Lakers hampered by cargo declines, aging locks and harsh weather

摘要

The United States and Canada depend upon the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway for efficient movement of essential commodities, but vessel operators from both countries face a host of difficult problems on this crucial inland system. Key traditional cargoes, such as iron ore, have been declining in recent years. While business is lagging, the need to modernize aging infrastructure is becoming acute. Even the weather is conspiring to make life more difficult for Great Lakes operators. Drought has lowered water levels, reducing the amount of cargo that lakers can carry safely. And an unusually cold winter has forced a postponement in the opening of the 2003 shipping season.