Iron ore, coal lead increase in 2011 Seaway shipping season

International shipping from the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway was up last year, even though grain shipments were down.

Salties, as oceangoing vessels are called, make up about 10 percent of the ships calling on the Duluth-Superior Port.

Last year only 71 salties arrived in the Twin Ports, down from 104 in 2010. Port Authority spokeswoman Adele Yorde says China became an emerging market for iron ore in 2011, while grain tonnage took a dive.

“International markets being what they are this year, Russia, the Ukraine, the Baltic Sea area had a boom crop of grain, of wheat, as did Australia. The Midwestern farmers had a tough start to the season. The shipments out of here just did not come close to what they were last year.”

St. Lawrence Seaway numbers were up 2.5 percent. U.S. Seaway Administrator Terry Johnson says he’ll take that.

“Given the economy that is still quite fragile, we’re happy with those results.”

While grain was down, iron ore and coal were up, suggesting a growing market. As for the upcoming season — Johnson says it depends on the world economy.

“If I could predict that with 100 percent accuracy, I’d be playing the Stock Market and not doing what I’m doing. So we’re cautiously optimistic but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

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