U.S.-flag lakers transport less cargo in September

U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes carried 9.8 million tons of cargo in September, a year-over-year drop of 8 percent.    U.S.-flag lakers carried 9.8 million tons of cargo in September, a year-over-year drop of 8 percent, according to the Lakes Carriers’ Association, which represents 15 American companies that operate 56 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.
   Iron ore cargos carried by U.S.-flag lakers fell 20 percent from last September, while coal cargos carried by U.S.-flag lakers rose 10 percent from Sept. 2014.
   Although September limestone loadings by U.S.-flag lakers posted a year-over-year increase of 6 percent, overall limestone shipments on the Great Lakes carried by all lakers totaled 3.3 million tons in September, a year-over-year drop of 8 percent.
   The September decline in limestone transport primarily resulted from the 43 percent year-over-year drop in shipments from Canadian quarries, which stood at 341,047 tons for the month.
   Limestone shipments from U.S. quarries totaled 2.9 million tons in September, a negligible decline from Sept. 2014.
   Overall, year-to-date limestone shipments on the Great Lakes stands at 21.1 million tons, an increase of 9 percent from the same period last year. “U.S. quarries account for much of the increase. Loadings from the quarries in Michigan and Ohio have increased by more than 1.5 million tons,” the Lakes Carriers’ Association said.