Burns Harbor

[Denny]

As of 5:30 p.m. on March 24, 2020 the H. Lee White is tied up on the lower Poe Lock Wall awaiting the opening tonight. So, the White will be the first one from the looks of things. The Burns Harbor is still at anchor in or around the Whitefish Bay and Isle Parisienne area maybe below there but in that general area. So the White will be first upbound and the Burns the first one down. Both are owned by American Steamship. The next few days should be busy at the Soo. Lots of traffic expected and from the Harbor Lookout site, lots up for iron ore cargos as well. Soon the season will begin everyone. Let the good times roll on folks!

[Guest]

Gonzo is captain of the H. Lee White. You can always tell if he’s aboard if the Jolly Roger is flying on the foremast.

[Guest]

Captain on the Burns is Heyns. Bertrand is chief of the White.

[Denny]

Has anyone heard yet if the Burns Harbor will be the first at the Soo or will it be the White? I’m staying out of this one and letting you all sort this one out! Also, is Terry Heyns I think it’s spelled still the captain on the Burns Harbor or who is it? I keep a record of this every year folks and to me, it’s important that I log who the captains and the chiefs of the first at the Soo are. Would anyone know who’s the captain then and chief on the White? Information is greatly appreciated here! Thanks.

[Guest]

Denny: You posted about ASC being bought by Rand Logistics, and that is not factual. Right now, it's a potential sale and that is all it is right now.

Although it likely has to clear several regulatory hurdles before this transaction becomes final, I don't know if I would categorize this as just a potential sale. I have copied the press release from the Rand Logistics website:

Press Release

RAND LOGISTICS, INC. TO ACQUIRE AMERICAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY FROM GATX CORPORATION

JERSEY CITY, Feb. 10, 2020 –Rand Logistics, Inc. (“Rand”) has entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire American Steamship Company (“ASC”) from GATX Corporation. Rand is an affiliateof American Industrial Partners (“AIP”) and provides dry bulk shipping services throughout the Great Lakes region.

ASC operates the largest fleet of U.S. flagged vessels on the Great Lakes, providing waterborne transportation of over 27 million tons annually of dry bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal and limestone on vessels ranging in size from 634 feet to over 1000 feet. The strategic combination of Rand and ASC will create the largest and most diverse fleet on the Great Lakes, serving different and highly complementary markets with multiple self-unloading vessel classes.

“We are excited about this transformative combination of two leading vessel operators on the Great Lakes. This strategic union will create significant additional shipping capacity through network efficiencies and repositioning of the respective fleets. All of which will allow the resulting company to further improve its customer service and offer additional flexibility and shipping capacity to its customer base” said Peter Coxon, Chief Executive Officer of Rand.

“ASC is an iconic American company with a rich 113-year history and an important role in moving the materials that built, sustain and drive the vast industrial capacity of the Great Lakes region. We are thrilled to partner with management and further increase our investment in the Great Lakes shipping and logistics ecosystem,” said Jason Perri, Partner of AIP and Chairman of Rand’s Board of Directors. “ASC’s asset quality and track record of reliability, safety and service in moving raw materials for its customers is world class and we look forward to integrating these two great companies into a new and larger platform for growth under our ownership.”

[Denny]

Okay thanks for that and clarifying that one up for me as I got it totally confused as I thought that Rand had bought them out, again sorry for the mix up and confusion. Again thanks for clearing that one up for me and explaining it to me. Now I know and understand how that worked!

[clarkjol]

Denny: You posted about ASC being bought by Rand Logistics, and that is not factual. Right now, it's a potential sale and that is all it is right now.

[The Schipper]

Being as the BH and the HLW are from the same company they will probably agree to do what is in their best interest.

[Denny]

Great explanation Guest as I had thought and figured the same thing! Thanks fir explaining that one too us as that helps to clarify things up.

[Guest]

Sitting in my armchair pilot seat here in the Irish Hills, it looks like the Burns Harbor will be the first vessel to open the Soo Locks this season. The Steward J. Fort is still in Milwaukee as of 0830/22.

H. Lee White will be the first in the locks. Upbounders are preferred as they push the ice above the lock away from the lock. The first downbounders generally push too much ice down into the lock, so the Corps will run the upbounders first for that reason.

[Bookworm]

0745/23 Burns Harbor is currently no where around per AIS. The H Lee White is at anchor above Detour. Probably waiting for the CG to wake up.

At 09:30 she's anchored off Paradise, in Whitefish Bay.

[Judie]

She is S of Whitefish point, anchored

[Denny]

As of 8:50 a.m. on March 23rd the Burns Harbor is now downbound and at the Northern End if you will of Isle Parisienne in Lake Superior also headed for the Soo per AIS maps on boatnerd. Don’t know yet if they will be the first at the Soo but definitely will be the first downbound at the Soo Locks. The H. Lee White meanwhile will be the first upbound at the Soo Locks. Sort of ironic with the ASC fleet sale to Rand this past winter, that two ASC boats are the first ones at the Soo for this year’s opening day.

[garbear]

[quote="Guest"]0745/23 Burns Harbor is currently no where around per AIS. The H Lee White is at anchor above Detour. Probably waiting for the CG to wake up.[/quote

Per Marine Traffic AIS the Burns Harbor is currently abeam of Paradise, MI in Whitefish Bay.

[Guest]

0745/23 Burns Harbor is currently no where around per AIS. The H Lee White is at anchor above Detour. Probably waiting for the CG to wake up.

[Guest]

New contender for the race to the Soo. The H Lee White has escaped from Sturgeon Bay heading Northbound (downbound) on Northern L Mi. I’m a bit rusty on travel times from my Irish Hill’s armchair pilot seat to determine the winner at this time. 1345/22

[Guest]

Sitting in my armchair pilot seat here in the Irish Hills, it looks like the Burns Harbor will be the first vessel to open the Soo Locks this season. The Steward J. Fort is still in Milwaukee as of 0830/22.

[Denny]

Forgot to mention in my earlier post regarding the Stewart J. Cort and their tentative ETA for Superior which is early morning on March 26th. Adding more to my previous post, IF the Cort then is the first ship at the Soo Locks for 2020 it is sort of ironic as the Cort remember was also the first ship through the Soo Locks in the 2019 season on opening day as well. We will have to wait and see just which boat will be the first one?

[Denny]

According to Harbor Lookout, Boatnerd and Marine Traffic AIS sites the American Spirit hasn’t moved yet and is still in lay up. The Burns is due to depart BNSF #5 Dock late this evening so in fact, she will probably be the first downbound at least at the Soo on the opener? They are also showing the Cort due in early on March 26. I wonder then if she may be the first at the Soo or the Burns Harbor? We will have to wait and see. Assuming if the Burns Harbor is the first at the Soo, sort of ironic as she was the last one through the Soo on January 15th of this year I think.

[garbear]

The American Spirit was also expected to depart from their lay up dock today as well in Superior but as of 11 A.M. Eastern Time, they are still in lay up. According to the Duluth website though, they were expected to depart lay up today and then fuel in Duluth and then from there head up to Silver Bay to load. The Paul R. Tregurtha is expected to depart from the Coal Terminal in Superior on Monday and noticeably they are not loading coal! So it would appear then that their first trip out for 2020 then will be ore pellets from somewhere then? Sorry if all this is off of topic here. The time has arrived everyone. Let the season begin as we sure could use something good with everything else going on now in the world today.

The MERC schedule is showing the PRT departing, but no destination. Harbor Lookout is showing her loading coal. We shall see.