Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Agree with everyone’s comments about Interlake and their fleet. However, let’s not forget to add as well that Algoma is also thinking about the future as well! Since 2013 when the Algoma Equinox arrived here on scene, just take a look once since then of all the new builds that Algoma has since constructed in more then 10 years hence the Equinox series and class! And Algoma is still building them with new Algoma Endeavour set to join the Algoma fleet then sometime in 2025. Also look at CSL and their fleet renewal program of the “Trillium Series and Class of ships that began I think in 2012 with the Baie St. Paul at that time.” Since 2012, CSL added 4 Trillium self-unloaders to its laker fleet and two Trillium Class gearless bulk carriers in 2014 to its fleet. Even the Saltwater or foreign flagged fleets have built new ships recently for Lakes Service as just take a look at all the new Fednavs and Polsteam ones and the Navibulgar fleets all of which recently have built and added new ships to its fleet in the past 3 years or so!

Interlake isnt the only American company keeping up with the changing industry. I would like to point out that VTB has carved out a very solid niche hauling pellets, coal and stone with a 21st Century fleet of barges.

As I see it, Interlake is about the only American company serious about shipping as a business anymore. Pretty much everyone else hauling open-market cargo is just coasting to squeeze whatever dollars they can out of their aging hulks until they simply can no longer be run. While most seem to have given up on lake shipping as being worthy of long-term planning and investment, Interlake appears to take the approach that the future is what you make it and the one sure way to not survive the changing market conditions (specifically the drop in the mainstay coal and integrated steel-related cargoes) is to stop investing in your business.

Agree with your comments Guest about Interlake and their fleet as one can plainly see, they take great pride and care along with passion for their fleet. Also remember Interlake to my knowledge is a private and family owned and operated business that spans many decades here on the Great Lakes. They’ve invested millions of dollars into upgrading their fleet as far as re-powerings go along with adding scrubbers to a few of their ships as well. They also have a few older lakers in their fleet that they’ve made major upgrades to over the years and thankfully those ships are still with us today! Had Interlake not taken any steps to improve, update and invest into the future of their fleet then who knows what would’ve become of their ships and company today? Interlake certainly knows what they are doing and are well respected all over the Great Lakes. While changes may come to the industry and business someday, I expect most of their ships to still be around for quite sometime to come yet even if they are hauling different types of cargoes.

I see Interlake fleet as the best managed. Let's not forget that Interlake has some very old hulls still sailing. Through a solid maintenance program, these elders still have a few years remaining. Building the Mark, shows they are a forward looking group. I don't see Interlake selling any vessels anytime soon. Eventually they will have to part with all aging boats. And some of their footers won't be hauling coal loads to DTE. But Interlake is the most solid on the American side.

Why would Interlake sell the Jackson ? It’s a workhorse money maker for them. The diesel refit and much other work is very recent. I doubt you would this this

I wouldn’t think that interlake would part with one of there ships especially to a competitor. Maybe they would spend the money to get the American valor up and running. Don’t know how much it would take to get the ship ready to sail again though.

For some time now, I've have actually been wondering if the Herbert C. Jackson might not be sold to LLT.

Rand Logistics will decide the future for Grand River and Lower Lakes. Not sure how flush they are with capital, but it will take lots if they choose to go forward. I believe Rand is comfortable with ASC footers. All other boats are a hodgepodge. They have hulls that can still make money. Next few years will be interesting.

GRN/LLT has undergone some changes in the past several years. They purchased older boats and now they are going away. Michipicoten may have seen her last. Who knows? It's looking like they are coming to a crossroads fairly soon. Money will have to be spent soon on keeping the aging fleet going. Leasing of ASC boats may lead to them buying those hulls if they are to keep sailing. A sizeable amount of capital will come into play. Saginaw is getting near the end also. All other lay ups are around 65 years old, so do you invest millions for maybe 5 years? Coal/ore will continue to fall with Algoma going to EAF's. Next couple years will show how this plays out.

Ahould have specified my comment being directed towards the Mich.

Guest wrote: December 29, 2024, 6:11 pm All rumors until they're hooked up and towed to the scrapyard

Don't think so. Two reasons:

1. No evidence of any work on the ship is apparent. Everything remains as it was after the fire. The unloading boom is probably cooked and would need total replacement, which is something they just aren't willing to do.

2. She is no longer listed on the fleet roster over at RandLog. However Michipicoten still is - at this time.

I hate to say it, but this time Cuyahoga isn't coming back.

What will be interesting is think about this all boatnerds. From the news reports, if the Cuyahoga is scrapped then next Spring and then the Michipicoten is scrapped then in 2025 this will leave only 5 ships in the Lower Lakes Towing fleet with only 4 of them still active! The list includes the Kaministiqua, Manitoulin, Robert S. Pierson and Saginaw as far as ones still active. The Valo former American Valor is still is long-term layup in Toledo yet with no plans yet for its future. Both the Saginaw and the Valo would then be the oldest members of the LLT fleet I think with each having been built in 1953. I wonder then IF any of the GRN ships that were leased from ASC years ago, would then be re-flagged Canadian and renamed? One that is interesting to watch is the John J. Boland. This year they got the Native American Indian Head Logo put onto their stack! None of the other leased vessels so far have that yet other than the Boland. This makes me think and believe that the Boland could be re-flagged, renamed and painted gray then someday. Remember when the Pierson was once the Wolverine? As the Wolverine, it got painted in gray and then sailed for 1 year before LLT got it and renamed it to the Robert S. Pierson. We could see the same thing then maybe with the Boland? We’ll have to wait and see then!

All rumors until they're hooked up and towed to the scrapyard

I saw that they moved the cuyahoga to a different slip at Ashtabula and they said she would go to scrap at port Colborne in the spring. If this is true I wonder if the michipicoton won’t befarbehind following her to the scrap yard