Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Thank you both for the responses about Cliffs and the Dearborn plant. The economic change with idled steel making, reduction in mining, the evaporation of coal for energy production is hard to accept that we are closing up shop in America. This must be what it felt like in the mid eighties when the industry idled so many steel towns. Hopefully we can recover form this mess.

The Sykes's cargo was reportedly chips and fines, not mill scale. I think she was loading what was leftover on the dock when the mill was idled. The Rouge is completely idled, and it does not sound optimistic that it will ever be re-activated but I don't think there has been any official word from Cliffs.

I don’t know IF Dearborn is completely shut down as I doubt that much at least? However, Cliffs-Dearborn hasn’t been receiving ore shipments now since back either in the Spring or Summer of 2025. The usual ships that would unload there from Interlake have since been delivering ore pellets instead to other locations such as mostly to IH and BH and at times to Cleveland as well. If I recall correctly, about March 2025 or so is when Cliffs came out and reported that they would be laying off around 600 or so workers at their Dearborn Plant and they also mentioned then that they would not be excepting ore deliveries by vessel. Cliffs did say if I am correct from that report then, their hope was at some point to resume the steel and ore shipments etc. to Cliffs-Dearborn. Obviously so far, nothing has happened yet! The laid-off workers at that plant, you have to really feel for them and their families as my heart goes out to those employees that lost their jobs after getting laid-off. With the Cliffs-Dearborn situation up in the air and the future there uncertain, also don’t forget as well that Algoma Steel in late 2025 also announced many layoffs as well and the fact they too would no longer be receiving ore shipments by vessel if I am correct on my information? The future of the steel and shipping industry IMO anyway isn’t looking very bright right now. 2026 will surely be a big season of changes on the water especially in Superior, WI. as the MERC Coal Terminal Dock will shut down their operations and no longer be shipping any coal by vessel later into the Summer. It will be very interesting to see just what ships plan to sail in 2026 and what stays at the wall. An interesting year in 2026 for certain!

I see the Sykes is taking a load of mill scale out of the Rouge plant, no destination given but likely Burns Harbor or Cleveland. BH would position them close to Milwaukee for layup. Is the Rouge completely shut down, removing all inventories for Cleveland, BH or Indiana Harbor? The parade of not normal vessels to BH this fall made me think they were filling up that yard for the long haul. Vessels like the Speer, Gott, Munson, Sykes and Block were a nice change of arrivals. Any insight on the Cliffs positions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!