Bob Berg / Lake Superior Magazine
A late-season surge pushed the tonnage on the St. Lawrence Seaway to 38.9 million during the 2012 season, up 4 percent from last year’s total.
Strong overseas demand for coal and iron ore pushed the total past the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation’s projections by 300,000 tons. Canadian grain movement was able to offset the U.S. losses caused by a widespread drought.
The 2012 tonnage total is still well off pre-recession levels – vessels moved 47 million tons in 2006 – but Great Lakes shipping has rebounded significantly since 2009, when tonnage through the Seaway slipped to just 30.5 million.
The Seaway closed for the season on December 29, 2012. The Canadian-flag laker John B. Aird was the last vessel through the Welland Canal.
On Lake Superior, the Soo Locks closed Jan. 15.