The Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) said Friday that US-flag Great Lakes freighters 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 five-year average for US-flag lakers.
US-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 US-flag lakers represented a decrease of 4.3 percent from 2011.
Coal cargos moved 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 US-flag lakers represented a decrease of 13.1 percent from 2011.
The limestone trade in US-flag hulls totaled 21.8 million tons in 2012, or 79 percent of the total volume of limestone moved on the Great Lakes last year. The 21.8 million tons of limestone carried by US-flag lakers represented an increase of 1.7 percent (360,000 tons) over 2011.