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LOG, cont'd. called that her former owner, Ships Inc., from whom she was taken for non-payment of rental fees, had asked a minimum of $200,000 from three Great Lakes groups interested in acquiring her for museum use; to wit Holland, Michigan, Mackinac Island and Duluth. * y Bay Shipbuilding launched the bow section of Bethlehem's 1,000-foot BURNS HARBOR on April 28. * Paterson's HAMILDOC (iii) was sold to Greek interests in March. THARROS is her new name under Liberian colors. Their LAWRENDOC (ii), idle at Cardinal since last July, is for sale. * Halco's FROBISHER TRANSPORT, a.) ALAU SYD, b.) AXEL HEIBERG, has been sold to Shell Canada, Ltd. * The new Alaska ferry AURORA built at Sturgeon Bay by Peterson Builders was outbound to Seattle at Detroit on May 27. * The last section of the floating dry dock of the former Great Lakes En'g'r. Wks. was towed upbound for Chicago in the last week of May. Its destination is New Orleans. * Capt. Frank Becker passed away on May 30 in Nashville, Tenn. * CANADIAN OLYMPIC is back in service after her accident in the Brockville Narrows of the St. Lawrence River. * The tentative launch date for the new C.S.L. self-unloader building at Collingwood is July 8. * Upper Lakes has ordered a $35 million self-unloader from Port Weller. A sister to CANADIAN OLYMPIC the 33,800 ton vessel is due out in 1979. * The BLANCHE HINDMAN, a.) EDWARD J. BERWIND, b.) MATTHEW ANDREWS, ran aground in the St. Clair River on June 3. She was released by lightering and tugs on June 7. * MESABI MINER passed Detroit upbound on June 7 on her way to chr- istening ceremonies at Duluth. * The Quebec & Ontario Transportation Co. has purchased the Spanish bulk carrier MONTE ALMANZOR for use on the Lakes and ocean (east coast) trade. It has been renamed BAIE COMEAU II. ( This month introduces Mr. William Luke as LOG editor. You may send your news items to Bill at 20255 Wellesley Blvd., Birmingham, Michigan 48010. ) Ed. Note: Please correct Algoma Central Fleet List (May, 1977 "Historian"): M/V ROY A. JODREY sank on November 21, 1974. GREAT LAKES COMPOSITE VESSELS by Leonard J. Barr II In the late 1800's a new type of vessel construction was attempted on the Great Lakes. Up to this time, wooden ships were the norm with a few attempts at building iron ships. With the introduction of steel, thought was given to building vessels of this metal. A few early steel ships were built, however, vessel owners were concerned with the cost of new construction, repairs, and safety (steel ships at that time were not considered particularly seaworthy.) ese concerns led to the introduction of composite ships: steel framing with wood- en planking. It appears that about a dozen large (1000 gross tons) vessels were con- structed on the Lakes. The majority of the ships were built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company, however, a few ships were built in Canada. Following continued success with the use of steel construction, the composite meth- od quickly vanished. In addition to composite ships, a few steel ships were sheathed in wood, notably HARVEY H. BROWN of 1894. These are not included in the following list. We wish to note that this chronological list is limited to the larger Lake built ships, although numerous smaller craft were composite built. CITY OF DETROIT, b.) CITY OF THE STRAITS ('89), c.) LIBERTY ('18),(US 125662) built in 1878 at Detroit by Detroit Dry Dock Co. Passenger side wheeler 245 x 35 x 14, 1095 gross tons. Converted into a barge 1917, converted into a crane ship with the addition of diesel engines late 20's. Hull abandoned at Bob Lo Island in 1948.(Photo on P. 4) (Cont'd. P. 5)