"but there's always a ship............."

The subject line above is a cry if not often heard, certainly a mantra many in this business believe.  Montreal is, regardless of what the weather statistics indicate, in the middle of winter, a season not universally beloved of shipowners.  Yes folks it gets cold, sometimes very cold, things freeze, machinery becomes more fragile, and the simple business of getting around just becomes more fraught and difficult.
The just-in-time wizards of supply chain fame however often don't seem to realise these simple facts and sometimes pay scant regard to the month number on the calendar....
Pre-emptive planning is key, but unfashionable, right now we could be fixing some high paying business we have quite a list of things that could be done and soon too, but unfortunately right now that old shippage adage with which we started this post does not ring true....

p.s. if you happen to have a chemical tanker within a week of Montreal please call !

Wacky Weather

What a difference a few days can make .......  Mr Mollers famous blue paint clause may
soon be done for the year.

23rd Feb

26th Feb

Our first open water clean cargoes now appear to be re-sourced (as opposed to resourced)
from the Continent, so the close to half a mil' is probably now more like point six five.

At Last

Winter has arrived, we have snowfall warning in effect and 15-25 cms are due, this is however not this winters norm.  We have had a warmer than average season so far Montreal in February has been on average 4.6C above normal.  Usually the place where conditions most concern marine traffic are in the Gulf of St Lawrence, the ice zones have only now been activated, about 6 weeks later than usual. Considering that the days are lengthening and some brave birds are even starting to test their voices then spring will surely come soon.

The lakes season has its first fixture as well, clean product is due into Ontario refineries
from New York in early april, at a tad under 5000 benjamins the freight was suprisingly firm too.

Gulf of St Lawrence 23rd feb

Opening (and closing)

22nd of March and the St Lawrence Seaway season 2012 begins...... its probably
as early a debut as is on record. Ice conditions, except perhaps at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, will be moderate so hopefully the channel markers will be easily restored too.
  
Sad news also , Timm Paulsen, a stalwart of the Montreal agency scene passed away last weekend aged 73. His employers, Laden Maritime are hosting a memorial today at the Montreal Seamans Club in the Old Port.  

Cold and calm

For the next few days we'll be below -10 c overnight, but this winter here like in many places, has been mild. We are now however seeing more ice accumulating in the
Gulf of St lawrence and approaches to Montreal and Quebec...you can see the latest map
and a link that explains Egg charts below.  Activity here in winter is always less than in the other 3 seasons but this year the whole east coast seems quiet.... the flat market and low freight earnings has seen owers moving their tonnage to farther and more fruitful pastures it seems. By contrast the American flag cabotage vessels trading between us ports are reportedly very busy.


http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/prods/WIS28CT/20120202180000_WIS28CT_0006270307.pdf

http://www.ec.gc.ca/glaces-ice/default.asp?lang=En&n=7901F1A0-1