St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation Reports Sharply Lower Traffic Volumes

Seaway traffic results for the period through August 31st now available; total numbers rebounding from April’s report.

Just a few months after recording its 50th Anniversary, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation is also reporting sharply lower cargo volumes and ship transits for the first eight months of 2009. Reflecting the general turndown in the global economy, total tonnage was down about 35 percent from this time last year. In the good news department, however, the cumulative declines represented a healthy rebound from earlier numbers recorded in April, when total tonnage was down almost 44 percent.

In terms of individual cargoes, iron ore and coal traffic was down by a whopping 60 percent, virtually mirroring April’s numbers while grain shipments remained the sole bright spot with shipments up more than 12 percent.
The SLSMC is a not-for-profit corporation responsible for the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic through the Canadian Seaway facilities, which consist of 13 of the 15 locks between Montreal and Lake Erie. The Corporation plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the waterway remains a safe and well-managed system, which it shares with its American counterpart, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

For more information concerning the Seaway and insight into its future, please visit: www.greatlakes-seaway.com.