More ships at U.S. ports

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. In 2010, 7,579 oceangoing vessels made 62,747 calls at U.S. ports. Of the 2010 calls, 35 % were by tankers carrying oil and gas,
17 % were by dry bulk vessels carrying iron, coal and grain for export,
9 % were by roll-on roll-off vessels carrying vehicles for import and export, and 6 % by general cargo ships.
 
In addition, the report shows that tanker operators are replacing single-hull vessels with new, greener double-hull ships. In 2010, 97 percent of the tanker calls were by double-hull vessels, up from 78 percent five years earlier.

Referring to the size of container vessels, those of 5,000 TEU or greater accounted for 26 percent of containership calls at U.S. ports, up from 12 percent five years before.

In 2010, the top 10 U.S. ports accounted for 58 percent of oceangoing vessel calls. Houston was largest for tanker calls; LA/LB (Los Angeles/Long Beach) was largest for containership calls, and New Orleans was largest for dry bulk calls.