Boatnerd Discussion Forum

That is exactly how things are being done in Conneaut, Denny. Pittsburgh and Conneaut has their normal railyard hopper forward (north) along the dock wall and two conveyor belt loaders further back. The GLF vessels have been doing the bulk of the delivery to Conneaut and Algoma and CSL have been splitting the loads back out. At least one load went out, up to QC, on the H. Lee White.

Also I see on Marine Traffic that the Atlantic Huron will eventually be headed back to Conneaut to load. They are unloading a cargo now at Sept-Iles, Quebec and when finished they will then head to Conneaut next to load. Still lots of ore being loaded in Two Harbors aboard the GLF footers with some of the loads going to Conneaut. Is the ore that they're bringing in from Two Harbors, is that ore then being unloaded and then re-loaded onto the Canadian lakers then at Conneaut is that how all of this is working from the way I am figuring it out and understanding it? Thanks for any information.

Hadn't seen any Canadian lakers heading for Conneaut for a few days. I checked tonight and I see the Algoma Enterprise is in the St. Lawrence heading that direction.

Repairs maybe or lay up? I’m betting lay up maybe?

Denny wrote:Both the Gott and Speer also have Conneaut destinations listed on their AIS and the Presque Isle recently delivered ore there as well. Lots of ore headed to Conneaut and to Quebec as well. Anyone able to keep up on just how many loads have been done from Conneaut to Quebec so far? Lost track of the amounts carried and I’ve given up trying to count!

With the arrival of the Spruceglen that should make it 21. Also see the American Spirit is showing a Toledo destination.

Both the Gott and Speer also have Conneaut destinations listed on their AIS and the Presque Isle recently delivered ore there as well. Lots of ore headed to Conneaut and to Quebec as well. Anyone able to keep up on just how many loads have been done from Conneaut to Quebec so far? Lost track of the amounts carried and I’ve given up trying to count!

American Spirit loaded in Two Harbors and is currently unloading in Conneaut. Are they unloading to the transhipment pellet area or the same spot that the GLF boats deliver to?

What is the ultimate destination of the iron ore pellets? Is it Europe or going to China? If the later, then they must have a good rate considering that there are sources closer to China, such as Australia and Brazil.

Jon Paul wrote:There has to be a substantial profit margin in the pellets being transshipped out of Conneaut on strait deck Canadian boats. Most of them have a wait time to get to the dock, its a slow process loading once they get there, then the trip down the Seaway to QC and finally
the slow process of unloading. That is a lot of extra labor costs.

Yes, and pellet breakage/damage. There's a lot of handling in this process. After unloading at QC they're reloaded onto salties. There's another transfer to a pile at the other end and possibly another transfer to rail before reaching the mill. I wonder what percentage of the originally minted pellets in Minnesota ends up as fines and chips ?

It appears now I think the Spruceglen has loaded the most times so far this season from Conneaut? I think the Algoma Guardian did four loads and now she’s headed to the Upper Great Lakes. At any rate those two seem to be the two boats so far that’s loaded the most times there so far this season.

There has to be a substantial profit margin in the pellets being transshipped out of Conneaut on strait deck Canadian boats. Most of them have a wait time to get to the dock, its a slow process loading once they get there, then the trip down the Seaway to QC and finally
the slow process of unloading. That is a lot of extra labor costs.

rh wrote:A few days ago I heard some radio chatter on Ch 8 from Canadian ships in the Eisenhower Lock area. I was not paying much attention until I heard one say something about a direct transload from "an American ship". It was not clear from the following conversation if this was actually being done or was just under consideration.

I wonder if this relates to Conneaut? Would it make economic sense for a "'footer" to bring a load to Lake Erie to transfer to 2 seaway vessels?

That's pretty much what's happening.

A few days ago I heard some radio chatter on Ch 8 from Canadian ships in the Eisenhower Lock area. I was not paying much attention until I heard one say something about a direct transload from "an American ship". It was not clear from the following conversation if this was actually being done or was just under consideration.

I wonder if this relates to Conneaut? Would it make economic sense for a "'footer" to bring a load to Lake Erie to transfer to 2 seaway vessels?

Currently heading for Conneaut are the CSL Assiniboine and the Algoma Transport.

Just was checking AIS and both the Algoma Enterprise and Spruceglen
are in eastern Lake Ontario heading for Conneaut.

Pazzo wrote:CSL Assiniboine will arrive on Friday for another transload. I've heard there are around 20 loads that are supposed to be picked up in the coming 2 months. Conjecture, but the busiest that Conneaut has been in a long time!

If this prediction holds up we are closing in on the last few weeks of this traffic.

Algoma Sault just departed Toronto showing a Conneaut destination.

Algoma Guardian has returned to Conneaut. This makes load #15 shipped from Conneaut to QC this season so far with AG being the most frequent boat used.

Jon Paul wrote:

garbear wrote:Whitefish Bay is currently loading in Conneaut. That will be the 12th load of pellets from Conneaut to Quebec City.

I think Algoma Transport will be 14 loads. That's roughly 400,000 tons.

I can't count anymore.

garbear wrote:Whitefish Bay is currently loading in Conneaut. That will be the 12th load of pellets from Conneaut to Quebec City.

I think Algoma Transport will be 14 loads. That's roughly 400,000 tons.