-- "Journal of Commerce" confirmed September 18 that U.S. MarAd had approved the sale of Columbia's ASHLAND and THOMAS WILSON to Corostel Trading Ltd., Montreal, for scrapping. ASHLAND has already passed downbound en route to a tow to overseas breakers.

-- A. H. FERBERT, sold early this year to Marine Salvage for overseas scrapping, was at Port Colborne September 28 in tow of GLENADA and one of the Misner tugs. She will probably go overseas with SAMUEL MATHER.

Lake shipping was severely affected on the morning of September 28 as engineering officers, members of the Canadian Maritime Officers Union, struck the various fleets (except Upper Lakes Shipping) over a contract dispute. The companies were attempting to arrange alternate engineroom staffing to keep the ships running. There also remains the possibility of a strike this autumn by St. Lawrence Seaway workers which would cripple the canals.

-- "Journal of Commerce" reported September 18 that Gametek Systems Inc., Vancouver, had moved the 5010-ton, 1925-built ferry SUNSHINE COAST QUEEN from Vancouver to Nanaimo, B.C., in preparation for a tow to a Far Eastern scrapyard. The company had planned to rebuild the ship for cruising but abandoned these plans. SUNSHINE COAST QUEEN was (a) VACATIONLAND (60), (b) JACK DALTON (62), (c) PERE NOUVEL (67), but later was owned by Gulf Canada as (e) GULF KANAYAK and earlier this year was owned by 301073 B.C. Ltd., was unofficially renamed CANARCTIC EXPLORER. We have no idea why she appears to have reverted to the name under which she served the B.C. ferry fleet. The vessel was built originally for the Straits of Mackinac ferry service.

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