July is Best Month for U.S.-Flag Lakers in Two Years
CLEVELAND — U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 11,365,550 tons of cargo in July, their highest monthly total in two years. The industry’s July total also represented increases of 8.6 percent compared to June and 10.2 percent compared to a year ago.
Iron ore for steel production totaled 5.3 million tons, an increase of nearly 15 percent compared to a year ago. Higher water levels did allow for some cargos to approach 70,000 tons, but even so, the vessels were still less than full. With 18 million cubic yards of sediment clogging ports and waterways, only dredging will fully restore the Great Lakes Navigation System.