GLIN==> Great Lakes Ship Gets Green Makeover

PRESS RELEASE

 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julia Fields

 
(613) 294-8515 

                             

Great Lakes Ship Gets Green Makeover

 

Port Dover, Ontario (November 17, 2010) - A $15-million conversion of the
Great Lakes steam-powered vessel SS Michipicoten to diesel power will reduce
its fuel consumption and carbon emissions by more than 40 per cent.

 

The 1952-built ship, which trades from Marquette, Michigan to Sault St.
Marie, Ontario and is the primary mover of iron ore for Essar Steel, will be
repowered over the winter and be operational by mid-April with a
considerably improved environmental footprint. The new system is also
expected to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 33 per cent and sulphur
oxide (SOx) emissions by 46 per cent. This will help reduce emission
contributions to smog and acid rain.

 

The SS Michipicoten, which was bought by Port Dover, Ontario-based Lower
Lakes Towing Ltd. in 1993, is the last steam-powered vessel in its fleet.
The conversion will involve installing a state-of-art engine and automated
control systems. 

 

Captain Scott Bravener, President of Lower Lakes Towing Ltd., said: "The SS
Michipicoten has always operated in the fresh water environment of the Great
Lakes and as a result has experienced very little structural deterioration
over the years. This repowering will add another 20 years to the lifespan of
this ship, improve its annual carrying capacity and significantly reduce its
environmental footprint."

 

Bravener added that the design of the new engine room will leave space to
accommodate scrubbing technology that is expected to further reduce
emissions in the future. "Scrubbing technology is currently being developed
around the world. At the moment, the technology for vessels operating in a
fresh water environment is still being trialed.  However, we are hopeful
that it will be available to use within the next few years.  The SS
Michipicoten will likely be our first ship we install with this technology."

 

The conversion of the SS Michipicoten will take place at Central Machine &
Marine in Sarnia, Ontario using an equipment package provided by
Toronto-based Toromont Marine Power Systems.

 

"The 'SS Michipicoten' repower is the third conversion from steam to diesel
power we have worked on with Lower Lakes Towing Ltd," notes Ken Westcar,
Marine Market Manager for Toromont Marine Power Systems. "Each project has
been successful because we have fully utilized skills within the Great Lakes
marine community from initial planning through return-to-revenue service.
The goal is to make sure that it meets or exceeds all performance, financial
and environmental objectives. These jobs are critical in making Lower Lakes
Towing and other Canadian and U.S. fleets highly competitive and sustainable
over the long term."

 

Lower Lakes group of companies, which also includes the U.S. subsidiary
Lower Lakes Transportation, carries approximately 18 million tonnes of iron
ore, salt, milling grain and construction materials annually on its 12
vessels through the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System to markets such
as Cleveland, Saginaw, Toledo and the Sarnia-Windsor corridor. 

 

Including this project, since the acquisition of Lower Lakes Towing by New
York-based Rand Logistics Inc. in 2006, the Company has invested more than
U.S. $100 million in fleet expansion, life extension and operating
improvement projects. These investments have reduced its annualized fleet
fuel consumption by 32 per cent. The total sulphur content in the fuel
consumed by the fleet annually (sulphur content in fuel is directly linked
to SOx emissions) has decreased from 1.75 per cent to 1.45 per cent - this
is significantly below the current international standards of 4.5 per cent
set out by the United Nations body, the International Maritime Organization.


 

By spring 2011, further enhancements including the Michipicoten repowering
will lower that annualized fleet number to 1.29 per cent. 

 

Bravener said: "Even though marine shipping is one of the most
environmentally friendly ways to transport goods, we still have an impact.
As a company, we're committed to reducing that environmental footprint as
much as possible."

 

Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. is also a proud member of Green Marine, which is a
voluntary, bi-national program that aims to improve the marine industry's
environmental performance beyond regulatory compliance. Participants - who
represent nearly half of the activity in the Great Lakes-Seaway region - are
taking concrete steps to improve their record in seven key environmental
areas. Their results are independently verified by a third party and shared
publicly to demonstrate their environmental commitment.

 

 

-30-

 

 

____________________________________________________________________________
____

Marine Delivers is a bi-national, industry collaboration that aims to
demonstrate the economic contribution and environmental sustainability of
the shipping industry throughout the Great Lakes region. The Marine Delivers
initiative is administered by the American Great Lakes Ports Association in
the United States, and the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Canada. For more
information, visit the Marine Delivers website at www.marinedelivers.com.

 

 

Laura M. Blades

Director of Public Affairs

American Great Lakes Ports Association

700 12th Street, NW  Suite 700

Washington, DC 20005

T:  202-558-5123

C:  301-956-5391

blades at greatlakesports.org

 

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