Port Weller Drydocks Facility News

Algoma Central Marine has awarded a $5.5 million contract to Canadian Shipbuilding & Engineering for the conversion of a single-hulled tanker, 431 ft. (131.5 m) M.V. Algoeast, to double-hulled construction at its Port Weller Drydocks facility. The project, which is the first type of conversion ever to be done at a Canadian shipyard, will commence this December and expects to employ about 100 shipbuilders through the winter.

Currently, Marcon International, Inc., the ship sale & chartering firm, has 62 inland tank barges available for sale, down from 124 in June 1996. Most of these are typical U.S. inland river units of approximately 30 years of age (vs. an average active U.S. inland fleet age of 24 years). Marcon also has listed and available for sale a total of 41 ocean and coastwise barges compared with 50 in June 1996. Most of these are older single skin units. Even with OPA 90 retirement dates approaching and double skins being built, the firm reports not seeing any great numbers of U.S. single hull tank barges coming on the market - especially from the ocean and coastal fleets. There is a wide split in price ranges for those vessels for sale.