a ladle nozzle 37 forming part of a ladle side gate 38 and when necessary to a selected elevation to allow the use of an oxygen lance to melt solidified steel in the ladle exit port after the tubular shroud is installed the actuator assembly 35 is operated to lower the ladle until the discharge end of the tubular shroud 36 is submerged in molten steel in the tundish 14 the present invention incorporates a manipulator 40 and associated apparatus to install the ceramic pouring shroud 36 and to asses the integrity of a gaseous sealed connection between the tubular shroud and a slide gate 38 referring to fig3 the shroud 36 which is made of high temperature resistant ceramic material has an enlarged cup shaped end portion 42 on which a seal 43 of high temperature resistance sealant material such as ceramic fiber is placed for forming a gas impervious seal with the ladle nozzle 37 so that molten steel can pass to an internal duct 44 in an elongated tubular section 46 of the shroud the shroud has an extended length sufficient to submerge an end portion 48 in a volume of molten steel 50 beneath a protective layer 52 of slag in the tundish 14 a carrier sleeve 54 has a central opening dimensioned to seat the elongated tubular section 46 and allow the cup shaped end portion 42 to engage in supporting contact with the carrier sleeve 54 the carrier sleeve 54 is provided with trunnions 56 extending from opposite lateral.