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38 million metric tons moved on St. Lawrence Seaway in 2017

Posted 3/23/18

MASSENA -- Cargo tonnage for the St. Lawrence Seaway’s 2017 navigation season ended with more than 38 million metric tons moved, an increase of 9 percent above the 2016 season, according to the St. …

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38 million metric tons moved on St. Lawrence Seaway in 2017

Posted

MASSENA -- Cargo tonnage for the St. Lawrence Seaway’s 2017 navigation season ended with more than 38 million metric tons moved, an increase of 9 percent above the 2016 season, according to the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

A steady volume of iron ore, steel, grain, salt, cement, containerized goods, and project cargo including windmill components and large machinery kept Seaway vessels extremely busy throughout the year, the SLSDC said in a press release.

One of the largest increases noted in cargo tonnage was the movement of iron ore. Both Canadian and U.S. lakers moved 29 percent more iron ore than the prior navigation season. About 84 inbound iron ore shiploads moved from the Labrador region of Canada to the U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes steel production sites. Another 132 outbound iron ore shipments departed from the iron ore mines in Minnesota and moved to transshipment ports along the lower St. Lawrence River for transfer to ocean-going ships bound for Asia. Such a high level of iron ore activity on the Seaway had not been seen since 2013, the SLSDC said.

It is estimated that foreign flag vessels importing cargoes into the Great Lakes Seaway System arrived from 38 different countries while exports leaving the system were delivered to 29 countries. This simple fact signifies that the Great Lakes Seaway System continues to be a viable and competitive international gateway for global trade