U.S. Steel sues Algoma Steel over refusal to honor multimillion-dollar contract
U.S. Steel on Tuesday sued a Canadian steel company alleging that it is refusing to pay for millions of tons of iron ore pellets it agreed to purchase five years ago because of new Trump administration tariffs.
Algoma Steel Inc., based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is accused of breach of contract. A message left with Algoma late Tuesday was not returned.
According to the complaint, filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, U.S. Steel and Algoma entered into a contract in May 2020 calling for Algoma to buy millions of tons of iron ore pellets — mined and processed by U.S. Steel facilities in Minnesota — for negotiated rates.
The contract, the lawsuit said, runs through January 2027 and is governed by Pennsylvania law. It requires that all disputes be decided through arbitration proceedings in Pittsburgh.
“Now Algoma has buyer’s remorse and wants out of the deal,” the lawsuit said. “It has repudiated the contract by refusing the latest shipment of iron ore pellets and has affirmatively told U. S. Steel that it will not accept any more iron ore pellets or otherwise honor the parties’ contract.
The complaint alleges that Algoma already owes U.S. Steel more than $22 million, and that losses for U.S. Steel on the contract could approach $100 million.
Further, U.S. Steel said that Algoma has said it will not consent to arbitration in Pittsburgh. Instead, the company has told U.S. Steel it plans to seek relief in a Canadian court and will ask for a declaration finding the parties’ contract is no longer binding.
In late September, the lawsuit said that Algoma refused a shipment of the iron ore pellets. Then, on Sept. 29, the company wrote a letter to U.S. Steel in which it blamed the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canadian steel “for creating a situation where Algoma’s blast furnace steel, created using iron ore pellets, was no longer competitive in the American market.”
The lawsuit alleges that Algoma has no legitimate basis to unilaterally end the contract.
“A contract is a contract, and we expect Algoma Steel to live up to its commitments as have we,” said Andrew Fulton, a spokesman for U.S. Steel.
Trump announced a doubling of tariffs for all countries except the United Kingdom at a rally in Pittsburgh in May. It took effect a week later. On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House to talk about U.S. tariffs on steel, automobiles and other good.
The Trib, Tarentum, PA
Spliethoff confirms death of seafarer from Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden
Dutch carrier Spliethoff has confirmed the death of one of its seafarers who was critically injured and passed away in hospital on October 6 after the general cargo Minervagracht was hit on September 29 by a Houthi missile in the Gulf of Aden.
In a statement, the Amsterdam-based shipping line declared: “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. Our thoughts are with them as they face this unimaginable loss, and we will continue to offer all possible support during this difficult time.
“The events of last week have left a profound impact on everyone at Spliethoff. Today’s news has deeply saddened everyone at the company, as we mourn the loss of a respected and valued seafarer.
“Most of the crew of Minervagracht have now been safely repatriated to their home countries. One crew member remains under medical care in Djibouti; his condition is stable, and we expect he will be able to return home later this week.
“Finally, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to the crew, and their families for the strength and resilience they have shown throughout this ordeal. We are thankful to the authorities and all those who assisted in the rescue and repatriation of our crew.”
The missile strike set fire to the accommodation block Crew members were evacuated from the burning vessel by warships from the EU’s Operation Aspides. The Minervagracht, which has been a frequent Great Lakes visitor, was in international waters in the Gulf of Aden and heading eastbound from Djibouti at the time of the attack.
Houthi forces said they targeted the Dutch-flagged vessel because the carrier had ships calling at Israeli ports.
Maritime Magazine
ISMA Milwaukee Lodge, Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Will Host 50th Anniversary Fitzgerald Commemoration
International Ship Masters Association Milwaukee Lodge and the
Wisconsin Marine Historical Society have partnered to commemorate
the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and her Crew on the 50th anniversary of
her sinking.
Join us on Monday, November 10th, from 5-8 PM, at The
Cooperage (822 S. Water St., Milwaukee). The event will feature a
solemn bell ringing ceremony at 6:10 PM in memory of the 29 lost
crew members, followed by speakers sharing their personal
connections to this historic event.
Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets
are $20 presale, or $40 at the door if space allows. Secure your spot
early – the first 200 tickets sold will receive a commemorative
challenge coin and gift bag. Presale ends November 5, 2025.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to reflect on a solemn and
significant event in Great Lakes history. Space is limited, so purchase
your tickets today at:
http://www.shipmaster.org/lodge-6
This event is a commemoration, not a fund raiser.
Mark 50 years since Edmund Fitzgerald sinking with historic cuisine, wreath laying
DETROIT, MI – From dining on authentic cuisine served on the ill-fated freighter to a solemn laying of wreaths on the water, the Detroit Historical Society is hosting a weekend of events to honor the 29 mariners who died in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald nearly 50 years ago.
The museum is planning several opportunities, paid and free, to honor the Fitzgerald, which went down in a violent storm on Nov. 10, 1975, and is remembered in the Gordon Lightfoot ballad.
Rebecca Salminen-Witt, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Historical Society, said tickets are expected to sell out fast for a special brunch set for Sunday, Nov. 9, and the solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 10. Free events also are scheduled at the museum throughout the weekend.
“It’s important for people to learn about this history ― there’s a lot of it. And Detroit played a huge role in the maritime history of the state and in the whole country,” Salminen-Witt said.
Friday Nov. 7
The commemorative weekend kicks off at 11 a.m. with a book talk featuring Thomas Nelson, the author of “Wrecked: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
Salminen-Witt said Nelson’s book takes a unique perspective on the ship’s sinking and how the loss of thousands of pounds of ore affected Michigan’s manufacturing economy, ultimately impacting the nation’s economy.
Register for the book talk here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/events/book-talk-wrecked
Detroit Free Press
Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking
By: Max White
(WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
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