Boatnerd Discussion Forum

As of 6:50 pm ET on April 18, to update on Guest’s comments regarding some of the 1,000 footers in lay up. The American Century finally departed from lay up in Ashtabula last night, April 17 and just past Port Huron right now! At last check, the American Integrity still remains laid up in Erie, Pennsylvania. So now there is just the Speer and for the moment anyway, the American Integrity among 1,000 footers still in lay up now. Hope that my information here has helped out. Thank You.

At last check, the 1,000 footer American Century is also still in lay up in Ashtabula! They along with the American Integriry as of April 17 at least have yet to sail this year and to your point, other than the Speer they are the only other 1,000 footers not out and sailing so far this season.

Will the end of the coal shipments from Superior and the further reduction of coal shipments on the lakes overall allow US shipping companies to shorten their operating seasons by having more capacity to move the other main commodities, iron ore and stone, and avoid running late into the winter? Will all of the 1,000 footers operate this year? I know the Speer is being repowered, but I believe the American Integrity is still laid up at Erie as of April 17, 2026. I would assume that some ships will have shortened seasons.