U.S. cargo float declines with water levels in June

U.S. cargo float declines with water levels in June

Impact of Great Lakes dredging deficit measured in light loadings of iron ore, coal

Cargo loadings in U.S.-flagged Great Lakes vessels declined nearly 5 percent to 11.3 million net tons in June compared with the same period the previous year, and fell 3 percent compared with the five-year average mark.

The overall decline was primarily attributed to light loading as a result of low water levels and inadequate dredging of harbors and channels. The ongoing American Maritime Officers strike against Wisconsin & Michigan Steamship Company, which has idled three vessels with a combined capacity of 66,000 tons, was also cited as a reason for the shortfall. However, had active vessels in the U.S. fleet been able to carry full loads, the idled capacity could have been recouped, according to the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA).

Iron ore loadings totaled about 4.7 million net tons in June, a drop of more than 5 percent compared with the previous year. Thousand-foot lakers designed to carry 70,000 tons of iron ore each trip departed the docks with less than 64,000 tons, and vessels with 28,000-ton capacities sometimes left as much as 3,000 tons of iron ore at the loading dock, according to the LCA.

The coal trade did not fare much better in June. No downbound coal cargoes carried in thousand-footers approached 64,000 tons, or the rated capacities of the ships. Upbound coal cargoes were also light. For the month, slightly more than 2.8 million net tons of coal were shipped in U.S.-flagged vessels, approximately 2 percent more than the same period the previous year.

Limestone cargoes declined more than 7 percent in June compared with June of 2006 and remained below the five-year average mark for that month.

For the season, U.S.-flag carriage stands at 39.4 million tons, a decrease of 6.4 percent from the same point in 2006 and 1.5 percent ahead of the five-year average for the first half of the year.

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