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Friday, July 11, 2025

Great Lakes News

09 Jul 2025

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in June

Source: Lake Carriers' Association

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.9 million tons in June, a decrease of 9.6% from 2024. Shipments were 1.2% below the month’s five-year average.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 16.6 million tons, a decrease of 16.1% compared to the previous year’s total. Iron shipments are below their five-year average by 8.9% for the first half of the year.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry…

01 Jul 2025

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Up in June

Source: Lake Carriers' Association

The Lake Carriers’ Association reports that shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.5 million tons in June, an increase of 6.5% from 2024.However, this June’s loadings were below the month’s five-year average by 1.9%.Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, an increase of 12.2%t compared to last year. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 639,301 tons, a decrease of 13.4%.Year-to-date, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 9.1 million tons, a decrease of 6.5% compared to a year ago.

13 May 2025

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in April

Source: Lake Carriers' Association

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 3.7 million tons in April, a decrease of 18.7% compared to 2024. Shipments were 19.1% below the month’s five-year average.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 6.7 million tons, a decrease of 25.1% compared to a year ago. Through April, iron ore shipments are 17.4% below their five-year average for four months of the year.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually including iron ore…

06 May 2025

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Down in April

Source: Lake Carriers' Association

The Lakes Carriers' Association reports that limestone shipments in the Great Lakes totaled 1.8 million net tons, a decrease of 21.6% compared to a year ago. Loadings were also below the month’s five-year average by 15.7%.Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 1.5 million tons, a decrease of 18.2%. Loadings at Canadian quarries decreased by 35.3% to 297,064 tons.Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 2 million tons, a decrease of 22.7% from 2024. Shipments from U.S. and Canadian ports decreased by 19.4% and 37.3%, respectively, from the previous year.

08 Apr 2025

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Drop Below Five-Year Average in March

Source: Lake Carriers' Association

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes were below one million tons in March, a decrease of 39.1% compared to 2024, reports the Lake Carriers’ Association. Loadings were also below the month’s five-year average by 19.4%.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at nearly three million tons, a decrease of 31.9% compared to a year ago. Iron ore shipments are 15.2% below their five-year average for the first three months of the year.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet…

25 Feb 2025

Great Lakes Water Levels Currently Below Average

© Peter Hermes Furian / Adobe Stock

The Great Lakes Water Levels Boards of the International Joint Commission have provided an updated summary of current water level conditions.Water supply conditions throughout much of 2024 resulted in near average water levels throughout the Great Lakes and one of the longest periods of sustained near long-term average water levels on Lake Ontario.Although water levels throughout the Great Lakes continued their natural, gradual seasonal decline in fall, drought conditions in certain regions of the Great Lakes accelerated the water level decline in some of the lakes.

31 Jan 2025

U.S. Shipping Invests $150 Million in Great Lakes Region

Great Lakes Shipyard Work (c) LCA

With winter in full swing, the U.S.-flagged fleet of Lakers have tied up in ports across the Great Lakes region to perform critical maintenance before the navigational locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan reopen on March 25th.Hundreds of skilled shipyard workers will flock to the area to support the nearly $150 million maintenance investment being made on these massive ships. The state receiving the largest amount of work is Ohio with $51.5 million, followed closely by Wisconsin at $51 million…

21 Jan 2025

U.S.-Flag 2024 Cargo on Lakes Down 6.3 PCT

Great Lakes bulk carrier underway (c) LCA

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 76.3 million tons of cargo in 2024, a decrease of 6.3 percent compared to 2023. The 2024 float was 4.6 percent below the fleet’s 5-year average.Compared to 2023, salt shipments increased by 5.8 percent while sand shipments increased by 15.2 percent. However, shipments of all other commodities decreased in 2024. Both iron ore and grain cargos decreased by less than one percent to 42 million tons and 312,345 tons, respectively. Coal cargos were down 12.7 percent to 7.3 million tons.

03 Jan 2025

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Down in 2024

The Bulk Carrier Jackson at W. 3rd - Cuyahoga (c) LCA

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 28.3 million tons in 2024, a decrease of 3.9 percent compared to 2023.  2024’s loadings were below the trade’s 5-year average by 2.9 percent.Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 3.4 percent from the prior year to 22.8 million tons.  Shipments from U.S. quarries were also below their 5-year average by 2.4 percent.Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 5.4 million tons, a decrease of 5.7 percent compared to 2023 and 5 percent below the 5-year average.

02 Jan 2025

Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System Issues Notice to Shipping

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System as amended a Planned Outage at Lock 7.Mariners are advised of a revision to the preplanned closure at Lock 7 for the replacement of Gates 1 and 2. Due to environmental conditions, the closure will begin one day later. The details are as follows:Dates: January 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2025Time: 08:00 to 18:00 each day (10-hour window)During these periods, the lock will be unavailable for transit.Any deviation from the above schedule will be communicated via major delay communication.

11 Dec 2024

Great Lakes NOV Iron Ore Trade Dips

The 'Mesabi Miner' at Cleveland (c) LCA

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.3 million tons in November, a decrease of 4.7 percent from 2023. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 3.5 percent.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 45.2 million tons, a decrease of 2.3 percent compared to the same point in 2023. Through November iron ore loadings are 4.2 percent above their 5-year average for that timeframe.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry…

05 Nov 2024

Lakes Limestone Trade Down in October

Limestone Carrier CREDIT LCA

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in October, a decrease of 13.1 percent compared to a year ago. Limestone cargos were also below the month’s 5-year average by 9.6 percent.The Lake Carriers' Association, the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet trade group, today announced thatl loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.7 million tons, a decrease of 8.4 percent. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 587,069 tons, a decrease of 29.7 percent. Year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 24.2 million tons, a slight decrease compared to 2023.

