Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Aren't these inbound cargoes to Algoma bound to become irrelevant once the new electric arc furnace comes up to full capacity? Perhaps it also makes sense for LLT to charter out some of these tonnage commitments to outside fleets (and competitors at that) rather than secure more carrying capacity either through bareboat charter or new acquisitions for a short period of time. I believe most of Algoma's raw materials are brought in from US ports, there would be no problem with what members of Rand's combined fleet (LLT and the US flagged GRN and ASC units) were used to make deliveries to the mill. From the outside looking in with no insight into the factors leading to this decision, the chartering out of some of these deliveries to Algoma and CSL seems to indicate that the sidelining of the Michipicoten and the removal from service of the Cuyahoga has Rand operating near its capacity in at the present time.

On the subject of them only having 3 ships running where is the Saginaw?

Lower Lakes hasn’t lost those contracts. As the original post suggested they don’t have enough ships and are chartering Algoma and CSL to help out. Currently on the Canadian side they only have three ships running. Last year for most of the fall the Atlantic Huron and others were working on charter to LLT after the Michipicoten was sidelined.

It also looks like Lower Lakes lost the contract for the Lake Erie to Soo coal runs. I can’t recall if it has been CSL or Algoma, but one of them has appeared to have taken these over so far this season.

Algoma and CSL vessels going to the Soo mill Is Lower Lakes no longer going there Or are they unable to fulfill their contract due to having ships down