DTE Speeds Coal Exit

[Guest]

Does this coal come from the western states by rail into Duluth Superior and get on the boat there?

Yes - makes you wonder how long DTE will operate the coal loading terminal (SMET) with such low through puts.

Maybe exports can fill in.

Only if there are export markets for the coal in Europe, Africa, or South America (and those markets served by ports on the Atlantic for the latter two). If there is any export for western coal in Asia it seems likely this would be or is shipped from ports on the West Coast of the United States. In any case, I doubt there would be enough demand to replace the loss of the domestic power creation market when it becomes to the eastbound movement of coal from Superior. Likely the end of an era.

[Guest]

And with such a short remaining life for the coal plant in Monroe, I'd be surprised if the ACOE or DTE would fund it.

I recall Monroe is also serviced by rail. Perhaps that how they'll get all their coal once Belle River converts to nat gas. Which would be even worse for the shipping industry.

[Mr Link]

In a related question, how come the DTE powerplant's dock in Monroe was never dredged to a full depth of 28+ feet?

Its not just the dock area. Western Lake Erie is shallow so you have to go out roughly 10 miles to find 28 feet of water. The USACE project depth for Monroe 21 feet, a number that only Congress can modify. So it would take an act of Congress to use public funds to deepen the channel. DTE could apply for a permit to dredge itself, but again it would take roughly ten miles of dredging to allow 27 foot deep vessels to their dock.

https://www.historicalcharts.noaa.gov/i ... 830-1-2000

[Guest]

Does this coal come from the western states by rail into Duluth Superior and get on the boat there?

Yes - makes you wonder how long DTE will operate the coal loading terminal (SMET) with such low through puts.

Maybe exports can fill in.

[Guest]

Senior moment - MV Roger Blough.
Will be interesting to see if/ when companies make the decision to not dry dock their weakest boats to save capital.

[Guest]

In a related question, how come the DTE powerplant's dock in Monroe was never dredged to a full depth of 28+ feet?

[Guest]

Don't you mean Roger Blough and not the Burns Harbor?

[Guest]

A thousand footer loading a partial load of coal from Superior to Monroe would not be efficient in such a trade. They are designed for carrying maximum size cargoes.

[Guest]

Does this coal come from the western states by rail into Duluth Superior and get on the boat there?

Yes, the coal comes from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming by BN unit trains since 1976, but there were earlier test shipments brought in by BN hopper cars starting in 1971.

The coal at first was unloaded into one of the BN ore docks in Superior, while the SMET was being built (1973-76).

The coal dock was opened in May 1976.

[Guest]

It looks like Monroe will still be getting coal shipments after the Belle River plant is converted to natural gas. This will impact how the 1000 foot ships currently operate in this trade as I believe they usually offload some of their coal cargo at St. Clair, Michigan to reduce draft for delivery to Monroe. Could this make using a 1000 footer in this trade unprofitable? Perhaps they will load partial cargoes of ore and coal until coal from Superior finally ends?

[Guest]

What is wrong with the m/v Burns Harbor? I must have missed something.

[Guest]

This is amazing and sad from a Boatnerds perspective. Maybe the footers can transport coal from the head of the Lakes to Buffalo for transshipment overseas. Further diminishes the hope that the MV Burns Harbor will be repaired.

What's wrong with the Burns Harbor?

[RCRVRPkimm]

Does this coal come from the western states by rail into Duluth Superior and get on the boat there?

[Guest]

Looks like some of the last coal plants taking delivery by boat have moved up their closure dates.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/busin ... 613541007/

Two units at Monroe scheduled to close in 2040 will now close in 2028
The remaining two units scheduled to close in 2040 will now close in 2035
Belle River will convert to natural gas in 2025 and 2026

St. Clair Power Plant ceased operations earlier this year. So after 2028 there will only be 1 operating coal plant on the Great Lakes with two boilers operating. Did I leave any plants out?

This is amazing and sad from a Boatnerds perspective. Maybe the footers can transport coal from the head of the Lakes to Buffalo for transshipment overseas. Further diminishes the hope that the MV Burns Harbor will be repaired.