Need some help with barge scrap prices

Hi guys



First post here and could use some help from the pros. I have aquired a 450 ton barge and a 1200 ton LST vessel. They were bought to scrap. The hulls are clean and we are ready to start cutting them in preparation to sell as #1 and #2 HMS scrap. The scrapping will be done in the Portland OR area. I have some scrap buyers in mind to talk to but am new to the game and want to get the best price possible. Any pointers would be appreciated and what do you feel fair prices delivered to the buyers facility would bring?

Thanks

Uh huh. How is it you're new to the game and have 1,650 tons of steel? Was this a government auction?

No auction. My brother is in the marine service industry. These were old barges partially submerged that we purchased from the owners and made the needed repairs to make them towable to a yard for scrapping.

Sounds like it will be a nice payoff. I don't know what size you need to cut it down to get top dollar. Might call a few yards and see.

I was told 4' by 2' by one yard. It's a big learning curve. Hope to make a nice profit but there are lots of unknowns still to get it cut and ready for delivery to a buyer.

I'd hire as much help as I could afford while still remaining as profitable as possible, get a few 40 yard dumpsters, and go to town!

Sounds like a massive job, but it does sound like quite the fun challenge...especially knowing that there will be a nice $$$$$$$ payout!

How long do you suppose it will take to cut it up? Have any photos? They sound massive.

Like I told another scrapper, check with a few yards on price and the winning bidder should supply you with all the big roll-off's you need, and when their full they'll replace them.

guys

I'm working on logisitics for cutting the scrap now. how long it will take depends on lots of variables yet to be determined. Once we get closer to cutting i'll post up some pictures.

thanks

We are Scrap Yard owners in Dubai & are interested in your material.

We can buy the barges 'as is' & tow them or if you can cut & containerize we can pay you upto USD 400 per ton

Kindly send us an email to trademetal at hotmail dot com

Trademetal

Thanks for the inquiry. I sent you an email with my contact information. I look forward to discussing options with you. We have another vessel we will be aquiring shortly that is approx 1700 tons.

This is interesting. I am going to make some popcorn and see how this unfolds.

Originally Posted by trademetal

We are Scrap Yard owners in Dubai & are interested in your material.

We can buy the barges 'as is' & tow them or if you can cut & containerize we can pay you upto USD 400 per ton

Kindly send us an email to trademetal at hotmail dot com

Smells like a scam.

Originally Posted by parrothead

This is interesting. I am going to make some popcorn and see how this unfolds.

Hmm. Maybe I could sell tickets? Winning

Originally Posted by KZBell

Smells like a scam.

One always has to be thinking that way and make sure your protected. Irrevocable letters of credit if done properly can protect both parties in these kind of transactions.

It does seem to me like you'd be losing a lot of potential profits by going through a middleman (the scrapyard) with such a huge quantity. All that they'll be doing anyway with that plate steel is dumping the roll-offs, and loading it into sea containers or (less likely) gondola railcars.

Have you heard of these things?
http://www.acculoader.net/CONTAINERLOADING.html
http://www.stecotrailers.com/StecoScrapper.pdf

or their background?
http://www.advancedsteel.com/news/21

They seem like the next big thing in the scrap industry.

Or, alternately, you could load sea containers the old-fashioned way at the docks you're scrapping these vessels at. Build up a month's worth of metal and then bring in a crane for a day or two.
Have you contacted any of the Schnitzer Steel companies? They own Oregon Rolling Mills and run a bunch of yards out your way to buy scrap for their own mills.

Hey Murt

Thanks for the post. I'll review the links you sent me. I am in contact with Schnitzer and we have sold them barge scrap in the past. I was not personally involved in that transaction. They are my go to guys at the moment but now that we have some larger amounts I'm doing some homework to try and get it right.

Just be careful if dealing with overseas buyers, don't let your stuff out of site until there check totally clears your bank, they can be so tricky. You might not have to cut them up at all, maybe fill them up.Deliver somewhere by water.