Algoma Central Corp. expands Great Lakes freighter fleet

The shipping company, which operates the largest Canadian-flag fleet of dry and liquid bulk carriers on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, ordered several self-unloading dry-bulk freighters.    Algoma Central Corporation, a Canadian shipping company, currently has a total of seven self-unloading, dry-bulk Equinox Class freighters on order, which will operate on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.
   Two of these ships, which will be built by Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2018, Algoma said. The contracts for these two freighters were made effective with the delivery of refund guarantees by the shipyard on Monday. The ships will be able to carry 29,300 tons at maximum seaway draft, have a length of 225.55 meters (740 feet) and a beam of 23.77 meters (78 feet).
   In addition, three 740-foot freighters will be built at the Uljanik Group’s 3Maj shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia. These three ships, which will be delivered in 2018, will also be able to carry 29,300 tons and have a beam of 78 feet.
   The other two freighters under construction at the Uljanik Group’s 3Maj shipyard are expected to carry in excess of 24,000 tons at maximum seaway draft. These two ships will have an overall length of 198.4 meters (650.8 feet) and a width of 23.8 meters (78 feet). Algoma said in April that these two ships are expected to enter service in 2017.
   All seven freighters will include all of the advances inherent in the company’s proprietary Equinox Class design, which includes the installation of exhaust gas scrubbers.
   Algoma is considering the retirement of certain older ships as it renews its fleet.
   “Upon completion of these seven new vessel orders in 2018, the average life of the company’s dry-bulk fleet will be reduced by 13 years from the 31 year age of the current fleet,” Algoma said in a statement.
   In addition, Algoma Shipping Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Algoma Central Corporation, reached an agreement with Klaveness Selfunloaders AS, a subsidiary of Klaveness Shipholding AS, to purchase the Balchen and Baldock, which are ocean going panamax self-unloaders.
   Marbulk Shipping Ltd., which is 50 percent owned by Algoma, also reached an agreement with Klaveness Shipholding AS to acquire the Balder, a handymax size self-unloader.
   However, the purchases are still subject to technical due diligence.
   Algoma Central Corporation operates 18 self-unloading dry-bulk carriers, seven gearless dry-bulk carriers and seven product tankers.