Steel production halted/Long term layups.

[Guest]

Ryerson can only unload at plant 2 which has been shut down for several years. And it needs a 5 year.

[Shipwatcher1]

The Ryerson does need a 5 year, she was last dry docked in 2006. As far as I know, the only laker in long term lay-up that can fit out and sail relatively quickly is the Cornelius, which had a 5 year during the winter of 2010-11. From info on this site, the Boland needs a 5 year, and we all know the pending fate of at least on e of the steamers

[middlerouge]

she would need one. laid up 5 years ago in may, and I think her previous 5 year was in 2006 when she got out of long term layup.

[WA 4659]

While the Ryerson can only unload at Indiana Harbor, there are 2 factors that do give her a potential edge over other boats.

1) She can only unload at Indiana Harbor. If she were to fit out, it could potentially free the Sykes and Block to possibly to cargo swaps and go to places they might not normally go, since the Ryerson would be going to Indiana Harbor.

2) She does not need a 5 year survey, whereas all the other laid up boats do, except maybe the Cornelius. So her fit out costs are potentially less.

This being said, don't hold your breath, but certainly keep your fingers crossed!

[Denny]

This may or may not be just slightly off the subject but, with all the issues that USS Gary Works is having could this possibly have impacts on the Blough and the Speer making cargo deliveries to the Gary Works Plant? This may sound crazy and silly but, each of them have the shuttle conveyor system and each can also unload in Conneaut as well as Gary only. My point though is could both of them possibly end up going into some sort of lay-up pattern this season due to the Gary situation? I suppose both could unload more in Conneaut this season than in Gary. Just my thoughts only!

[Guest]

I agree with Daryll even when the ice is gone shipping companys will be scrambling all season to make there ore tonnage.Thus you might see the Corneilus out maybe one of the steamers.To bad the Ryerson can only unload at Indiana Harbor on the US side.The ore docks and mines are going to be very busy all season.

[Paul A]

This is bad. I don't know if more fleet will become active, but the commercial construction economy hasn't recovered. If rolled shapes go up in price, it's going to be very difficult to do business in an already challenging economy.

[Steve B]

I am just curious why, if Gary was becoming short of pellets, why they didn't bring it in by rail? They have done it in the past.

[Darryl]

If the automotive industry does not have to buy too much rolled steel that is imported, it is conceivable the M/V Cornelius and possibly maybe even a steamer could appear. Remember, they're going to want to stockpile enough ore so this does repeat itself another year, IMHO.

[Scott]

Bringing mothballed ships into service does nothing to clear the ice clogging the great lakes. One main reason for the low ore inventories is due to this seasons heavy ice accumulations. Late season shipments needed to be canceled due to the onset of Great Lakes ice, which left steel mills scrambling to catch up with inventories when the season opened. Currently there are 5 ships waiting to transit upbound to Lake Superior ports to load cargoes. Undoubtedly, many of these are for taconite pellets, but they must wait for USCG escort upbound due to heavy ice. 6

[garbear]

The cost and time it would take to get some of those boats operational wouldn't be worth it. Plus you have to think about getting crews for those boats too.

[middlerouge]

U.S. Steel has halted production in Gary IN because they lack iron ore due to ice conditions. I was wondering, if conditions don't improve quickly, what are the chances that some of the long term layups would be pulled out of mothballs and used to get the steel mill's inventories up?

doubt it. ships need work done, 5 years, etc. once they'd be ready the ice will be gone.

[Brindfan]

U.S. Steel has halted production in Gary IN because they lack iron ore due to ice conditions. I was wondering, if conditions don't improve quickly, what are the chances that some of the long term layups would be pulled out of mothballs and used to get the steel mill's inventories up?