The two new Reoch self-unloaders ERINDALE and BROOKDALE should be making their respective appearances in Canadian waters shortly. BROOKDALE (FRED A. MANSKE) will be sailing from South Chicago during the next two weeks or so and will be going on the dock at Port Weller for work on her tailshaft. The ERINDALE will likewise require drydocking and she will then proceed to Toronto where she is scheduled to have a complete refit in preparation for her new duties.

At the close of the 1975 navigation season it was rumoured that the Paterson canaller SARNIADOC (II) had sailed her last in her owner's service. It now appears that the rumour mill called this one right, for we have received word that SARNIADOC has been sold to the same buyers that last year purchased the same fleet's canaller CALGADOC. The ship has, however, not been paid for as yet and we presume that Paterson will want to see the colour of the purchaser's money before letting the ship out of their clutches,

At long last, the Quebec and Ontario Transportation Company Ltd. seems to have chosen the funnel design that is to be borne by all vessels in the fleet. As readers will recall, the various ships of the line sported a number of variants of the new colours during 1975 with most of them eventually being given the blue, white and green bands with the blue evergreen design on the white band. But a few issues back we noted that BLACK RIVER, currently in winter quarters at Toronto, was carrying a quite different design. We now learn that this is the one that will now be applied to all units. It consists of a black funnel (both top and bottom) with two narrow blue bands and between them a wide white band on which the blue "evergreen" insignia appears. This colour scheme is really quite pleasing and does not offend the eye as did the clash between the blue and green of the old livery. We sincerely trust that Q & O will settle down and stick with the new design for a while.

Speaking of Q & O, we have heard that the company may be looking to expand its fleet again. It is thought that Q & O may be seeking two ocean-going vessels and one laker. This is certainly a far cry from the blues the firm was singing several years ago when it seemed to be on the verge of quitting the lake shipping business altogether.

It has been announced by the Interlake Steamship Company that its new self-unloader, presently under construction as Hull 905 of the American Shipbuilding Company's Lorain yard, will be christened JAMES R. BARKER. The vessel, first of two which AmShip is building for Pickands Mather, is scheduled to enter service in the autumn.

The Westdale Shipping Ltd. self-unloading steamer NORDALE, (a) STADACONA (II), will soon be fitted with a bowthruster. The installation will be made by Herb Fraser and Associates. We wonder whether possibly the ship will receive the thruster salvaged from HENNEPIN during the scrapping of the latter ship.

By the time these words appear in print, the navigation season on the Welland Canal should be well underway. But although the canal does not officially open until April 1st, there was much activity at the Port Colborne end of the waterway on Sunday, March 28. Recent strong winds have packed Port Colborne harbour with ice and an icefield about five miles wide was lying off the breakwater. CANADIAN LEADER departed Port Colborne at 8:25 a.m. on the 28th and became stuck in the packed ice about 500 feet from the breakwater. She was freed by C.C.G.S. GRIFFON under the command of Capt. Pat Connors. SEAWAY QUEEN cleared Port Colborne at 9:40 a.m. the same morning and by 10:00 a.m. she was stuck not more than a mile from the pierheads. She also was broken out by GRIFFON. The eastern end of Lake Erie is full of ice and the broken floes going down the Niagara River have caused the formation below the Falls of one of the most spectacular ice jams seen in those parts in many years.

Victims of late winter navigation on the lakes are PHILIP R. CLARKE and the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker MACKINAW which were involved in a collision on Whitefish Bay near Ile Parisienne on March 21. MACKINAW was breaking a path for the CLARKE when she stopped in the heavy ice and was run down by the ore carrier. Fairly severe damage was occasioned to the starboard quarter of the icebreaker and to the port bow of the CLARKE. No one was injured.

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