American Steamship Warns of Layoffs

American Steamship is warning crews there may be layoffs this shipping season.

The Buffalo, New York-area shipping company has notified the New York state Labor Department that layoffs may be necessary, although no number has been floated.

A spokesperson for American Steamship’s parent company, Chicago’s GATX, says the shipper relies on the steel industry for half of its business, but that industry is ailing.

The company may start the shipping season on April 1st with fewer vessels on the Great Lakes, and then add more ships as needed.

The company owns 18 ships and has 493 shipboard employees.