Slow start to the shipping season on the Great Lakes

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal posted an interesting article on the slow start to the shipping season at the Port of Milwaukee, due to the slowing economy.  Only one ship was waiting at the Soo Locks for the opening of the waterway that connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron.  The Journal Sentinal reports that typically, cargo ships line up for miles to await the annual spring opening of the locks.

“Ships remained in their winter mooring at Duluth, Minn., because they lacked cargo – not because of the weather.”

A Great Lakes bulker, the H. Lee White (photo by ronnie44052)

Great Lakes ships normally carry bulk cargo, particularly material involved in steel production.  The global economic decline, and drop in industrial production has filtered down to the steel manufacturing industry.  After the recent news today concerning GM, the steel industry is likely to face even a further drop in demand as U.S. automakers either go bankrupt or re-organize.

If you work on a laker, let us know how things are going out there.

For more:

For a detailed listing of Great Lakes ships and their winter lay-up status check here.

Live Great Lakes Seaway ship tracking

For a detailed information on cargo tonnage reports and statistics, check the Lake Carriers Association