Boatnerd Discussion Forum

i wouldnt say never about the ships in lay-up still. we might not see them this year or next but the hulls sitting idle on the american side will return to action eventually. especially since the american lakers rarely haul salt or go into salt water. thier hulls are still very much in usable condition. as for the canadian side, thats a different story. the boats that are aging and are in need of extensive repair will just be sentto the scrapyards. canada just repealed the import tariff so as older boats go you'll most likely see ships that look alot like the algobay start popping up. ULS and algoma will also continue to bring some of their bulk carriers off the oceans and onto the lakes as well. all the bigger new build ships will take the place of the smaller vessels moved to the lakes

With the permanent reduction in the amount of coal being shipped on the lakes, there isn't the need for so many lakers anymore. The Canadian self-unloaders that were dedicated to hauling coal can be used to haul taconite pellets and salt. Some of the higher cubic capacity coal boats are also suitable to haul grain. As a result, shipowners are able to scrap ships that are in need of extensive steel renewal, instead of spending money to keep them in operation. The new lakers that are going to be built are meant to replace other ships that are nearing the end of their lives, not to replace carrying capacity being retired right now.

Currently there are about six or seven blast furnances idle around the lakes, because of the recession. There is no guarantee all those will return to service, as the economy improves, because of changes in the steel industry and increasing greenhouse gas regulations.

IMO, the number of US and Canadian flag lakers running this season, will be the new "normal." Ships that are still in lay-up will never sail again or will return to service to replace current active lakers being retired. But this type of downsizing has happened everytime there has been a serious recession in North America.

What about the possibility of bringing back the Pioneer & Ambassador to Canadian flag from the CSL international pool?

Raymond wrote:What is ACM & ULS/SMT doing as far as replacement vessels for
any tonnage lost from scrapping the Algocape, Algomarine and the
Algosteel along with the 3 ships sent to scrap? I know that the
Discovery, Guardian and Spirit carry ore in and grain out but, what
of the stone and salt cargoes? Who will carry these for ACM?
Finally, will ACM & ULS/SMT continue to build new vessels since
there seems to be a shortage of Canadians with many for scrap?

Algomarine is not going for scrap. Her future is secure through at least next year.

What is ACM & ULS/SMT doing as far as replacement vessels for
any tonnage lost from scrapping the Algocape, Algomarine and the
Algosteel along with the 3 ships sent to scrap? I know that the
Discovery, Guardian and Spirit carry ore in and grain out but, what
of the stone and salt cargoes? Who will carry these for ACM?
Finally, will ACM & ULS/SMT continue to build new vessels since
there seems to be a shortage of Canadians with many for scrap?