Slideshow: Great Lakes Maritime Academy shows off State Of Michigan

The training Ship State Of Michigan was docked at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. in celebration of Engineers Day last Friday to educate visitors and draw interest to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, MI.

Cadet Jason Glass is a licensed third mate officer in charge of navicular duties and responsibilities aboard the training ship. He heard a call to the Great Lakes at a rather early age.

“My dad was a Great Lakes captain,” he said. “I grew up hearing all of his stories. Many of them came with a moral lesson, even if they were funny. I saw how being a captain shaped my dad’s character. When I got older, I decided to look for opportunities myself.”

GLMA is designed to prepare its students to operate commercial vessels as merchant marine officers who on the Great Lakes and oceans.

“My goal is to serve as a navigation officer on a Great Lakes commercial freighter,” Glass said. “I’m an Eagle Scout, and I have grown up learning about leadership. I see becoming the captain of a Great Lakes freighter as the pinnacle of my leadership career.”

According to the GLMA website, its deck officer program prepares students to operate commercial ships of unlimited tonnage on the Great Lakes and oceans as merchant marine officer. Deck officers manage deck department, as well as oversee the loading and discharging of cargo. They are responsible for the ship’s business operations. Deck Officer cadets must complete three sea project internships during their academic program. Deck officers may train to become pilots and crew mates.

Glass, who has already learned a lot in his time aboard the State Of Michigan, offered informative public tours on Friday.

“This ship used to be a ship owned by the US Navy,” he said. “It would hunt for submarines. Now, operated by GLMA as a ‘floating classroom.’ The instructors are all retired sailors who teach cadets about ship navigation, operations, and etiquette.”

The training ship’s crew consists of approximately 15 officers, two Instructors, and an average of 50 cadets. It was built in 1985 with a carrying capacity of 910 deadweight (DWT), overall length of 68.28 meters, and width of 13.11 meters.

Soo Leader

New Lock at Soo to host public meeting for blasting activities

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Lock at the Soo contractor will host an in-person and virtual public meeting at 6 p.m. on July 10 to inform the public of blasting activities needed for project construction.

The Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, contracted Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) to complete Phase 3 construction of the New Lock at the Soo. This work includes excavation and installation of a shaft and tunnel scheduled for this year, the Corps of Engineers said in a news release.

Marine traffic on the St. Marys River will not be allowed within 1,000 feet at the time of blast detonations for recreational boats, fishermen, swimmers, and general waterborne public. Red Flag Vessels, transporting bulk fuel or other hazardous materials, will not be allowed within 2,000 feet during blasts.

The Corps of Engineers said it did not anticipate blasting to be conducted on any Sundays at this time. “For 2023 blasting activities, the Corps of Engineers does not anticipate impacts to any public roadways or land areas outside of the Soo Locks facility,” Mick Awbrey, New Lock chief said.

“However, each blast will be evaluated to ensure the safety of the public. During blasting, guards will be posted at all access points to ensure no persons will be allowed within 300 feet of the blast radius.”

Marine traffic on the St. Marys River will not be allowed within 1,000 feet at the time of any blast detonations for recreational boats, fishermen, swimmers, and the “general waterborne public.” Red Flag Vessels, transporting bulk fuel or other hazardous materials, will not be allowed within 2,000 feet during blasts.

All exclusion zones are coordinated with the Soo Locks Lockmaster as well as the United States Coast Guard.

“Prior to blasting, an airhorn will be sounded five long times indicating that the blast will occur in five minutes. At one minute before a blast, an airhorn will be sounded five short times. Then the blast will be detonated.”

After the detonation the master blaster will confirm the completion of the blast and give the ‘all clear’ consisting of one long sound from an airhorn or siren.

“The New Lock at the Soo construction contract includes measures to monitor and control vibrations due to blasting,” Hal Harrington, Detroit District Biologist said.

“Two fish species use the tailrace area directly north of the blasting location for spawning – Atlantic Salmon and Lake Sturgeon. The vibration monitoring locations and limitations on peak particle vibrations for the contract have been restricted to account for these spawning areas. The contractor is required to design and control all blasts to meet a maximum PPV of 1 inch per second at both spawning locations. This limitation is specifically in place to prevent negative impacts to fish.”

The Corps of Engineers said the goal during New Lock at the Soo construction is to “minimize or eliminate negative impacts to the community and other affected parties”.

