Lower Lakes and CSL

[garbear]

I have read a couple articles in the past month there's a lot of US grain to move this year. I don't know how much goes down the Mississippi or to the West Coast, but could be a lot of Seaway loads being loaded in US Great Lakes ports. Could be what the Manitoba and Ojibway will be doing.

[Denny]

I saw that one as well on the Hamilton website today to where the Ojibway shifted to Pier 12E from Pier 12N and also like what one had stated, the Manitoba showed their AIS signal on. You just can never be too sure or certain of these things no matter what you read in the company reports. I am not giving up on these classics yet as I still think there is life left in them. Just give it time and we will see what the rest of 2016 holds and what the fall grain rush may be like. This is off subject but, some encouraging news from the USACE from the Soo and their website. They claim that in less than 3 weeks since the Soo opened, they have shipped well over three million tons of cargo when compared to last year at just less than 400,000 tons. Yeah I know that last year we had all the ice which made a difference. However at over three millions tons of cargo already in a short time, isn't that at least some good news?

[Guest 1001100x02]

What is the status of the some of these ships from the CSL fleet such as the Pineglen and the Spruceglen? I know both are laid-up with the Pineglen in Thunder Bay at Pierre Gagne Dock, while the Spruceglen is in Toronto. Both ran last season in 2015 although the Pineglen was a late season fit-out on the Grain runs. On the other hand, the Spruceglen I believe ran and then was in and out of layup if my memory is correct? Point is does anyone know if any of these two will run in 2016 and when they will sail? If any or both do sail, I suppose it may be in the Fall during the Grain Rush right? Any information is appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.

As of now, Spruceglen has a load of sugar destined for Redpath. Original scuttlebutt was unloading was set for late March, but boat has sat while the Baie St. Paul and Federal Rideau have visited to unload.

[Newfie]

Apparently the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin is or has fitted out!

[Guest]

Don't know if anyone else noticed but a few days ago the Ojibway's AIS came on and I just checked now and found that the Manitoba's AIS is now on as well, when I checked a day or so ago it was not.

So let's not be so quick to consider them goners.

[Denny]

What is the status of the some of these ships from the CSL fleet such as the Pineglen and the Spruceglen? I know both are laid-up with the Pineglen in Thunder Bay at Pierre Gagne Dock, while the Spruceglen is in Toronto. Both ran last season in 2015 although the Pineglen was a late season fit-out on the Grain runs. On the other hand, the Spruceglen I believe ran and then was in and out of layup if my memory is correct? Point is does anyone know if any of these two will run in 2016 and when they will sail? If any or both do sail, I suppose it may be in the Fall during the Grain Rush right? Any information is appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.

[garbear]

Is the Cedarglen having mechanical issues? When I checked AIS this morning it was near Alpena. Just checked AIS again and it's North of Harrisville showing a speed of 3 knots.

[Guest]

I believe that steel has bottomed out, but with imports still having an impact and atrocious business environment in the oil/gas drilling sector, it remains to be seen how strong/fast the recovery is.

Coal is being killed off by regulatory burden and costs that are pricing it out of the market. That market for Great Lakes shipping is going through a structural change, meaning industry can not rely on coal, especially thermal coal, for its existence. What that means for operators in the coming years, I don't wish to speculate.

[frus]

the lakes trade is in turmoil with demand dropping across all sectors and operators rate cutting to keep market share.
I think we will see more ships going to scrap and more companies going under unless there is a real turnaround in the next couple of years.

[Guest]

Surprised to hear that the Ojibway is such a weak performer for them. She's in excellent shape and has been properly updated such as her modern power plant.

Too bad she doesn't have a self-unloading boom on her, since I assume that her relatively small size is a detriment to her success in the grain trade compared to Seawaymax vessels like the Kaministiqua.

I hope they hang on to her and the Manitoba. The Ojibway would probably be a good self-unloader candidate and be a better fit in the river trade than as a Seaway trader.

They were just about the only two ships regularly sailing the St. Lawrence last season that I'd go out of my way to see, with the other forward pilothouse survivors in the Canadian fleet never or rarely making a trip during 2015.

Thought they'd be safe bets for 2016 given how busy they were. :(

[Newfie]

According to a crew member...the Salarium may not be fitting out at all and quiet possible it may be going to scrap.

[Denny]

Last I heard was that the CSL Assiniboine and the Paul J. Martin were both going to be fitting out and sailing this fall. I agree with you as well NiagaraMike as it looks to be that CSL will run some of their other laid-up vessels if things get busier this season possibly during the fall grain rush. I wonder if CSL plans to run both the Pineglen and the Spruceglen this fall during the grain rush season? Nothing has been said or mentioned so far on either of those two vessels yet. Also, Atlantic Huron is still in Les Mechins getting work done there as well. I see on the Port of Montreal website where the Salarium is due to fit-out about mid-April as well. The Frontenac and the CSL Tadoussac I also heard both of which will not run.

[NiagaraMike]

CSL has said only two ships will be retired this year.
That would be the Atlantic Erie and Oakglen it would seem.

The others will be mothballed till busier times or run as usual or as needed.

[Guest]

Cedarglen is out, rumors are this is her final voyage.

Anyone have anymore info on that?

After unloading in Montreal I see this afternoon she's upbound the St. Lawrence at Ogdensburg showing a Thunder Bay destination.

Surprised to see that too. I thought she would never leave that spot in Montreal under her own power again.

Of course "final voyage" is rather vague. That could mean last trip, or could mean last season.

[garbear]

Cedarglen is out, rumors are this is her final voyage.

Anyone have anymore info on that?

After unloading in Montreal I see this afternoon she's upbound the St. Lawrence at Ogdensburg showing a Thunder Bay destination.

[cslfan]

Latimer loading in Goderich

[Guest]

Cedarglen is out, rumors are this is her final voyage.

Anyone have anymore info on that?

[Guest]

The Erie,Tad,Frontenac,oakglen are not going out this year and probably never I know the Erie is going to scrap the crew got told they are going to be placed on another ship as the positions come available though there are people already waiting from the Mapleglen and Birthglen so it could be awhile the Paul Martin will be out late along with the Salarium never heard about the Huron witch is in dry dock in Quebec as far as everything else it's wait and see what happens i will update if and when I hear anything else

[Denny]

Wow that is an interesting list of vessels not due to sail this year from CSL and also late start ups as well from CSL. Thanks as I had forgotten about the CSL Tadoussac not sailing this year as she may likely be finished? This is off-subject but I thought that I had read here a few weeks ago, that CSL had acquired a contract with the ADM Dock in Windsor from Lower Lakes Towing? If this is true then what vessels would CSL use to carry the canola loads then to the ADM Dock in Windsor? Lower Lakes has used the Tecumseh mostly with the Kaministiqua on a few of those runs. Would CSL use the new ships from China or self-unloaders and could the SUs carry and unload canola? Sorry for so many questions and getting off the subject here, just curious is all if anyone else has heard about this?

[tugboathunter]

I haven't heard anything to suggest that LLT will have any Canadian vessels at the wall this year. The Manistee will not run; she needs a 5-year. For CSL, the Frontenac, CSL Tadoussac, and Atlantic Erie are not expected to run. The Martin and Assiniboine likely won't be out until September. Look for the St-Laurent and Welland to be the only two CSL straight deckers to come out in Spring. I imagine if any others come out it would be the Spruceglen and Cedarglen in the Fall. Oakglen needs a survey and is likely finished.