PIERSON INDEPENDENT has had more than her share of troubles since she was reactivated in August by the Soo River Company. The most serious problem, however, developed at about 1:15 a.m. on October 28 when the 73-year-old steamer truck a shoal in the Brockville Narrows of the St. Lawrence River, about six miles west of Brockville. The vessel was removed from the shoal under her own power but was intentionally beached close to shore when it was found that she was taking water in her port ballast tanks.

On October 23 at about 7:30 a.m., the Welland Canal shunter test vessel MARINSAL rammed the approach wall below Lock Two, causing heavy damage and shifting one of the shunters out of position. MARINSAL was taken to drydock at Port Weller where, on October 24, a fire occurred when a welder's torch ignited oily material on the shunter.

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