Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Which boats ? Names, thanks

Paul LaMarre is the port director in Monroe. He seems to have a history of getting things done from his days at the then-Boyer museum. Might he be of any help?

Raildudes dad

We secured two boats to handle the 50,000 tons.

Thank you.

If your serious about moving salt from Buffalo to Monroe, truck is about your only option. I doubt if a shipping company will talk for a couple boat loads. Rail can't react quick enough to arrange for cars and an unloading / loading location (You will most likely need to lease your own cars)

It looks like its a 6 hour trip one way, figure 12 round trip. $100 / hour to run the truck with 20 tons net load = $55 / ton. See if you can get a limestone backhaul and the cost per ton = $27.50. Anyone currently hauling salt for one of the big companies won't be interested.

My employer uses between 30 - 50,000 tons per year. I've watched the salt business for about 35 years. We use boat and truck transportation, tried to use rail w/o success.

Raildudes dad / Guesty


Thank you for the information.
Greatly appreciated.

If you are trying to get into the "salt game" you will soon learn that the big producer get together to decide who will supply who and what the price will be. I say its bid collusion and has gone on for years. Google "Ohio salt bid rigging" if you don't believe me.

Try a tug and barge:

Big self unloaders:

Upper Lakes Towing - Escanaba
VanEnkevort Tug and Barge - Escanaba

(I'm not sure either ever hauls salt tho)

Medium self unloading barges or crane barges:

Busch Marine - Carrolton, MI
Calumet River Fleeting - Chicago
Pere Marquette Shipping - Ludington, MI
Sand Products/Port City Tug - Muskegon, MI

Tug operators with access to deck or hopper barges:

Basic Towing - Escanaba, MI
Great Lakes Towing - Cleveland
Gaelic Tugboat - Detroit
Malcolm Marine - St. Clair, MI
K&K Logistics - Menominee, MI
Selvick Marine Towing - Sturgeon Bay, WI

I probably missed some.

Or try a railroad:

Norfolk Southern
Canadian National
CSX

All three serve both cities, but not necessarily the ports.

Grand River Navigation won't do it.


Any other suggestions??

Thanks!

Thank you!!

Hopefully they can.

Grand River Navigation will do it!

Looking to move salt from Port of Buffalo to Port of Monroe.

Suggestions??