The safety measures being enacted to clear marine vessels within the affected areas will be applied immediately preceding and during blasts. Additionally, there will be no permanent explosive storage or overnight explosive storage on site at the Soo Locks facility, the release states, adding that, “The safety of all accessing the waterways is a priority”.

The public meeting will be held in the Superior Room of Lake Superior State University, 650 W. Easterday Ave., Sault Ste. Marie. The public meeting is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 10.

A slideshow presentation will be briefed by the Corps of Engineers as well as KAT’s blasting specialist, blasting consultant, and vibration specialist. The presentation slides will be made available after the public meeting at this link.

After the presentation, the public will have the opportunity to ask general questions about their concerns dealing with the blasting operations, “magnitude of seismic motion, airblast overpressure, and potential for flyrock debris.

Additional blasting activities in the chamber of the existing decommissioned Sabin Lock are scheduled for the 2024 spring-summer-fall construction season. These blasting activities will differ in scope and location from the shaft and tunnel blasting but will implement many of the same mitigating measures.

Soo Leader

Ship & Shore Days Allow Visitors to Explore Great Lakes History on Land and Water

Toledo, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) and The Sandpiper passenger tour boat are teaming up again to offer the “Ultimate Great Lakes History Day.”

This summer, on Saturday, July 8 and Saturday, August 12, a special ticket will be available combining full access to the National Museum of the Great Lakes and a trip along the Maumee River aboard The Sandpiper.“The Ship & Shore experience provides a way to explore Great Lakes history all day long,” says Ellen Kennedy, the museum’s spokesperson. “Guests receive full-day access to the National Museum of the Great Lakes including our museum’s world-class, family-friendly exhibits, a 617-foot iron ore freighter and a lake class tugboat—along with a mid-day trip aboard The Sandpiper departing and returning from the museum docks.”

While touring the Maumee River aboard The Sandpiper, visitors will have access to the award-winning Port of Toledo: Then and Now exhibit. This exhibit uses QR codes onboard the vessel to allow cruisers to interact with Great Lakes history along the Maumee River.

The codes provide additional images and information about the rich history behind various spots along the river’s banks—giving visitors the opportunity to visually compare and contrast the old Maumee River with the new.

It is recommended that tickets for “Ship & Shore: The Ultimate Great Lakes History Day” be purchased in advance at nmgl.org or by calling 419-214-5000. Day of tickets will only be available if space exists. For additional information please visit nmgl.org/event.

Overnight trips are back on the Badger

LUDINGTON, MI – The crew of the S.S. Badger is bringing back overnight voyages. Lake Michigan Carferry, which owns and operates the 70-year-old vessel on Lake Michigan, announced Monday that its overnight sailings known as doubles will return after a three-year absence on July 6.

The overnight sailings offer passengers a unique opportunity to travel and view the night sky, stars, and sunsets as a part of the route to their destination. The S.S. Badger travels between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It wisas the last coal-powered passenger steamer operating in the United States.

“We have seen a continued increase in traffic and demand for the additional crossing. Many passengers have expressed how much they missed being able to sail at night and we are ecstatic to service our passengers in this capacity again,” said Shelby Soberalski, Director of Marketing and Sales for Lake Michigan Carferry.

The overnight trips will continue through August 6, but will only be available on evenings Thursday through Sunday. In addition to the scheduled day crossings, a second trip will leave Ludington at 8:45 p.m. eastern time and depart Manitowoc at 1:30 a.m. central time.

On the 8:45 p.m. departure, passengers can expect the same amenities as they do during the day, such as Badger Bingo and dining and bar service.

Passengers with tickets for a day crossing who wish to change to an evening crossing can call 800-841-4243 to request a change at no additional fee.

Read more here: https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/07/historic-lake-michigan-car-ferry-bringing-back-overnight-sailings-with-views-of-sunset-night-sky.html?utm_campaign=mlivedotcom_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2OAFU6NmHzhD7bdIJKRvCNf77RbCbcIggRbrswANBXSEITF3ueCDJusko

Viking cruise ships pair science with adventure

ALPENA, MI – This is one radical partnership. Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, named for the southern and northern stars, are touring the Great Lakes this year, with stops in Alpena and in various other ports along the way. These are a different kind of cruise ship, with multiple goals, including scientific research and education.

Last Wednesday, Viking Head of Science and Sustainability, Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith, talked about the vision and purpose of Viking’s research, which aligns with its goal of providing an educational, unique Great Lakes cruise experience for its guests.

