May ore shipments on par with last year

Normalcy is returning to the Great Lakes in terms of ore shipments, with May hauls matching those of last year.
The Lake Carriers’ Association reported last week that iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 6.4 million tons in May. It said the total would have been about 600,000 tons more, but three lakers were out of service for a combined 65 days last month to repair damage suffered in the heavy ice that covered the lakes in March and April.
Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 5.8 million tons. Loadings at Canadian terminals in the St. Lawrence Seaway increased slightly to 588,000 tons.
Ships are able to carry larger loads because of higher lake levels. The largest iron ore cargo to move in May totaled 67,293 tons, an increase of 2,800 tons compared the high a year ago. The association reported that in May 1997, when water levels were at the highest in recent history, ships were allowed to load to capacity and the top shipment totaled 69,961 tons. Later in the 1997 season, some ships’ loads exceeded 72,000 tons.
The season numbers remain low due to the ice conditions this spring. The total ore moved through the end of May was 12.7 million tons, a decrease of 26 percent compared to that same period in 2013.
 The Lake Carriers’ Association represents 17 American companies that operate 57 U.S.-flagged vessels on the Great Lakes.