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FORMER LAKE S E L F - U N L O A D E R S ON SALT WATER In recent years, a number of self -un loa di ng vessels built for Great Lakes use or as "Caribbean Class" (with combined lake and de ep-sea capabilities), or converted to such use, have been op erating mainly on salt water. For those observers resident in the Great Lakes area, it often is difficult to trace the comings and goings of some of these s e l f - u n l o a d e r s . Accordingly, we are pleased to have received from T. M . H . S. member "Mac" Mackay, of H a l i fax, Nova Scotia, a list det ailing the visits that such vessels made to the Port of Halifax during the calendar year of 1991. We thought that our members might find this listing to be of interest, pa rt icularly in view of the recent announcement that Canada Steamship Lines and Upper Lakes Shipping have been holding ne go tiations which eventu all y may result in the merger of their respective international, deep-sea se l f unloader services. A LG OBA Y (Liberian registry): 1 Halifax visit - for bunkers only. AMBASSADOR, (a) CANADIA N A MBA SS AD OR (86) (Vanuatu registry): 1 load gypsum. ATLANTIC ERIE, (a) HON. PAUL MAR TI N (88) (Bahamas registry): 5 loads gypsum and 1 visit for repairs. ATLANTIC HURON, (a) PRAIRIE HARVE ST (89) (Bahamas registry): 4 loads gypsum. NANTIC OKE (Canadian registry): 7 loads grain and 1 load gypsum. PIONEER, (a) CA NADIAN PIONEER (88) (Vanuatu registry): 7 loads gypsum. SAUNIERE, (a) BROOKNES (76), (b) A L GOS EA (82) (Canadian registry): 2 visits - for bunkers only. This ship normally operates in the salt trade from the Magdal en Islands. In addition, the port received 13 visits, 8 with grain from HALIFAX, (a) FRA NKCLIFFE HALL (II)(88), which registry but is restricted in her operations and does Halifax. * * * * * A D D I T I O N A L M A R I N E NEWS Earlier, we me n t i on ed that the Essroc Cement barge METIS would be pushed during the 1992 season by the east coast tug IRVING BIRCH. Nevertheless, on April 17th, the tug IRVING ELM was upbound in the Seaway, bound for Toronto, and on the 22nd, IRVING ELM was do wnbound in the Seaway again with METIS in tow. We are not certain whether the IRVING ELM may be per ma ne nt ly assigned to the barge, or whether both Irving tugs may handle her as their respective schedules may permit. Last issue, we me n t io n ed that the Lake Ontario passenger service, planned by TNR Corp. to run from Toronto to St. Catharines and Rochester, had enc ou ntered di ff iculties and that its contract with N o r we gi an shipbuilder Kvaerner Fje ll st ra nd had been reported as cancelled. The shipyard was to complete two $8 million catamarans for the TNR service. Not long after that report appeared, we received another press report to the effect that a represen ta ti ve of the shipyard was in St. Catharines to talk with r e p r e s e n tatives of TNR, so it would seem that there still may be hope for the service to begin in 1992 as anticipated. At the time we went to press with this issue, we were advised that the ocean-laker SAS KA TCHEWAN PIONEER was in a Cuban port, loading a cargo of bulk sugar whi ch was to be de livered to the Redpath Sugar ma nu f a c t u r i n g plant on the Toronto waterfront. SA SK AT C HE WA N PIONEER is o wn e d by Pioneer Shipping Limited (James R ic ha rds on & Sons Limited), and was operated by Great Lakes Bulk Carriers, although we u n der st and that she now is operating for the Fe dnav Group. If the "SASK PI" (as she has been known almost since her first appearance in the lakes in 1983) does in fact bring raw sugar here, it will be the first ever appearance of the vessel in Toronto Harbour. and 5 with gypsum, is under Canadia n not venture beyond