Total cargo movement sees slight decline in May

Total cargo movement sees slight decline in May

Total cargo movement in U.S.-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes fell 2 percent in May compared with the previous year, despite a jump in iron ore shipments during the month.

The 11.9 million net tons of dry cargo shipped in May was nearly equal with the five-year average for that month but down from the approximately 12.1 million net tons shipped in May of 2007.

The impact of the dredging crisis remained evident as thousand-footers designed to carry 70,000 tons per trip generally left the docks with less than 64,000 tons of iron ore, the Lake Carriers' Association reported. Just two coal cargoes exceeded 65,000 tons in May and smaller vessels also ran with reduced payloads.

The iron ore float approached 5.9 million net tons-a reflection of the high operating rates at North American steel mills, according to the LCA. Compared with the approximately 5.4 million net tons of iron ore shipped in May of 2007, iron ore loadings increased 8 percent, and exceeded the five-year average mark of 4.97 million net tons.

However, both coal and stone shipments were down more than 200,000 tons from May 2007.

The total coal float in May was about 2.5 million net tons, down from the approximately 2.7 million net tons shipped in May of last year and the five-year average mark of 2.75 million net tons.

Limestone shipments declined to approximately 3.05 million net tons in May, compared with the 3.28 million net tons during the same period last year and the five-year average of 3.48 million.

For the season at the end of May, the total U.S.-flag cargo float was about 27.7 million net tons, down about 1 percent from May of 2007 and approximately 2 percent from the five-year average mark.

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