Algoma Steel

[Guest]

Aside from Algoma, has there been any moves to make similar moves to electric arc furnaces at the remaining mills dependent upon lake transportation such as Dofasco, Stelco, Cliffs, US Steel, etc.? It seems like it only a matter of time before other facilities will move toward electric arc furnaces, and I will assume that some of those firms with a wide range of facilities may wish to do so away from the Great Lakes.

Dofasco was working on a DRI plant for their EAF, but it was put on hold due to the difficulty in getting a steady supply of hydrogen. They had planned to move to EAF (they have one already) and a DRI plant by 2028, but according to observers, that will not be possible.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton ... -1.7309360

Ontario needs to build out its hydrogen infrastructure for DRI-EAF to become widely used by steel makers such as Dofasco and Stelco.

Stelco has not made any announcements about transitioning to a DRI-EAF setup at their Nanticoke plant, and in fact they recently completed a refurbishment of their blast furnace..

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/green-st ... than-fnx3c

[Syd bc]

Thanks guest I hadn’t noticed any ships at Algoma for awhile was going to ask when the last ship would go there
Could there still be some coal or lime stone loads delivered

[Duluth guest]

Iron ore pellet deliveries to Algoma Steel at Sault Ste. Marie already stopped a few months ago. Ships from the Algoma Central Marine fleet were indeed delivering to Algoma Steel earlier in 2025, but that trade seemed to dry up just before the end of September 2025.

Last few iron ore pellet cargoes to Algoma at the Soo appear to be (in reverse order)

- Algoma Compass, departing Two Harbors, Minnesota for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on September 28th, 2025. (not confirmed, but destination inferred from the history of their ship movements at https://ais.boatnerd.com/passage - if this was a trip to Algoma Steel, this might end up being the last ship to ever deliver an iron ore product to that mill.

- Algoma Bear, departing Two Harbors, Minnesota for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on September 27th, 2025.

- Algoma Intrepid departing Two Harbors, Minnesota for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on September 21st, 2025.

- John D Leitch , departing Two Harbors, Minnesota for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on September 18th, 2025.

[ordinaryseafarer]

RAND did not renew the contact in 2025. Algoma has been running ore into Algoma all season. Good timing on Rands part, a little positivity to a difficult few years. Algoma produces high quality military steel, no doubt it is missed on the world steel market. Ripple effects will play out in the future.

[Guest]

With the scheduled end of ore deliveries to Algoma Steel and the coming end of the last DTE coal deliveries, the latter of which appear to be possibly sometime in 2026, there is no doubt that the Great Lakes shipping industry will enter a new chapter. This is one that has been well known to be coming and there is little doubt that there will be further disposals of lake vessels without direct replacement. As fewer and fewer blast furnaces remain the US fleet will continue its shrinkage.

Aside from Algoma, has there been any moves to make similar moves to electric arc furnaces at the remaining mills dependent upon lake transportation such as Dofasco, Stelco, Cliffs, US Steel, etc.? It seems like it only a matter of time before other facilities will move toward electric arc furnaces, and I will assume that some of those firms with a wide range of facilities may wish to do so away from the Great Lakes.

[guest]

I’ve also read the latest news on the Algoma Steel Plant situation. One though has to feel for their employees and families as far as the layoffs of the workers go as that is devastating news IMO at least anyway! As some of you have suggested and said, this will surely I would think have a huge impact on shipping next year and we could see many ships and lakers remain at the wall laid up and not sail at all next season. And may I remind all that reads my post here, besides the Algoma Steel Plant News let’s also NOT forget too that you have the MERC/SMET Coal Dock that I believe will close down in late June 2026 if I’m correct from the News Reports? Then also let’s not forget in Detroit/Dearborn that the Rouge Steel Mill stopped receiving ore shipments by freighters and vessels this summer as well. Ford announced if I’m correct back in March 2025 the layoffs of 600 or so workers at the Rouge Steel Mill. So my point is, the 2026 shipping season could be a very hard, challenging & difficult season with all of these changes expected to take place with some already have such as with Rouge Steel. I can see many ships possibly and probably remaining at the wall laid up and NOT sailing next season then. It could make for a very long hard year in 2026 at that point then. The future don’t look very bright or promising right now at least in my opinion anyway for ships and the shipping industry in general as a whole then. Just my thoughts and opinions only on this topic and nothing else than that! Thanks.

Wonder if we'll see some scheduled drydockings cancelled. If you're surplus boats, why spend the money on a 5 year when you can just use a boat that still has time on the clock. Might we see long term laided up boats finally going to the scrapyard?

[Denny]

I’ve also read the latest news on the Algoma Steel Plant situation. One though has to feel for their employees and families as far as the layoffs of the workers go as that is devastating news IMO at least anyway! As some of you have suggested and said, this will surely I would think have a huge impact on shipping next year and we could see many ships and lakers remain at the wall laid up and not sail at all next season. And may I remind all that reads my post here, besides the Algoma Steel Plant News let’s also NOT forget too that you have the MERC/SMET Coal Dock that I believe will close down in late June 2026 if I’m correct from the News Reports? Then also let’s not forget in Detroit/Dearborn that the Rouge Steel Mill stopped receiving ore shipments by freighters and vessels this summer as well. Ford announced if I’m correct back in March 2025 the layoffs of 600 or so workers at the Rouge Steel Mill. So my point is, the 2026 shipping season could be a very hard, challenging & difficult season with all of these changes expected to take place with some already have such as with Rouge Steel. I can see many ships possibly and probably remaining at the wall laid up and NOT sailing next season then. It could make for a very long hard year in 2026 at that point then. The future don’t look very bright or promising right now at least in my opinion anyway for ships and the shipping industry in general as a whole then. Just my thoughts and opinions only on this topic and nothing else than that! Thanks.

[algowest]

Yes, Rand Fleet would be affected, along with any fleets Rand charters out to (Algoma & CSL come to mind).
Algoma formed joint venture (ATM Metals) with Triple M Metals, for sourcing scrap steel.
Steelmakers are a source for scrap steel, so Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Hamilton, all come to mind.
My assumption is, in early stage, scrap steel will be railed or barged in and then have to see what volume ramps up to for most efficient transportation method.
Article on Algoma's EAF project:
https://www.northernontariobusiness.com ... ct-8395552

Article on scrap steel supply for Canadian market:
https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/ ... eelmaking/

[Guest]

The acceleration of the scheduled closure of Algoma Steel's blast furnace operations by one year to early 2026 will certainly have a negative impact upon the number of ships operating on the lakes. While this impending closure has been known for some time, it will be interesting to see what happens during the 2026 shipping season. I believe that the Rand fleet will be the most affected, and it would, at least from the outside looking in, seem that there will be some reduction in the number of operational vessels. Could this effect fleets other than Rand and those involved in moving ore into Algoma in a domino type affect with vessel capacity suddenly becoming available to compete in other trading opportunities? Is the new electric arc furnace operation at Algoma going to use scrap steel or will it also use the iron ore briquettes? How will all of the required raw materials for the steel making process be brought into Algoma Steel?