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The National Transportation Safety Board on May 4th ee eV officially ruled that the loss of the EDMUND FITZGERALD was caused by water intake through hatch covers damaged by the impact of heavy seas over her deck. This find- ing is contrary to Lake Carriers Association's conten- “ tion that her foundering was caused by bottom and ballast tank damage and flooding resulting from her William J. luke, Editor shoaling in the Caribou Island area. * Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, launched the JOHN HENRY on April 29th. She is the first of two 300-foot heavy lift vessels under construction there for American Heavy Lift Shipping Company. Her delivery is scheduled for this November. * The "scrap-type" vessel to be used in the experimental shunter program in the Welland Canal this season may be the former Kinsman steamer PETER ROBERTSON. She has lain idle in the old canal section below Ramey's Bend since 1974 awaiting scrapping. * Bay Shipbuilding, Sturgeon Bay, was the scene of the April 22nd christening of the 1,000 foot LEWIS WILSON FOY completing for Bethlehem Steel. * The future of Imperial Oil's tanker IMPERIAL COLLINGWOOD apparently rests with her service to, the small port of Britt, on Georgian Bay. * Michigan's Highway and Transportation Department has not yet announced the decision on the purchase of the ferry SUNSHINE COAST QUEEN (a. VACATIONLAND, b. JACK DALTON, c. PERE NOUVEL) from ‘Crown Assets for the British Columbia ferry service'. Additional time was required to complete feasibility studies on conversion of the vessel for rail as well as automobile ferry service between (1) Detroit and Manitoulin Island and (2) Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. The original option expired April 27th; the price $1,528,000. * Pickands-Mather Company is conducting tests in 1200 acres of limestone-bearing land near Detour. If mining operations are initiated, the Detour coal dock, closed in 1976, will be reopened for shipments. * A new marine fuel bunkering tanker the REISS MARINE, was scheduled to depart a Rhode Island shipyard on May 25th enroute to duty at Duluth-Superior. * The Great Lakes Pilot Association is said to have pur- chased two tugs from Great Lakes Towing Company zor use at the Soo. The two units N are thought to be the OREGON and the MARYLAND. On May 13th, heavy weather caused the British-flag salty PHOTINIA to be blown pee off Magee At anchor, await- ing dock space, the storm caused the Stag Line vessel to drag three anchors shore- ward. All 33 crewmen were rescued by helicopter. * Scrapping operations on the former Kinsman steamer CHICAGO TRADER were begun May 1st by Triad Salvage, Inc., at Ashtabula. * An attempt to rename the Poe Lock in honor of Minnesota Representa- tive, John A. Blatnik, was recently quelled. * Two lakers returned to service the same day, May 23rd, following extensive bottom repairs. The Bethlehem steamer SPARROWS POINT cleared American Ship's Lorain yard while Interlake's CHARLES M. BEEGHLY departed the Fraser Shipyard, Superior. * Halco's newly-converted STEEL CLIFFE HALL was upbound at Detroit on May 4th on her first lake trip. She joins her two sister vessels, CARTIERCLIFFE HALL and MONTCLIFFE HALL, in the Great Lakes! bulk trade service following their conversion from salt water ore carriers at Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec. * The tug JOHN ROEN V was sold on May 12 by Eder Barge and Towing Company to Bultema Marine Transportation Company of Muskegon. * The former Coast Guard tug HUDSON was sold by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy to Selvick Marine Towing Company and taken in early May to Sturgeon Bay for a $200,000 conversion for icebreaking service in Northern lake Michigan. * The Columbia craneship/self-unloader BUCKEYE has been taken under her own power to the G&W Weld- ing yard at Cleveland where sufficient repairs are being made to ensure operation through this Fall.