St. Lawrence Seaway system shipping season starts off slow
Cargo shipped until end of April down 6.27 per cent
Coal shipments on the 3,700-kilometre Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system shot up 134.3 per cent by the end of April, says St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.
That’s compared with the same time last year, according to figures released by the organization this week.
But from mid-March to the end of April, total cargo shipped on the seaway was nearly 3.7 million tonnes, down from 3.9 million tonnes last year, a 6.27 per cent decrease.
General cargo was down 30.79 per cent, followed by dry bulk, with a 12.55 per cent decrease over last year.
The seaway’s figures showed liquid bulk shipments were down 11.24 per cent, with all grain shipments down 7.57 per cent,
Iron ore saw a drop of 2.38 per cent from mid-March to the end of April compared to the same time last year.
Twenty-two fewer vessels — lakers, tug and barges, ocean-going — transited the system, a 5.28 per cent drop. “While ongoing fluctuations in commodities can be expected, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping corridor, a dependable green corridor, is well positioned to ensure shippers maximize opportunities presented in 2023,” said seaway president and chief executive officer Terence Bowles, in a release through the Chamber of Marine Commerce.
He said through careful planning, investment and responsiveness to the needs of shippers and ship owners, the seaway is doing its part to move goods efficiently, safelyand in an environmentally sustainable manner.
The seaway corporation invested $45 million in its winter works maintenance program to maintain the system’s reliability, it said in the release.
That work included new ice-management equipment to support cold-weather operations, bridge work to maintain reliable operation and ground transportation requirements — roads and railways.
“The seaway is a vital link in the North American supply chain, and we are proud to support the success of the shippers who use it through our comprehensive and vigilant maintenance program,” said Bowles.