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Page 99 GREAT LAKES & SEAWAY NEWS • Mar 13 ... Upper Lakes Towing's JOSEPH H. THOMPSON opened the Port of Escanaba when she loaded taconite for Indiana Harbor. The season is expected to get off to a quick start with the WILFRED SYKES, JOSEPH L. BLOCK, CHARLES M. BEEGHLEY, MESABI MINER and KAYE E. BARKER all due to load in the first week. ... The United States Coast Guard announced the following operations in preparation for the upcoming season. The Cutter SUNDEW (WLB - 404) would start breaking out the Duluth/ Superior Harbor. The Cutter KATMAI BAY (WTGB - 101) was to conduct flushing operations in the lower St. Mary's River. The Cutter BISCAYNE BAY (WTGB - 104) would be sent to check ice conditions in Gray's Reef Passage. ... The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.'s tug ROBINSON BAY was dispatched to break up ice in the Seaway. Mar 16 ... The United States Coast Guard Icebreaker MACKINAW (WAGB - 83) passed up through the Poe Lock at the Soo bound for Duluth. She had arrived in the Soo the day before and spent the night at the Coast Guard Base. ... Essroc's STEPHEN B. ROMAN opened the Port of Toronto and the captain received the traditional top hat. Mar 17 ...The Canadian Coast Guard Cutter SAMUEL RISLEY passed up through the Poe Lock at the Soo bound for Thunder Bay. ... Interlake's PAUL R. TREGURTHA opened the Port of Marquette when she arrived with 61,000 metric tons of coal from Superior. She made a second trip in with coal on March 20. She opened the port last year on March 18. Mar 18 ... The tugs PENINSULA & GEORGE N. CARLTON removed Canada Steamship Lines TADOUSSAC from the drydock at Pascol Engineering in Thunder Bay. They placed her along the fitout wall. ... Great Lakes Cruises Inc. announced the 367 foot Greek Passenger Ship ARCADIA is scheduled to run cruises on the Great Lakes in the summer of 2001. They will start in mid June and end in mid October. She will make 24 sailings on 11 itineraries. All sailings will start in Windsor and end in Detroit. Scheduled stops include Alpena, Bay City, Charlevoix, Houghton, Mackinac Island, Marquette, Munising, Muskegon and Traverse City. Prices are to range from $430 to $770 for a three night cruise and $995 to $1795 for a seven night cruise. These prices do not include any port charges. Mar 19 ... Upperlake's GORDON C. LIETCH was placed on the drydock at the Pascol Shipyard in Thunder Bay for her five year survey. Mar 20 ... The United States Coast Guard plans to give up jurisdiction over the Point Betsie Lighthouse. As of this date nobody has come forward to take control of the lighthouse. If no one expresses an interest soon the lighthouse, adjacent buildings and more than 2 acres of the 6 1/2 acre land parcel will revert to the Federal Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management. The lighthouse was lit in 1858 and has a tower that stands 100 foot high.