November a good month on Great Lakes

   U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters carried 10 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in November, an increase of 11.9 percent over the 8.96 million tons carried in November 2011, said Lake Carriers’ Association, which represents 17 American companies that operate 56 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes. The November float was also 3.8 percent above the month’s 5-year average of 9.66 million tons.
   Through the end of November, U.S. lakers moved 85 million tons this year, 4 percent more than the 81.3 million tons in the same period last year. U.S.-flag cargo for the year on the Lakes was down 1.4 percent from the five year average of 86.2 million tons.
   The Great Lakes Ports Association said U.S. ports continued to post positive tonnage numbers in November. It said St. Lawrence Seaway year-to-date total cargo shipments from March 22 to November 30 were 33 million metric tons, up 1.23 percent from the same period last year.
   St. Lawrence Seaway shipments of iron ore and coke were up at 55 percent and 14 percent respectively compared to November 2010. Coal shipments totaled 410,000 metric tons in November, a 9 percent decrease from the same month last year. Total grain shipments for November were 1.4 million metric tons, down 13 percent from 2010.
   “With only one of the big three commodities, coal, bettering last year’s pace by 22,000 metric tons, the year-to-date performance of other bulk commodities like petroleum products (up 80 percent), salt (up 32 percent), scrap metal (up 49 percent), and other general cargo like wind turbine components (up 50 percent), have kept this year’s Seaway tonnage on a par with 2010,” says Rebecca Spruill, director of trade development for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “Vessel transits are up 7 percent and, with an expected strong performance in December, we’re within striking distance of meeting a 2 percent increase in tonnage over last season.”
   The Port of Cleveland experienced a 60 percent jump in project cargo volume during the first 11 months of the year, largely as a result of the increase in movement of imported and exported machinery, and the Port’s first-time handling of a wind turbine components from Europe.
   David Gutheil, the port’s vice president of maritime and logistics said “we’re forecasting continued growth this year and next in our handling of project cargo.”