Viking is a Norwegian company owned by Torstein Hagen and his daughter, Karine Hagen. They wanted to create a different type of expedition-style cruise targeted toward the curious traveler seeking knowledge and adventure.

“The market we aim for is what we refer to as ‘the intellectually curious,’” Stanwell-Smith noted. “People who are interested in culture, and history, and geography, and destination, and place.”

He said over the past 25 years, the company has grown, and continues to grow and expand its offerings. The first Great Lakes cruise launched in May 2022, with a stop in Alpena. This summer, the two ships will take turns touring Alpena.

“We have over 100 ships,” Stanwell-Smith explained. “Most of them are river ships. We take a lot of Americans to Europe and around the world, on rivers. We have a fleet of ocean ships, they’re what is described as small ocean ships ­– they still have 900 guests on board.”

The Polaris and Octantis each carry 378 guests for the Great Lakes cruises, with 260 crew members. “A subset of that crew are a team of expedition specialists and scientists,” Stanwell-Smith said. “We also have two submarines on each ship, so we have a submarine team.”

While the guests are cruising, scientists are conducting research at the same time on the ship. “Four years ago, Viking decided that we should build expedition vessels,” Stanwell-Smith said. “But the market that we’re looking at is to do sincere, credible, rigorous science while guests are on board. So, we built, during the pandemic lockdown, two expedition ships.”

He said the partnership is mutually beneficial, not just to NOAA and Viking, but to advancing Great Lakes research at a faster pace while also providing an expedition-style cruise experience to guests, many of whom have never visited the Great Lakes.

“We are very well aligned,” Stanwell-Smith said. “We can mutually help one another. The vessels are great platforms for science.”

Read more here: https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2023/06/viking-cruise-ships-pair-science-with-adventure/?fbclid=IwAR3aKI4KrvlOd0ziUXH0-44H5_UKtgNLgloSyuFSTKMElJEV4pp5-gt9MoQ

Obituary: Boatnerd George Robert Zock

Passed in peace at the age of 92. Predeceased by his parents Elsa (nee Cameron) and George Sr. Zock, brother William Zock, sisters Eleanor Moore and Audrey St. Pierre. Loving father of Tina Robitaille. He will be missed by his son-in-law Andrew Robitaille, grandchildren Connor Ball and Caleb Robitaille, nephew Gordon Zock (Kim), and Bill Peterkin (Tanis). Dad was forever on the road. He loved to travel all over Canada in the summer and enjoyed his winters in Texas. He had daily “meetings” with all his friends at McDonalds and enjoyed watching people coming and going. He loved big ships and belonged to a group called Boatnerds. He would frequently go on trips to Michigan to meet up with the other enthusiasts. He will be missed by his friends, especially Phil Nash, a fellow Boatnerd. Special thanks to all the wonderful staff at the Villa Care Centre. Their loving and exceptional care kept dad very happy and healthy for the last few years. There will be no funeral.

‘Boatnerds’ gather for freighters and frankfurters at the Soo Locks

How healthy is Lake Ontario? EPA wants to know more

NIAGARA COUNTY (WIVB) — We’ve seen it look blue, green, brown and all sorts of colors in between. But what’s going on below the surface? The United States and Canada are working together to protect Lake Ontario and learn more about the potential threats it faces.

As part of the 2023 Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been utilizing two research vessels as to collect data on the lake, in order to properly address issues of nutrient pollution, chemical contaminants, habitats and invasive species.

“Our action to collect this data on Lake Ontario will help us identify the most pressing challenges and opportunities and further support our efforts to protect and restore this great lake for current and future generations,” Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia said.

The two vessels, Lake Guardian and Lake Explorer II, are being funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

“Since 2010, the multi-agency GLRI has provided funding to 16 federal organizations to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward achieving long-term goals,” the GLRI’s website says.

According to the binational State of the Great Lakes 2022 Report, things haven’t been looking bad, with the immense body of water being assessed as “fair” and “unchanging to improving.”

It’s officially Mayfly season. A photo posted by the Interlake Steamship Company shows mayflies swarming a freighter in Toledo.

It happened on the M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar in Toledo, according to the post.

Mayflies have a brief adult life, according to Michigan State University, but will lay 4,000 to 8,000 eggs on the water’s surface. Those eggs drop to the bottom of the water where they hatch into larvae called naiads.

MSU said the naiads will live underwater for a year or two, and then become wingless in their final immature life stage called subimago. Those subimagos fly toward the shore and within 24 hours, morph into an adult.

