Great Lakes Shipping
Lack of investment in the country’s navigation infrastructure has significantly reduced the efficiency of waterborne commerce said a leading Great Lakes association. The President of Lake Carriers’ Association and an officer of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, believes Marine transportation on the Great Lakes makes manufacturing in America possible.
The region accounts for 70 percent of the nation’s steel making capacity, 70 percent of its automobile production, and 55 percent of all heavy manufacturing. Unfortunately, we are not able to take full advantage of our vessels’ efficiencies because of inadequate dredging. Today, three of every four vessels leave the dock ‘light loaded’ because ports and connecting channels on the Great Lakes are not maintained to project dimensions. Even an inch of lost draft has consequences for the American consumer.
The 63 vessels working the Great Lakes lose more than 8,000 tons of cargo each trip when forced to trim just one inch from their loaded draft. The economic efficiency lost by not carrying those 8,000 tons is borne by the U.S. economy. The 8,000 tons of iron ore not carried could have produced steel for 6,000 automobiles. 8,000 tons of coal not carried could have produced electricity to power the Greater Detroit area for 3 hours, and 8,000 tons of limestone not carried could have been used to build 24 homes.
February 20, 2007 6:49 AM | Category: Boats