(CLEVELAND) — U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 81.4 million tons of cargo in 2023, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to 2022. The 2023 float was 1.2 percent above the fleet’s five-year average.
Iron ore cargoes totaled 42.4 million tons, an increase of 13.4 percent compared to a year earlier. Coal cargoes were down 9.7 percent to 8.4 million tons. Limestone shipments increased by 3.9 percent to 24.6 million tons, while cement shipments were a near match to 2022 at 3.7 million tons.
Salt and grain cargoes were down by 5.8 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively. Sand shipments increased by 12.4 percent.
– Lake Carriers’ Association