Mayfly hatches occur in June or July, but mayflies only thrive in lakes and rivers with good water quality, meaning seeing them is a good thing.

WXYZ Detroit

Great Lakes Seaway Announces Port Winners of 2022 Season “Pacesetter Award”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) announced today that nine U.S. ports in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System received its Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for recording increases in international cargo tonnage shipped through their ports during the 2022 navigation season.

“Every year, more than 36 million metric tons of cargo pass through the St. Lawrence Seaway, supporting nearly a quarter of a million jobs and made possible by ports throughout the Great Lakes region,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are proud to announce this year’s winners of the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award, which honors Great Lakes ports that have made significant strides in moving goods through the supply chain so they can reach the communities that need them.”

More than 237,000 jobs and $35 billion in economic activity are supported annually by the movement of cargoes on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. The nine ports earning the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for 2022 are: Port of Buffalo (N.Y.); Port of Chicago (Ill.); Port of Cleveland (Ohio); Port of Manitowoc, (Wis.); Port Milwaukee (Wis.); Port of Monroe (Mich.); Port of Oswego (N.Y.); Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority (N.Y.); and Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Ohio).

“Congratulations to the nine Great Lakes/Seaway ports being recognized as GLS Pacesetter Award recipients for their achievements during the 2022 Seaway navigation season,” said GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht. “The sustained level of high performance is a testament not only to the Seaway System’s importance as a maritime supply chain, but also to the hard work and resiliency of the dedicated men and women throughout the Great Lakes/Seaway port community.”

The Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities result in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, excluding Canada, in comparison with the previous year. The Pacesetter Award name was officially changed in 2001 to posthumously honor the noteworthy career of former GLS Logistics Director Robert J. Lewis, who was instrumental in developing and implementing the GLS’s trade development program.

U.S. Department of Transportation

Mayflies swarm the deck of Hon. James L. Oberstar. Interlake Steamship Company (Toledo, OH – June)

Ojibway wheelhouse makes final trip

Friday morning the tug Jennifer Anne Fogg, arrived at Port Colborne with an empty barge. She tied up at Marine Recycling and loaded up the wheelhouse from the Ojibway, the Lucien-L bridge and some other ship houses. AIS Sunday morning showed her destination as Beaver Island, MI. The Ojibway wheelhouse will eventually be placed on land at Beaver Island. It is not known where the other items will wind up.

The tug Jennifer Anne Fogg was built in Florida in 1955 for the US Army. She spent time in service in England and then returned to the US in the 1990s. In 2003 she was bought by a private owner and in 2007 was sold to St. James Marine who brought her to the Great Lakes and named her Wendy Anne, after the owner’s wife. She was renamed to Jennifer Anne Fogg this year.

Brad Wood

LOOKBACK: Summer 1959 collision sank saltie Monrovia near Thunder Bay Island

ALPENA, MI – In April 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway officially opened. That 370-mile project consisted of rivers, lakes, locks, and canals connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. One of the early international ships utilizing the waterway was the SS Monrovia.

The nearly 448-foot ocean vessel, registered in Liberia, was transporting a cargo of sheet and bar steel from Antwerp, Belgium to Chicago, Illinois and Duluth, Minnesota. The ship had a crew of 29, mostly of Greek heritage.

Downbound on Lake Huron was the Canadian bulk freighter SS Royalton. The 530-foot vessel was enroute from Duluth to Montreal, Quebec. The ship was loaded with 10,670 tons of grain.

On June 25, 1959, a collision between those two ships occurred 13 miles off Thunder Bay Island. The Monrovia is attributed being the first ocean vessel to sink in the Great Lakes related to the recently opened Seaway.

The USCG report noted the Monrovia’s master remained on the bridge after disembarking the Canadian pilot at the Lake Huron Lightship. As both ships neared Thunder Bay, an extremely dense fog set in. Traditionally, it was to be a starboard-to-starboard passing at least a mile apart between the two ships.

The Royalton executed several radio communications to the unknown saltwater vessel. No response was returned. The downbound Royalton also began a frequent series of foghorn alerts. In the dense fog, the Monrovia underwent course changes and lowered its speed.

As it neared 2 p.m., the ships were now 400 feet apart. Both shipmasters attempted to change speed and course, be dead in the water, or shift engine to astern. It was too late. The Royalton’s bow sliced into the Monrovia’s port side.

The Royalton ceased being underway and lost sight of the Monrovia. Nearly 20 minutes after the collision, the steamer Norman W. Foy was at the scene. By 3 p.m., the Monrovia’s 29 officers and crew were safely onboard the Foy.

