U.S.-flag lakers see volumes drop 3.3% in 2015

A total of 87.2 million tons of cargo was transported by U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters in 2015, a 3.3 percent decline from 2014.    U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters transported 87.2 million tons of freight in 2015, a 3.3 percent decline from 2014 and the lowest level since 2009, according to the Lakes Carriers’ Association, which represents 15 American companies that operate 56 U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes.
   Iron ore volumes carried by U.S.-flag lakers during the year totaled 40.9 million tons, while coal volumes reached 17.7 million tons, year-over-year declines of 10.4 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.
   However, U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters saw a surge in limestone and cement volumes in 2015. The freighters transported 23.1 million tons of limestone and 3.5 million tons of cement, year-over-year increases of 7.8 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.
   In addition, grain volumes carried by U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters rose 37.3 percent in 2015 compared to the prior year to 350,000 tons.
   Sand volumes totaled 320,000 tons, a 15 percent year-over-year decline, while salt volumes grew 0.8 percent to 1.4 million tons compared to the previous year.