TORONTO, Ont.–Algoma Central Corporation, Canada’s largest domestic ship operator in the Great Lakes, unveiled its new environmentally and technologically advanced vessel M/V Algoma Equinox to the media and customers during the shipping industry’s annual Marine Club gathering in Toronto today at the Toronto Port Authority.
Part of a $400 million investment in fleet renewal by St. Catharines-based Algoma Central, this ship and seven sister vessels that will arrive throughout 2014 and 2015 will meet the most stringent new air emission standards being phased in over the next 10 years. Designed to reduce every aspect of its environmental footprint and equipped with the most advanced technology available, Algoma’s EQUINOX CLASS vessels are part of an unprecedented fleet renewal, the company announced.
Greg Wight, President and CEO, Algoma Central Corporation, told reporters the Equinox class consumer 45 % per tonne less fuel than the current vessel tonne average.
The vessel is the first dry-bulk cargo ship in the Great Lakes to be designed to operate with fully integrated, closed loop, exhaust gas scrubbing system that eliminates 97 per cent of all sulphur oxide emissions from its engines, he said.
The Algoma Equinox going to be used regularly to carry iron ore for ArcelorMittal Dofasco.
Tony Valeri, Vice-President Public Affairs and Communications, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, said that Algoma Central “has been a very important partner for us. Fleet renewal helps ensure we have an effective, efficient, sustainable mode of transport to support our business,” he said.
“The range of environmental improvement that we see on this fleet aligns very well with our efforts to continuously improve our own productivity and environmental footprint. We were very proud to welcome the Equinox to Dofasco in December on her maiden voyage with her first official cargo, 29000 metric tonnes or iron ore pellets,” added Valeri.
“I’m encouraged to see carriers investing in vessels that are specifically designed for Seaway commerce. Being able to cost-effectively move commodities makes all these industries more competitive,” said Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway system, during the press conference.
“The cargo shipped on the Great Lakes supports some 35 billion dollars in economic activity. It bears repeating it’s a very important part of the Canadian and the US economy. We just ended the 2013 navigation season January 1st with a late season surge in grain, 37 billion tonnes of cargo. Certainly the US seems to be coming out of its long purgatory and even Europe is showing some signs of growth. We are expecting a better year (in 2014) on the Seaway,” Bowles added.
While vessels such as the Algoma Equinox are being built to take advantage of new technology, Bowles noted the Seaway id also taking advantage of new technology such as vessel self spotting, a draft information system and very recently just approved a hands-free mooring system on the Seaway that will do away with lines.
Algoma will own six of the eight Equinox Class series vessels, consisting of two gearless bulkers and four self-unloading vessels. CWB Inc., formerly the Canadian Wheat Board, will own the other two gearless bulkers, which will be operated and managed by Algoma.
The other vessels will arrive at regular intervals during 2014 and 2015. These vessels are Canadian-flagged and Canadian crewed.
Algoma has committed $400 million to its six Equinox Class vessels plus two Canadian Coastal class self-unloaders the Radcliffe R. Latimer (delivered in 2009) and the Algoma Mariner (delivered in 2011)
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