17 Oct 2024

Port Milwaukee Expands Cruise Business

Port Milwaukee kicked off its cruise season on May 1, 2024, with the arrival of the Viking Octantis.

After a seven-year hiatus, Port Milwaukee has announced the return of Victory Cruise Lines in 2025. The cruise line will call on Milwaukee once again with the vessel Victory I which has a passenger capacity of approximately 200 people. Over 13,500 global cruise passengers visited the City of Milwaukee this year, marking another successful season for the city’s growing cruising industry.The season saw 27 vessel calls from seven vessels that host itineraries in Milwaukee.Port Milwaukee kicked off its cruise season on May 1, 2024, with the arrival of the Viking Octantis.

04 Oct 2024

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Up 9.4%

(Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association)

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.8 million tons in September, an increase of 9.4% compared to a year ago, according to latest figures from trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Limestone cargos were also above the month’s 5-year average by 4.5%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.1 million tons, an increase of 10.6% from 2023. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 678,580 tons, an increase of 4.2%, LCA said..LCA data shows that year-to-date the limestone trade stands at 20.8 million tons, an increase of 1.8% compared to a year ago.

03 Oct 2024

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Dips 1.9%

(Image: Lake Carriers’ Association)

Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes totaled 5.5 million tons in September, a decrease of 1.9% compared to a year ago, according to latest figures from industry trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Shipments were above the month’s 5-year average by 6.6%.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 36.5 million tons, a decrease of less than 1% compared to the same point in 2023, LCA said.Through September iron ore loadings are 7.3% above their 5-year average for the first three quarters of the year.

27 Sep 2024

Second Phase of New Soo Lock Construction Completed

(Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, substantially completed Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) contract on September 17.“Phase 2 work focused on rehabilitating the upstream approach walls to guide vessels into the New Lock and will allow the vessels to moor on the wall,” said Ryan Berkompas, New Lock at the Soo Project Engineer. “The old approach walls in the northern channel were the same age as the Sabin and Davis Locks…

19 Sep 2024

OSHA Fines Marine Services Firm for Multiple Violations Related to Vessel Fire

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A marine services company was cited for 15 serious violations and fined $164,000 for exposing workers to fire and asphyxiation hazards while making repairs to a Canadian-registered bulk carrier moored at the Port of Ashtabula, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said.The 81-year-old vessel Cuyahoga was in winter lay-up when a fire broke out on March 15, 2024 while maintenance and repair work was being performed. All crew members working on board managed to escape without injury.Acting on a referral from the U.S.

09 Sep 2024

Rand Logistics CEO Dave Foster to Retire, Greg Binion Named Interim CEO

© Douglas / Adobe Stock

Rand Logistics, Inc., a provider of bulk freight shipping in the Great Lakes region, announced that Dave Foster has informed the Board of his decision to retire from his role as Chief Executive Officer, following a nearly 40 year career in the maritime industry, including the past four as CEO of Rand.Greg Binion, a seasoned transportation and logistics executive and most recently a Board Member of Rand, as well as the Executive Chairman of Andrie Marine, has been appointed interim…

26 Aug 2024

New Fire/Rescue Boat Delivered to Monroe Township

(Photo: Ocean Craft Marine)

Annapolis, Md. based boatbuilder Ocean Craft Marine (OCM) reports it has delivered a new firefighting/search and rescue (SAR) boat for first responders in Michigan.Built for water-related incident management and rescue operations on Lake Erie, the 9.5-meter newbuild is aimed at reestablishing the emergency response capabilities of the Monroe Township Fire Department and the neighboring agencies.“This new Fire/SAR boat restores our capabilities to conduct water rescues and firefighting missions on the lake.

13 Aug 2024

Great Lakes Limestone Trade Down in July

(Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association)

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.6 million tons in July, a decrease of 14.3% compared to a year ago, according to latst figures from industry trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). The trade was also below the month’s five-year average by 9.3%.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons, a decrease of 14% compared to 2023, while shipments from Canadian quarries decreased by 15.5% to 651,155 tons, LCA said.Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 13.3 million tons, an increase of 2.7% compared to a year ago.

06 Aug 2024

Michigan Awards $5 Million for Maritime Infrastructure Projects

(File photo: Port of Monroe)

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has revealed the winners of the 2024 Michigan Maritime and Port Facility Assistance Grant Program, which will allocate $5 million to maritime projects throughout the state.The five chosen projects aim to enhance Michigan's maritime infrastructure, bolstering the state's economic edge, lowering freight transportation costs, increasing reliability and lessening the environmental effects of freight movement, MDOT said.MDOT's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget included a one-time appropriation of $5 million for the program…

06 Aug 2024

Bulk Carrier Grounded Due to Inadequate Clearance Guidance

ohn J Boland discharging cargo from its port side using its self-unloading boom in Lorain, Ohio, after the grounding. (Source: NTSB)

Inadequate operating company guidance on underkeel clearance led to the April 2023 grounding of a bulk carrier in Lake Huron, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday.The 667-foot-long, self-unloading bulk carrier John J Boland—owned by American Steamship Company and operated by Grand River Navigation under charter—grounded twice as it was completing final loading in Port Dolomite, Michigan on April 21, 2023. The crew discovered flooding and damage to the hull after it was underway.

31 Jul 2024

Rand Logistics Acquires Andrie

(Photo: Andrie)

Rand Logistics, a dry bulk shipping group operating on the Great Lakes, announced on Wednesday that it has reached a deal to acquire Andrie from Auxo Investment Partners, marking the company's expansion into liquid bulk shipping. Financial terms were not disclosed.Andrie, based in Muskegon, Mich., transports specialty liquid products such as asphalt, cement, refined oil products and calcium chloride, connecting North American production assets with distribution networks throughout the Great Lakes region.