GLIN==> Big Dip in Lakes Coal Trade in September

thanks for this information, Glen. i have a question - Lakes Michigan/Huron are only 5 inches below their seasonal norms, per the Corps' monthly report. do we have dredging problems even at that level, or are the problem spots someplace else?
 


Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:56:55 -0400
From: nekvasil at lcaships.com
To: glin-announce at great-lakes.net
Subject: GLIN==> Big Dip in Lakes Coal Trade in September







Coal shipments on the Great Lakes in September totaled only 2,752,691 net tons, a decrease of 34 percent compared to a year ago.  It is rare for the Lakes coal trade to total so few tons in a month unless impacted by heavy ice or frequent storms that force the fleet to go to anchor for extended periods of time.
 
The largest decrease came in shipments from Superior, Wisconsin.  Superior Midwest Energy Terminal loaded 1.5 million tons in September, a decrease of 35 percent compared to a year ago.  The decline primarily reflects decreased demand from a Canadian power plant.  However, vessel availability issues and a couple weather-related delays also were a factor.
 
The dredging crisis played a larger role in September.  Whereas in previous months the largest coal cargo transiting the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan had topped 67,000 tons, water levels are now beginning their seasonal decline, so the best ships could do in the Head-of-the-Lakes trade was 66,775 tons.  If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was maintaining the system to Congressionally-authorized depths, the largest coal cargo could have approached 71,000 tons.  The chronic lack of adequate dredging is essentially slashing the largest vessels’ per-trip carrying capacity by nearly 6 percent.
 
Year-to-date, coal shipments stand at 20.6 million tons, a decrease of nearly 27 percent compared to a year ago.  The trade is more than 29 percent off the 5-year average for the first three quarters.
 
See attached for more details.
 
Glen G. Nekvasil
Vice President-Corporate Communications
Lake Carriers' Association
Suite 720
20325 Center Ridge Road
Rocky River, OH  44116
   P:  440-333-9996
   F:  440-333-9993
   C:  216-702-6360
   E:  nekvasil at lcaships.com
 
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