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3. Marine News - cont'd. tions were vile, with heavy rain and strong winds. ALGOBAY departed Shel burne at 3 :45 p.m. on February 12th, bound for Halifax and then for points south. Wintering at Montreal this year has been the package freighter WOODLAND, (a) FRENCH RIVER (81), (b) JENSEN STAR (8 6 ), which latterly has been ope rated by Woodlands Marine Inc., of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The group of par ties who own WOODLAND has been attempting to find a more suitable vessel for the package freight service, most probably a tug-barge combination, and there has been considerable speculation as to what barge might be us ed. (CHIEF WAWATAM has been mentioned as a possible candidate. ) In the meantime, an offer for WOODLAND had been received from New Orleans inte rests who apparently intended that the ship be converted to a processing plant for shrimp. She was taken to Montreal (assisted by tugs in the Sea way because of the late-season ice conditions) to facilitate a sale, but the New Orleans group did not complete the purchase. At last report, other buyers were still being sought for the ship, and there existed the possi bility that WOODLAND might yet return to her lake service if a sale could not be concluded. Although she was not a laker, we would be remiss if we did not report the loss of a Canadian deep-sea ship. The 1973-built, 6 9 8 2 -ton IRVING FOREST, (a) FINNALPINO (8 3 ), was registered at Hamilton, Bermuda, but was owned by Gainvir Transport Ltd., of St. John, New Brunswick, a subsidiary of (Irving's) Kent Line Ltd. On January 11, while bound from St. John for France with a cargo of newsprint and woodpulp, and when north of the Azo res, IRVING FOREST encountered a vicious Atlantic storm. She lost power, developed a severe list, and was abandoned by her crew, who were rescued by air and sea assistance which came to the scene. A Swedish and Frenchowned satellite nicknamed "Spot" was used to try to locate the abandoned ship but could not do so, and IRVING FOREST was presumed to have founder ed in the gale. The Finnish vessel LAPPOINIA was chartered by Kent Line to replace the lost ship. * * * * * MORE ABOUT VICTORIAN EMPRESS Our lead "Marine News" item in the February issue concerned the coming to the St. Lawrence River in 1990 of VICTORIAN EMPRESS, (a) PILGRIM BELLE, (b) COLONIAL EXPLORER. Unfortunately, our account of the ownership and ope ration of this interesting vessel was a bit off-base, and it is with plea sure that we rectify the situation at this time. In fact, Rideau St. Law rence Cruise Ships Inc., Kingston, which owned and operated CANADIAN EM PRESS since her commissioning in 1982, changed its name during 1 9 8 8 to St. Lawrence Cruise Lines Inc. This latter firm continues to own CANADIAN EMPRESS and will operate and market both CANADIAN EMPRESS and VICTORIAN EMPRESS. The registered owner of VICTORIAN EMPRESS will be American Heritage Cruis es Inc., a Delaware company partly owned by the shareholders of St. Law rence Cruise Lines Inc. The ship will remain in U. S. registry and will be manned by a U. S. crew, some of whom have been recruited from the now-de funct Exploration Cruise Lines, of Seattle, the last operator of the ship. CANADIAN EMPRESS will, of course, continue under the Canadian flag and with a Canadian crew. It is interesting to note that, on her Saguenay cruises, VICTORIAN EMPRESS will call at Murray Bay, Quebec, and thus will revive what was once a v e ry popular stop for the Canada Steamship Lines passenger steamers. The C. S. L. service was abandoned twenty-five years ago with the retirement in 1965 of RICHELIEU, TADOUSSAC and ST. LAWRENCE. Our thanks to Kevin Griffin, of Montreal, for providing the information concerning VICTORIAN EMPRESS. As more details become available, we will keep our readers advised. * * * * *