U.S.-flag laker cargo up 34% in September

U.S.-flag laker cargo up 34% in September    U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters carried 9.37 million net tons of cargo in September, down 6.3 percent from August, but a 33.7 percent increase compared to a year ago.
   This September's 'float' was, however, 10.8 percent below the month's five-year average.
   ' Iron ore cargos in September increased 81 compared to a year ago.
   ' Coal loadings rose 17.5 percent.
   ' Limestone cargos increased 11.4 percent.
   Year-to-date U.S.-flag cargos stand at 62.8 million net tons, a 47.5 percent increase compared to a year ago, but 9 percent behind the five-year average for the first three quarters of the year.