Ore Deliveries

[Charlie]

Hi
When my father was sailing he tool us that you had to run like mad all season too get all the cargo on the docks to last current need and build for the winter.

He told us about times they arrived at docks and got the boom out and started unloading before the boat was tied up because the dock was empty. one time it was a power house that used too much coal over the winter and had run out.

with the steel mills its a the luck of the draw. You know what your orders are and what you have sold in the past. So, you come up with a number and a percentage for mistakes and possible orders and that's what you shot for on the dock.

Right know with the economy on a pogo stick i would say the may have guessed wrong on need, or with all the bad weather in November and December of 2013 they did nit get the amount they need. Also look at the current ice condition, you are not going to see a 'Footer' doing a turn in a week from the head of the lake to mill. That may have them worried and some delivers are starting know in hopes that they do not run out. If the takers trip to the Soo is any indication this spring is going to be the Pitts. I just hope the boats don't get wrecked in all the ice.

Hope everyone has a nice St Pat's day

charlie

[torgy1962]

The stockpile can be supplemented by all-rail deliveries of pellets.

[Guest]

Lake Michigan steel mills usually rely on stockpiling to get them through the winter.

[PThomann]

I am curious as to how the steel mills on the southern ends of the lakes get by without ore deliveries thru the winter, or are they using trains while the ships are idle or do they stockpile for the winter?