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    Shipping and Logistics

    January Weather Disrupts Shipping

    Written by Sandy Williams


    The year is beginning with numerous weather-related disruptions to shipping. Ice in the Great Lakes region has made loading of iron ore difficult, freezing port equipment and the ore itself. Sources report carriers on the Great Lakes will be expediting ore shipments to the steel mills that were shorted, once the Soo Locks reopen in March.

    Unusually cold temperatures across the country brought challenges to barge traffic on the nation’s rivers. Ice conditions on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers forced some barge lines to suspend operations until the weather improves. Warmer temperatures are forecast for the coming week, but normal tow size is not expected to resume for another 15-20 days, said MID-SHIP Group.

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