Bulk carrier Amstel Tiger has sailed the Atlantic to save Scunthorpe steelworks from closure. The 34,000 tonne ship has brought in a cargo of coking coal which will keep the blast furnaces hot at the troubled British steelworks. The works was saved by a government intervention after the Chinese owners threatened closure.
The new UK management at Scunthorpe steelworks has wasted no time in moving raw materials to the site. It has overseen the arrival of a first train load of coking coal, which kept the fires burning at Scunthorpe, the site of the last pair of blast furnaces in the UK. Had the shipment not been made, the UK stood to lose its ability to manufacture virgin steel.
Port to plant transfer by rail
“Wednesday [16 April] saw vital raw materials unloaded at Immingham, before bringing them to British Steel’s blast furnaces in Scunthorpe,” said Allan Bell, Interim Chief Executive Officer of British Steel. “Given just a week ago the future of the steelworks stood in the balance, it has been remarkable to see the country rally around the last remaining blast furnaces.”
The consignment of coking coal, originating in America, was shipped to the port of Immingham, where British Steel has a dedicated bulk handling facility for coke and iron ore. The transfer to the plant was made by rail. A DB Cargo UK class 66 diesel locomotive hauled the shipment along the short 20-mile (32km) route to the plant. Notably, the previous owners had preferred to use road transport, despite rail infrastructure being in place.
Rail and Construction steel products
British Steel, under its new government-appointed management, released this video (below) on their social media channels, showing the train arriving on Thursday (17 April).
“We have hope for the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe given the strategic importance of Rail and Construction steel products which are vital to support the UK’s infrastructure projects which contribute to our growing economy,” said Allan Bell. “There is a bright future for steel in Scunthorpe. Our steelmakers are the finest in the world and we are endlessly grateful for their unwavering dedication.”
UK would be unable to manufacture virgin steel
Steel production in the UK has been in steep decline for several decades. After the also controversial closure of the Indian owned Port Talbot works in Wales. Scunthorpe was the only remaining production plant, where two blast furnaces provide virgin steel for the UK market, notably casting the metal for rail tracks and defence contracts.
Ironically, the name “British Steel” has now been recycled several times. After an abortive nationalisation of the 1950s, the industry was first nationalised under the British Steel name in 1967. It then went through a partial privatisation in 1988, and subsequently passed through several ownerships, before the Port Talbot works passed to Tata Steel of India, and Scunthorpe became the property of Jingye, who took the name British Steel. At least for now, that trading name is now back under UK management. The Amstel Tiger is now heading for Mulkran in Germany, and due there this evening (22 April) as reported on Ship2Port.com.