U.S.-Flag Lakers’ Cargo Up 5.75 Percent in 2011
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 93.8 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in 2011, an increase of 5.75 percent compared to 2010. The 2011 “float” was also just about on par with the fleet’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos for the steel industry increased 12.4 percent compared to a year ago and outperformed their 5-year average by 12.7 percent.
Coal loadings slipped by 6 percent compared to 2010, and even more – 14 percent – compared to the trade’s 5-year average.