The USCG Report stated the Monrovia’s master ordered the assistant engineer and select other crewmembers to investigate if the ship’s propulsion area was operational and the hull’s integrity safe. They could not verify either and then claimed their personal effects. The Monrovia was doomed to sink.

Just after the midnight hour, the Monrovia sank into Lake Huron at 140 feet.

Most of the vessel remained intact and laid upright on the lake’s bottom. An account from the Foy stated the Monrovia’s crew viewed the ship’s sinking on radar.

The USCG report stated that the Monrovia’s master and radio operator were not fluent in the English language. In addition, that was the Monrovia crew’s first Great Lakes voyage. The Monrovia did not have radar, nor a lookout placed at the ship’s bow. The Monrovia’s crew did not conduct any lifeboat drills.

Read the full story and see photos here: https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2021/07/summer-1959-collision-sinks-monrovia-near-thunder-bay-island/

More images in today’s Day in History

Cruise line ends tours stopping in Escanaba

ESCANABA, MI –  Just over a month after the first American Queen Voyages cruise ship made the voyage to Escanaba, the company has announced it will end Great Lakes cruises after this season.

“Our plan in 2019 when we purchased Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager was to operate them on a 12-month schedule, but the extended off-season operational costs outweigh the benefits to achieve our overall business success,” Gary Gerbino, director of public relations for American Queen Voyages told the Daily Press Friday.

According to Gerbino, American Queen Voyages was founded 12 years ago and specializes in paddle-wheel riverboats on seven American rivers. The company will be refocusing its efforts on river tours and placing the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager cruise ships up for sale.

“Market research shows we have the highest repeat rate of all U.S. river offerings and the highest guest intent to return, so we are focusing on our river cruises going forward,” he said

It is unclear if there is any future for Great Lakes cruises to stop in ­Escanaba, as American Queen Voyages does not know who will buy the two ships or where they will operate them.

The first American Queen Voyages cruise ship visited Escanaba on Mother’s Day, May 14. The last ship, the Ocean Navigator, will dock in the city on Monday, Oct. 2.

“All published voyages will be operated through November 2023, and we are committed to our service excellence through the last day of operation,” said Gerbino.

Escanaba Daily Press

Titanic submersible tragedy has a link to Seaway

There is a St. Lawrence Seaway connection to the ill-fated submersible Titan, aboard which five men have been lost on an expeditionary dive to the Titanic. The vessel Polar Prince, which took Titan out to the site and was the attending vessel, is the ex-Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

CCGS Sir Humphrey Gilbert entered service with the Department of Transport Marine Service in 1959, was transferred to the newly created Canadian Coast Guard in 1962 and was active until 2001. The icebreaker was sold to private interests in Newfoundland and renamed Polar Prince, sitting mostly idle until resold in 2009 to GTX Technology Canada Limited for service in the Arctic Ocean as a commercial icebreaker.

The ship was taken out of service in 2001. In 2002, the icebreaker was sold to Puddister Trading Co. Ltd of St. John’s and renamed Polar Prince. In 2002, the vessel was acquired by Star Line Inc. In 2005, the vessel was laid up and put up for sale by Star Line on eBay. The vessel was later sold to GX Technologies, Calgary, Alberta, in 2009 and was modernized

In 2017, the vessel was temporarily rechristened Canada C3 and used for a high-profile voyage around Canada’s three maritime coasts as part of the nation’s 150th anniversary. During that voyage she made it as far west as Toronto.

In November 2021 the ship was purchased by Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Service Ltd, a joint venture between Horizon Maritime and the Miawpukek First Nation, a company that has trained Indigenous cadets as seafarers for offshore supply vessels.

In June 2023, Polar Prince was chartered by OceanGate Inc. for an OceanGate Titanic Expedition, the scientific and tourist mission to the wreck of the Titanic.

Graham Grattan, Ron Beaupre, Rene Beauchamp, William Lafferty, Wikipedia

Cleveland’s Anthony J. Celebrezze fire boat decommissioning set for next Wednesday

The decommissioning ceremony of the Cleveland Fire Department’s fire boat Anthony J. Celebrezze will be on Wednesday 6/28/23 at 11 AM- 2 PM at Collision Bend Brewing Co., 1520 Old River Road, Cleveland, Ohio. The new fire boat, the Garrett A. Morgan, will be officially placed in service at the same event that is open to the public. The brewery will also be releasing a summer brew named “Aft the Brezze” to commemorate the event.

