Water

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 7/1/1999

Tightness in the U.S. labor market may be having an effect now on water transportation rates, particularly in domestic deep-sea and Mississippi River transportation. These two areas saw rates rise 3.1% and 3.3%, respectively, between May 1998 and May 1999. One culprit in the recent rate escalation trend may be the rising cost of tugging and towing services. Compared to a year ago, the average price for vessel docking and undocking services is up 3.7%. Also, the average price for ship-assistance services is up 4.8% and the price of auxiliary harbor services is up 6.5%.

% CHANGE VS.: 1 month ago 6 mos. ago 1 yr. ago

Inbound liner +1.9 -5.1 -1.9

Outbound liner 0.0 -2.5 -6.9

Domestic deep sea -0.1 +1.2 +3.1

Grt. Lks.-St. Lawrence +0.1 -0.4 -0.5

Mississippi River -2.1 -7.7 +3.3