Mounting delivery problems no laughing matter for utilities, producers

摘要

Transportation issues continue to haunt Eastern coal shippers and utilities, and some say the problem is becoming worse. The blame? That's a much tougher one to call. A source said the vessel queue at Lamberts Point, the Norfolk Southern pier, was up to 11 as of August 27. But in fairness to the railroads, which have received the brunt of growing discontent, the delays aren't always the fault of CSX or Norfolk Southern. "I can't tell how much of the shortage is from the supplier side or the railway," the source said. "It is a unique system at the Norfolk pier. Normally the vessels that go out of there are 'blend' cargos or multiple-source cargos. It could be high-vol, mid-vol and low-vol coal on the same vessel.