The Celebrezze, built in 1961, has been used as base for the dive team, river firefighting operations and to supply water to companies operating on the shoreline. It also patrols the Cuyahoga in winter months to break ice in the river and harbor.

Anthony Joseph Celebrezze Sr. was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as the 49th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, as a cabinet member in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Ocean Navigator, Ocean Voyager to be sold as American Queen exits lakes market

In what it called a strategic decision to refocus its business, American Queen Voyages, part of Hornblower Group, has announced a series of deployment changes and updates set to start in early 2024 and extend into 2025.

The company also confirmed it would sell the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager and will not return to the Great Lakes in 2024.

“Our primary commitment is to deliver a best-in-class cruise vacation with a focus on immersive culinary and destination experiences,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president of American Queen Voyages.

“Our customers consistently tell us our U.S. River itineraries are exceptional and demonstrate this by returning again and again,” she continued.

“All of our focus is being put into updating and enhancing our popular river product with strategic partnerships and an elevated culinary program, which we know have been very well received,” added D’Aoust.

Cruise Industry News

Algoma Steel’s electric arc furnace project well underway

Building permits to date value $150 million and the project has infused $47.7 million into the community as of the end of last year, said Michael Garcia, CEO of Algoma Steel. Updated figures will be presented later this week when quarterly results are announced.

The melt shop building, 165 feet tall and 1024 feet wide, is well underway and will be 25,000 square feet, becoming “the newest landmark” on Sault Ste. Marie’s skyline.

A Fume Treatment Plant is also underway and is one of three environmental controls that will be part of the project. A water treatment plant and special engineered furnace enclosures will also be included to reduce sound, sparks or dust particles, he told council.

It’s expected that by mid 2024 a commission ramp up will occur, creating a hybrid mode of steelmaking, Garcia said.

At some time after 2026, the full electric arc furnace making processes will be operational, resulting in the phase out of the blast furnace.

The transition will take several years to complete, arcing one furnace at a time with about 30 per cent hot metal charge from the No. 7 Blast Furnace, which will operate at reduced output.

The second phase will see both electric arc furnaces operational with 100 per cent cold charge, including obsolete and prime scrap with an option for addition of alternate iron units. It will be fully powered by the Ontario grid and onsite power generation will not be required.

Algoma Steel, with its 2,800 employees, says the new processes will eliminate some jobs – but the exact number is not yet known.

What is known, is that job number reduction will occur over several years from the time of the initial start up of the electric arc furnace through to the end of the process, as far away as 2029.

In the meantime, Garcia says the company has notified potential employees of job losses and is working them to reintegrate them into the company, some through apprenticeship programs.

“A fair number of apprentices we have is coming from our own employee base,” he told media following his presentation to city council. “That includes current employees, who in the future, may be impacted by the electric arc furnace transformation and they’re transitioning to an apprentice so they can qualify as a tradesperson in the company at the end of that program.”

Garcia said there is also some retraining money available from higher levels of government and talks are ongoing with the unions to help mitigate the impact of employees through the transition.

The move means that Algoma Steel will be the first integrated steel producer in North America transitioned to electric arc steelmaking, creating a competitive platform for growth.

It also means reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 per cent, the largest targeted emission reduction project in Canada right now, Garcia said.

When paired with Ontario’s low-carbon power grid, the project will make Algoma Steel the leading producer of green steel in Canada and among the top suppliers in North America.

Garcia said so far, the budget is on time, and on budget, as of the end of 2022.

The steelmaker is now in the final stage of its $135 million plate mill modernization project, increasing capacity and delivering a better product.

The latest fiscal update will be provided after markets close on Wednesday and a presentation will be made Thursday.

Garcia said so far, the budget is on time, and on budget.

With high inflation rates, Algoma Steel said steel prices were steadily raising from November 2022 until about four weeks ago, when the price of hot rolled coil began to move down moderately, he told reporters after the formal presentation.

“The pricing is still significantly higher than it was in October or November of last year when it kind of reached the bottom. Before that it reached a peak in March of last year, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine happened,” he said.

Garcia said he doesn’t have a crystal ball and can’t predict where the pricing will go, but said the company needs to keep control of the things it can, including productivity and cost control and ensure its pricing is successful during the different market cycles.

The Sault Star

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With an uncertain future ahead of her, Ocean Navigator heads upbound for the Soo in the St. Marys River. Roger LeLievre image (St. Marys River – June 20)