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Lakes Maritime Task Force official testifies about impact of dredging shortfalls on shipping, industry
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Lack of investment in the country's navigation infrastructure has significantly reduced the efficiency of waterborne commerce, an official of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force told a Congressional subcommittee Feb. 16.
The Great Lakes region "accounts for 70 percent of the nation's steelmaking capacity, 70 percent of its automobile production and 55 percent of all heavy manufacturing. Unfortunately, we are not able to take full advantage of our vessels' efficiencies because of inadequate dredging," said James Weakley, a Maritime Task Force vice president and president of the Lake Carriers' Association, during his testimony before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. "Today, three of every four vessels leave the dock 'light loaded' because ports and connecting channels on the Great Lakes are not maintained to project dimensions," Weakley said. He stressed that each inch of lost draft has consequences for the American consumer. The fleet of U.S.-flagged vessels working the Great Lakes loses more than 8,000 tons of cargo each trip when forced to trim just one inch from their loaded draft. "The economic efficiency lost by not carrying those 8,000 tons is borne by the U.S. economy. Those 8,000 tons of iron ore not carried could have produced steel for 6,000 automobiles. Those 8,000 tons of coal not carried could have produced electricity to power the Greater Detroit area for 3 hours. Those 8,000 tons of limestone not carried could have been used to build 24 homes," he said. "Ships bound for Saginaw, Mich., could load an additional 60 inches if adequate water were available," he said. "One of the more tragic Great Lakes infrastructure stories is Dunkirk, N.Y., because water-based shipments to that port ended in 2005. That means 500,000 fewer tons of coal left Conneaut, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio. "As you can see, it is not a port or individual place at risk. It is the entire Great Lakes navigation system," Weakley said. "It is the industries and the people who depend on affordable marine transportation whose very livelihoods are endangered." |
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