coal, limestone, cement and other cargos. Vessels continue to routinely leave port with less than a full load on board. The largest iron ore cargo moved by a U.S.-flag laker through the Soo Locks in June totaled 69,576 tons. The record iron ore cargo for the “Head-of-the-Lakes Trade” is 72,300 tons and was carried in 1997, a period of near record-high water levels. The deepest draft ever recorded for a transit of the Poe Lock is 29’ 03” in 1986.

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 9.8 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in October, an increase of 14.4% compared to a year ago. The total was also slightly ahead of October’s long-term average, but 1% below the 9.9 million tons the fleet moved in September. U.S.-flag lakers moved 4.4 million tons of iron ore in October, 73.7% of all ore moving on the Lakes/Seaway that month. The 4.4 million tons represent a 15.8% increase over a year ago, and a 5.1% increase compared to October’s long-term average. Coal shipments in U.S.

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 10.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in August, an increase of more than 1 million tons, or 10.6 percent, compared to a year ago. The August float was also on par with month’s long-term average and slightly ahead of July’s 10.3 million-ton total. U.S.-flag lakers moved 4.5 million tons of iron ore in August, 77.5 percent of all ore moving on the Lakes/Seaway that month. The 4.5 million tons represent a virtual repeat of a year ago, but a slight decrease compared to the month’s long-term average. Coal shipments in U.S.

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 10.3 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in July, a slight increase over June, but a decrease of 2.2% compared to the corresponding period last year. The July float was also down 6.6% from the month’s long-term average. U.S.-flag lakers moved 4.6 million tons of iron ore in July, 76.7% of all ore moving on the Lakes/Seaway that month. The 4.6 million tons represent a 6.7% increase compared to a year ago, but a drop of 5.7% compared to the month’s long-term average. Coal shipments in U.S. hulls totaled 2 million tons in July, 70.6% of all coal moving on the Lakes that month. The 2 million tons represent an increase of 13.5% compared to a year ago, but a decrease of 14.4% compared to the month’s long-term average.

Maritime Transport & Logistics Advisors (MTLA) announced the addition of John Jamian, former Acting Maritime Administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, to its select group of Affiliate Members. Currently serving as president of the Seaway Great Lakes Trade Association, Mr. Jamian is a partner in Jamian Fahmy, LLC, based in Washington, D.C. and Michigan, and has extensive experience in international transportation, trade development, and the maritime industry. Most recently, Mr. Jamian served in the Bush Administration as the Acting Maritime Administrator and Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.