Home/American Shipper/Great Lakes shippers’ ‘light loading’ plight American Shipper Great Lakes shippers’ ‘light loading’ plight FreightWaves Staff · Thursday, June 07, 2012 Facebook Twitter/X LinkedInIt’s estimated the U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel fleet loses more than 8,100 tons of cargo for each one-inch reduction in loaded draft, forcing many vessel operators to shrink their carrying loads.