Cargo Movement on the Great Lakes In U.S.-Flag Vessels Down 4.6 Percent in 2012
CLEVELAND—U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (“lakers”) carried 89.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in 2012, a decrease of 4.6 percent compared to 2011. The 2012 float was 1.5 percent off the 5-year average for U.S.-flag lakers. U.S.-flag lakers carried 45.2 million tons of iron ore in 2012, or 73.3 percent of the total volume of iron ore moved on the Great Lakes last year.
The 45.2 million tons of iron ore carried by U.S.-flag lakers represented a decrease of 4.3 percent from 2011. Coal cargos moved in U.S. bottoms totaled 17.6 million tons in 2012, or 69.3 percent of the total volume of coal moved on the Great Lakes last year. The 17.6 million tons of coal carried by U.S.- flag lakers represented a decrease of 13.1 percent from 2011.