In the latest quarter the Seaway's total cargo shipments were up 18 per cent from a year earlier to 3,664,000 tonnes, including a 127 per cent surge in iron ore movements.

The iron ore to feed the Great Lakes region steel furnaces moves from Sept Iles, Que., in large bulk carriers heading for Montreal and the Seaway.

"It's clear the manufacturing sector is on the upswing and driving demand for commodities such as iron ore," said Richard Corfe, CEO of the St.Lawrence Seaway Management Corp., operator of the Canadian portion of the system.

"The increased Seaway tonnage is reflected in our business and throughout the marine transportation industry," said Allister Paterson, CEO of Seaway Marine Transport, operator of the largest bulk carrier fleet on the Great Lakes and St.Lawrence Seaway. "With the rebound being experienced by the core industrial sectors we serve, we expect a higher level of fleet activity and crew employment this season."

Sourced from www.montrealgazette.com