Algoma Welcomes 2nd Equinox Lake Bulker into Its Fleet

Algoma Central Corporation has taken delivery of the second of eight new Equinox class lake bulk carriers from Nantong Mingde shipyard in China.

Algoma Welcomes 2nd Equinox Lake Bulker into Its Fleet

The ship, named the Algoma Harvester, is being prepared for the long voyage to Canada and is expected to leave China shortly.

When it arrives in Canada this summer, the Algoma Harvester will join its sister ship, the Algoma Equinox, as part of Algoma’s 32-vessel Canadian flagged Great Lakes fleet.

The 2014 shipping season is off to a late start following the very harsh winter weather and record ice conditions on the Great Lakes. The addition of the Algoma Harvester will provide much needed capacity to help meet the needs of Canadian grain farmers to get last year’s record crop to market.

Algoma is investing $300 million to construct six state of the art Equinox class vessels and CWB Inc. is constructing an additional two Equinox class vessels that will be managed by Algoma as part of the fleet operating in and around the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Waterway.

The Equinox Class represents the next generation of Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Waterway bulk cargo vessels. The ships have been designed to optimize fuel efficiency and operating performance thus minimizing environmental impact.

A 45% improvement in energy efficiency over Algoma’s current fleet average is expected, resulting from the use of a modern Tier II compliant engine, increased cargo capacity, and improved hull form.

In addition, a fully integrated IMO approved exhaust gas scrubber will remove 97% of all sulphur oxides from shipboard emissions. The use of exhaust gas scrubbers represents the first application of an IMO approved integrated scrubber on a Great Lakes – St. Lawrence vessel class.

[mappress]
Algoma, May 15, 2014