News – June 20, 2008
The Lake Carriers’ Association says shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 4.2 million net tons in May, a decrease of 3.4 per cent compared to a year ago. However, May stone cargos were nearly 11 per cent off the month’s five-year average.
“While demand remains sluggish in some markets, the dredging crisis continued to limit deliveries,” said the Association.
“A comparison of three cargos carried by the same vessel illustrates the debilitating effects of inadequate dredging. All three cargos were loaded at the same Michigan quarry. The first totaled 25,619 tons, or only 90 per cent of the vessel’s rated carrying capacity. Subsequent cargos slipped even more, first to 23,297 tons, and then to 21,751 tons.”
“Had the vessel been to deliver full loads, its customers would have received 86,000 tons of limestone. Instead, they received 70,667 tons.”
“For the year, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 7.4 million net tons, a decrease of nearly 6.7 per cent compared to the same point in 2007. Shipments are more than 14 per cent behind the five-year average for the January-May timeframe.”