U.S.-flag Great Lakes cargo off 3.3% in June

U.S.-flag Great Lakes cargo off 3.3% in June    U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessels transported 10 million tons of dry bulk cargo in June, a 5.2 percent increase compared to May, but down 3.3 percent compared to a year ago.
   The June 'float' was also 3.9 percent below the month's five-year average.
   According to the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 12.2 percent compared to a year ago.    Coal for power generation and steel production fell 25.3 percent.    Aggregate and fluxstone for the construction and steel industries slipped 7.2 percent.
   Through June U.S.-flag cargos stand at 33.7 million tons, a 2.4 percent increase compared to the same point in 2010. Iron ore has increased 7.6 percent, but coal and limestone are down by 2.8 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.
   Compared to the five-year average for the first half of the year, the association said U.S.-flag cargos are down 3.5 percent.
   LCA represents 17 American companies that operate 55 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.