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Scott Bravener News

16 Sep 2020

Grain Shipments via St. Lawrence Seaway Climb

CSL Frontenac loading grain at the Port of Thunder Bay. Photo Credit: Michael Hull, Chamber of Marine Commerce)

Canadian grain shipments through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway trade corridor are up 20% in response to continuing world demand for wheat and canola, the latest figures show.Year-to-date shipments of grain (from April 1 to August 31) totaled 5.2 million tonnes, as ships transported Prairie wheat and canola and Ontario wheat and soybeans for both domestic use and for export to markets around the world.The rush of grain, which is carry over from last year’s crops, has helped to offset continuing pandemic-related declines in other key cargoes such as iron ore (down 23%)…

29 May 2019

McKeil Marine Adds Chemical Tanker

Canada’s marine services provider McKeil Marine Limited has acquired Topaz, an IMO 2, ice class 1A chemical tanker.With this newest addition to its diversified fleet of tugs, barges, workboats and vessels, including bulkers, cement carriers, and tankers, McKeil expands its offering and is poised for additional growth.The Panamanian-flagged Topaz built in 2009, measures 137 metres by 20 metres, with a DWT of 13,965 metric tonnes. The vessel was acquired to service the needs of McKeil’s customer Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc. (PCLI).Her journey originated in Singapore and continued to Malaysia where she loaded a cargo for delivery to the Mediterranean.

14 Oct 2015

Great Lakes Sees New Investment Despite Cargo Slowdown

Equinox Class ship the Algoma Harvester entering Port Colborne harbour from Lake Erie (CNW Group/Algoma Central Corporation)

As ongoing commodity price pressures continued to impact overall tonnage volumes through the St. Lawrence Seaway in September, the shipping industry was buoyed by a number of investments in recent weeks by ship operators and ports, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce, an association representing Canadian and American marine industry stakeholders. “Despite slower iron ore and coal, growth continues on the Seaway in shipments for domestic sectors like construction, salt mining, agriculture and manufacturing,” said Stephen Brooks, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

01 Oct 2015

Rand Takes Delivery of Newest Self-Unloader

Bulk freight shipper Rand Logistics, Inc. has taken delivery of its newest Canadian self-unloading vessel, increasing its fleet to 16 ships, including 10 Canadian flagged and six U.S. flagged vessels. According to Rand, the new vessel will have the largest carrying capacity of any existing river class self-unloader and is anticipated to be the most efficient vessel of its class on the Great Lakes. “This vessel is the first new river class self-unloader to be introduced into Great Lakes service in over 40 years and will arrive in Canada in approximately 45 days,” said Scott Bravener, President of Rand's Lower Lakes Towing subsidiary.

22 Apr 2015

Vessel Forebody Launched for Rand Logistics

Video screenshot (courtesy of Rand Logistics)

Rand Logistics, Inc. announced the launch of its new vessel forebody. The new forebody, built by Chengxi Shipyard Co., will be affixed to the aft section of the company's recently acquired Danish-flagged vessel and is set to become the first new Canadian-flagged river class self-unloader introduced into service on the Great Lakes in over 40 years. The new vessel is expected to be introduced into service in the fourth calendar quarter of 2015 and will increase the size of Rand's fleet to 16, including 10 Canadian-flagged and six U.S.-flagged vessels.

06 Nov 2014

Seaway Cargo Movements Pick up Ahead of Winter

St. Marys Cement vessel Challenger in Chicago in 2014 (Photo: St. Marys Cement)

Shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway remained strong in October as North American manufacturers and cities stockpiled vital materials in advance of the coming winter and farmers relied on the waterway to export the new harvest. According to the St. Lawrence Seaway, total cargo tonnage from March 25 to October 31 reached 29.6 million metric tons, up 4.5 percent over the same period last year, as robust grain and steel shipments have more than offset a drop in iron ore shipments through the Seaway. “Autumn is typically the St.

14 Mar 2014

Rand Acquires Tanker for Conversion

Rand Logistics, Inc. has announced the acquisition of a Danish flagged chemical tanker that will be converted to a Canadian flagged river class self-unloader vessel. The new vessel will support recent new long-term contract awards which begin in April 2015. The acquisition and conversion of this vessel is consistent with Rand's strategy of remaining the leader in both the U.S. and Canadian river class markets on the Great Lakes and reaffirms the company's commitment to support the growth of its customers. "We have secured substantial long-term, contractual new business beginning in April 2015 for our Canadian flagged operations," commented Scott Bravener President of Lower Lakes Towing.

23 Dec 2013

Rand Adds New Business for 2014

Kaministiqua (Photo: Rand Logistics)

Rand Logistics, Inc. announced that it has secured additional new long-term contractual business for the 2014 sailing season, totaling in excess of 250 sailing days. These contracts, a combination of new business, market share gains and organic market growth, are expected to help rebalance the company's 2014 sailing season commodity mix to levels more consistent with prior years and improve existing fleet operating efficiencies. "We have been successful in leveraging our network and efficient operations to capture market share and meaningful new business for the 2014 sailing season…

11 Jun 2013

Rand Makes Corporate Governance Changes

Rand Logistics, Inc. announced that Laurence Levy has been appointed as Executive Chairman, with responsibilities that include overseeing corporate strategy including growth and acquisition initiatives, corporate culture, and organization building. Mr. Levy formerly served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rand. Rand's Chief Executive Officer position will remain unfilled. "Today's announcement reflects the collective view of our independent directors and management team as to the most efficient operating structure for Rand as well as the maturation of our Corporate Governance," commented Laurence Levy. "Under our new structure…

01 Nov 2012

Rand Logistics Commences Service of Barge

Rand Logistics, Inc. (Nasdaq:RLOG) announced the christening and commencement into service of the Jones Act compliant tug Defiance and the self-unloading barge Ashtabula. The articulated tug/barge vessel (ATB) was acquired on December 1, 2011. Modifications required for Great Lakes service began in May 2012 and have now been completed. The vessel was originally scheduled for delivery in early August but was delayed due to complexities in the conversion process. The total invested cost of the ATB is substantially less than the new build cost of a similarly-sized Jones Act compliant vessel. This ATB unit is the Company's sixteenth vessel. The Ashtabula loaded sand in Brevort, Michigan for delivery to Buffalo, New York on its maiden voyage.