Two Columbia S. S. Division veterans, HOWARD M. HANNA JR. (II) and BUCKEYE arrived at Port Colborne, October 9th en route to a European scrap yard in tow of the tugs S. M. DEAN and SALVAGE MONARCH. While the HANNA JR. was being berthed in Port Colborne harbour, BUCKEYE drifted ashore on the sand beach west of Port Colborne. An attempt will be made to refloat BUCKEYE but it would appear salvage costs may exceed her value.

The tug S. M. DEAN has been sold by Columbia's Pringle Barge Line to McAllister Towing for use in Puerto Rico.

The self-unloader barge MAIDA formerly towed by S.M. DEAN has been laid up, and may soon follow her sister CONSTITUTION to the scrap yard.

SIR JAMES DUNN and WHITEFISH BAY have gone into winter quarters at Port Arthur. The latter is to be converted to a self-unloader this winter.

MIDLAND PRINCE, C.S.L's self-unloader which has been inactive since the close of 1966 navigation, has been sold to Marine Salvage Ltd, for scrapping.

NORMAC has been sold by Owen Sound Transportation Co., and cleared Owen Sound about September 30th, She is now tied up at Wallaceburg, Ontario, awaiting a decision by her new owners as to future use.

Reoch's WESTDALE arrived in Toronto October 17th, to lay up in front of SPRUCEDALE. Reoch's self-unloaders are filling both ships with soy beans, for winter storage.

Steel Factors Ltd. re-named GASPEDOC, the VEDALIN before selling her for service under the Panamanian flag in August. The new owners have changed her name again -- this time, WITSHORE.

Three American Export - Isbrandtsen ships, well known on the Lakes, have been sold -- EXIRIA. and EXTAVIA to Spanish breakers, and FLYING SPRAY to Panamanian buyers for further trading.

The New York State barge canal terminal warehouse on the Black Rock Canal at Buffalo, has been demolished --- only the pier has been left.

White Pass and Yukon Corporation has ordered a container ship from Canadian Vickers similar to the FRANK H. BROWN.

Bridge #3 over the Welland Canal at Lock 2 was recently damaged beyond repair by a Japanese freighter. Demolition of the damaged structure is well under way.

Scrapping operations have commenced at Hamilton on the BLUE RIVER.

After grounding at Britt, Ontario, several weeks ago, the acid tanker NORMAN P. CLEMENT was towed to Collingwood Shipyard for survey and repairs. While in dock an explosion occurred on board injuring eleven men and further damaging the CLEMENT. Due to the high cost of repairs and because of her acid cargo, she was towed into Georgian Bay on October 23rd and scuttled in 350' water near Christian Island.

On October 27th at 3:00 p.m., Moore-McCormack Line vessel MOOREMACISLE, while entering Lock 8, struck the fender thus putting the Canal out of operation at the west end for approximately 12 hours and causing a back-up of about 21 downbound vessels. The Seaway Authorities are hoping to have the fender repaired within a day or two but in the meantime ships entering Lock 8 are walked into the lock.

While in tow of the ocean-going tug HUDSON, the EDWARD Y. TOWNSEND broke in two on October 7th, 1968, and sank approximately 400 miles southeast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, in heavy weather. Full justification for the action of the U. S. Coast Guard in withdrawing her certificate in 1966!

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