Impact of Higher Fuel Prices

[Guest]

I don't know how relevant this may be after nearly 50 years of service but I had always heard in the early 1980s that the George A. Stinson (now American Spirit) was something of a "mess" internally due to labor disputes at American Ship Building during its construction. I had heard among other issues this included unnecessary piping that connected to nothing while other piping had been purposely routed in a meandering way instead of a more direct routing apparently as a method to delay work and make the project more expensive for AMSHIP. I heard this second hand so I cannot vouch for the validity of these statements so perhaps someone who was aboard the vessel during its early career may be able to confirm or deny these rumors. I also seem to recall that a labor strike date looming was the reason the Stinson was moved from Lorain to Detroit for christening. I believe that AMSHIP only built one further vessel after the Stinson, this being the William J. DeLancey (Paul R. Tregurtha) that entered service in 1981. The downturn in shipping during the 1980s quickly resulted in AMSHIP shutting down its Lorain yard, an eventuality that was likely assisted by the labor issues at the company during the last years of its existence.

[Denny]

The American Spirit has indeed carried a few loads NOT many of coal during her career. I saw them on one of those trips in April 2011 when they were making a rare trip to the DTE Plant in St. Clair then. I got photos of them making the turn in the river and later unloading. When they arrived at the dock, I thought I remember them telling Sarnia Traffic “We would be here for between 36-38 hours or so as we then unload and discharge our coal load and cargo!” I don’t know exactly how long they spent at the dock but it was a very long time. Years ago, I thought they carried a few loads from MERC Dock in Superior up to Silver Bay to the Power Plant there when it was in operation. I don’t recall what year they did this however, I would say and guess about 2010 or 2011 maybe? As someone here mentioned, I think that the American Spirit could be having engine issues as to why possibly they are in Toledo? It seems they’ve been bothered and plagued with engine issues often here in the past few seasons or so.

[Guest]

The American spirit hardly ever hauled coal, maybe twice I saw her load at smet, so that’s not the reason she’s at the wall.

While the American Spirit has hardly ever carried coal, the other thousand footers that were previously committed to the coal trade are now available to carry iron ore. It appears that the American Spirit has engine problems and this is the cause of it being currently idle. But with the shift away from coal, it is likely that certain vessels will be put to the wall for layups when ore shipments constrict and which ones will in each fleet will be determined on a variety of factors such as how expensive and efficient each individual ship is to operate.

[Mn bob]

The American spirit hardly ever hauled coal, maybe twice I saw her load at smet, so that’s not the reason she’s at the wall.

[Guest]

WeeklySteel_2026.jpg

Any news on why the American Spirit laid up? Are mills cutting back on orders?

The steel mills around the Great Lakes are currently running at a higher rate than they have throughout most of 2026.

I've enclosed a screen-grab of a spreadsheet for the weekly raw steel production in the U.S. The Great Lakes produced 528,000 net tons for the week ending September 19, 2026.

Neat chart. Perhaps it's the shutdown of SMET that put the SPIRIT to the wall?

[Guest]

WeeklySteel_2026.jpg

Any news on why the American Spirit laid up? Are mills cutting back on orders?

The steel mills around the Great Lakes are currently running at a higher rate than they have throughout most of 2026.

I've enclosed a screen-grab of a spreadsheet for the weekly raw steel production in the U.S. The Great Lakes produced 528,000 net tons for the week ending September 19, 2026.

I would assume that the iron ore being shipped today is slated for consumption in the coming months so the current rate of steel production (such as last week) may not reflect what the managers of the steel mills are seeing in the near future. Therefore, any current slowdown in ore shipments will almost certainly transform into a slowdown in the production at the mills in the near future dependent upon the mill's stockpile and lead time calculations.

[Guest]

Any news on why the American Spirit laid up? Are mills cutting back on orders?

The steel mills around the Great Lakes are currently running at a higher rate than they have throughout most of 2026.

I've enclosed a screen-grab of a spreadsheet for the weekly raw steel production in the U.S. The Great Lakes produced 528,000 net tons for the week ending September 19, 2026.

[Guest]

Any news on why the American Spirit laid up? Are mills cutting back on orders?

Not that I’ve read but market conditions change weekly.i think I read somewhere one of the big furnaces still in operation is down for repairs / rebuild. maybe ASC lost a contract or maybe just because the spirit is in rough condition🤷

[Guest]

Any news on why the American Spirit laid up? Are mills cutting back on orders?

[Guest]

With record high diesel prices, wonder if this will impact operations on the Lakes.

Heavy Fuel Oil burners - imagine they are doing better financially

Well it will obviously cost more to run ships but as far as causing layups? No. Haul contracts have fuel surcharges built in to them. However it is still probably lowering profits to some degree. Cargo demand is the driving force to vessel usage and profits.

[Guest]

With record high diesel prices, wonder if this will impact operations on the Lakes.

Heavy Fuel Oil burners - imagine they are doing better financially

[Guest]

Higher fuel prices for autos will likely effect the operators of the ss bager

Won't it be cheaper though than driving all the way around Chicago? After all the Badger is burning coal.

[guest]

Higher fuel prices for autos will likely effect the operators of the ss bager

[rcrvrp]

How about a picture? She sounds interesting!

[Ohio Bob]

What is the NQFC Carver ?

This dates back a few decades to the origins of the board, and part of the reason for the creation of the Regional Board. Many of us wanted to bring a more personal touch to the communication boards while still relaying information. (This probably drove the original Boatnerd Neil S. nuts!) The "Not Quite Fuscia Colored Carver" (NQFC) refers to my private vessels which made several trips to Boatnerd gatherings... back when gas was far cheaper. She is a thirsty girl who, as we noted on this thread, will have her cruise itinerary impacted by marina gas at around $7/gallon.

[Guest]

What is the NQFC Carver ?

Tell 'em Bob! Give 'em a pic of that beaut!

[rcrvrp]

What is the NQFC Carver ?

[Ohio Bob]

The NQFC Carver will still be leaving the dock just as much as before!

Well.... maybe....
She is full with several hundred gallons of fuel at last years prices. The pain will be felt when it is time to top it off.
But the spirit remains!

Ohio Bob
Captain - NQFC Carver

[Guest]

The NQFC Carver will still be leaving the dock just as much as before!

[Guest]

Will we see some issues with high diesel prices impacting the boats?
Wonder if the boats using HFO will have a bigger advantage over the diesel boats?

For boatnerds who own their own boat - what are the current prices at marinas? Are you planning on less motoring around and more time lounging at the dock sipping cold ones? Although with this weather it might be drinking hot coffee.