A report released June 15 from the U.S. Maritime Administration shows more ships are stopping at U.S. ports. The stops, or vessel calls, rebounded by 13 percent in 2010, after an eight percent decline in 2009. Oceangoing vessel calls reflect waterborne trade between the United States and countries around the world, and are a measure of import, export and domestic ocean shipments.
The 2010 Vessel Calls Snapshot report contains data on calls by oceangoing vessels at U.S. ports. In 2010, 7,579 oceangoing vessels made 62,747 calls at U.S. ports. Of the 2010 calls,
• 35 percent were by tankers carrying oil and gas,
• 31 percent were by containerships carrying general export and import cargo for markets around the U.S. and the world,
• 17 percent were by dry bulk vessels carrying iron, coal and grain for export,
• 9 percent were by roll-on roll-off vessels carrying vehicles for import and export, and
• 6 percent were by general cargo ships.