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minology, references and regulations. The NDRF includes the Ready Re- serve Force, federal and state maritime academy training ships, and other ves- sels that are maintained by MARAD for national defense and emergency purposes. Marad Calls for Marine Highway Projects The Maritime Administration is ac- cepting project applications for Ma- rine Highway designations until Sep- tember 30, 2016. Eligible projects should establish new or enhance exist- ing Marine Highway services that re- duce landside congestion and increase the use of domestic marine transpor-tation. Visit: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documen tDetail;D=MARAD-2013-0011-0015 St. Lawrence Seaway Cargo Shipments Rise to 2013 LevelsOver 15 million metric tons of cargo moved through the St. Lawrence Sea- way during the month of July, down just 4 percent over last year, marking a sustained comeback after the slow start to the shipping season. The Sea- way reported that year-to-date total cargo shipments for the period March 28 to July 31 were 15 million met- ric tons. Iron ore and coal were both down by 37 and 16 percent respec- tively. General cargo was up 61 per- cent overall with iron and steel, and steel slabs posting increases of 78 and 111 percent over 2013. U.S. grain shipments were down by 9 percent in July. The liquid bulk category posted a downturn of 24 percent to 1.3 mil- lion metric tons. The dry bulk cat- egory was down 1 percent over 2013. July: Best Month for Lakers in Two Years U.S.-ß ag Great Lakes freighters moved 11,365,550 tons of cargo in July, the highest monthly total in two years. Shipments of limestone reached their highest level in two years, 3.4 million tons, an increase of more than 10% compared to a year ago. U.S.- ß ag cargo movement stands at 38.4 million tons, a decrease of 10.8% compared to a year ago. Even though 55 U.S.-ß ag lakers were in service in July, an increase of Þ ve compared to a year ago, the ß eet has not overcome the thousands of hours lost to heavy ice formations in March and April. Ice damage to U.S.-ß ag lakers cost LCA members more than $5.7m. PEOPLE & COMPANY NEWS www.marinelink.com MN 55MN Sept14 Layout 50-59.indd 55MN Sept14 Layout 50-59.indd 558/20/2014 11:33:13 AM8/20/2014 11:33:13 AM