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A planned experiment in year-round navigation on a portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway bordering New York state was recently scuttled. A 15-mile test run was to be initiated by the Corps of Engineers near Ogdens- 5 burg for a period of six weeks at a cost of approximately William J. oor Editor $2.3 million. Environmental groups cited possible shore- line erosion damage and effects on aquatic life, while utility companies raised concern on disruption in water flow to generating plants. Canadian proponents of 12-month navigation had earlier been refused funds for a similar test. ** The Bultema Dock and Dredging tug BARBARA ANDRIE has been re- tained by U.S. Steel to assist its vessels in St. Marys River winter navigation. ** Operation of the Canadian lock at the Soo was recently transferred from the jurisdiction of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority to the Ontario Region for Parks Canada. ** The U.S. Coast Guard's new icebreaker tug KATMAI BAY was commissioned at Cleveland on January 8th and proceeded to the lower Detroit River where she assisted in icebreaking efforts in the Livingston Channel. She arrived at her permanent station at the Soo on January 16th. The next three new Coast Guard tugs of the same class, BRISTOL BAY, MOBILE BAY and BISCAYNE BAY, will be assigned to Detroit, Sturgeon Bay and St. Ignace respectively. The cutters, KAW, OJIBWA and NAUGATUCK will be reassigned to the East Coast, while RARITAN goes to Cleveland and ARUNDEL to Buffalo. ** Interlake's MESABI MINER became the first 1,000 footer to load at Two Harbors' newly renovated ore dock. She took on 55,323 gross tons of pellets there on December 8th. ** Canada Steamship Lines' JEAN PARISIEN has been equipped with ice breaking bow fins, installed at the Algoma Steel plant docks at the Canadian Soo in early January by Purvis Marine Ltd. The 5-ton fins run from the 13-foot draft line at a 45-degree angle to the 26-foot mark. The 730-footer has been in the ore run between Marquette and the Algoma mill. ** The Honduran- flag TEGUCIGALPA (a. IMPERIAL LONDON) remains in the Welland Canal this winter, her departure to salt water blocked by engine problems. Reports indicate, neverthe- less, that IMPERIAL COLLINGWOOD has been sold to the same owners and also will be leaving the lakes when navigation resumes. ** Republic Steel announced in mid- December that its new iron ore unloading dock, designed to accommodate 1,000-footers, would be constructed at Lorain, rather than Cleveland. ** Canada Steamship Lines! package freighter FRENCH RIVER will resume operation this spring in the company's Hamilton-Toronto-Montreal service. She has been idle for some time at Hamilton. ** Two other Canadian-flag lakers will resume operation this year. Misener's ROYALTON, idle at Hamilton last season, will be fitted out. Imperial Oil's IMPERIAL SARNIA is receiving required hull and deck renovation at Collingwood Shipyard this winter. ** U.S. Steel's EDWIN H. GOTT was due for lake trials out of Bay Ship- building, Sturgeon Bay, on January 13th. She proceeded to Milwaukee for engine adjustments and was scheduled to begin regular service in early February. ** Q&0's MARTHA HINDMAN, inbound at Goderich on December 22nd with a cargo of storage grain, struck the harbor's south pier sustaining a 25-foot gash in her starboard bow near the waterline. Moved to an elevator by tugs, she settled to the harbor bottom, but was unloaded and refloated, her cargo undamaged. ** Interlake's CHARLES M. BEEGHLY was outbound at Duluth the same day when she struck an underwater pier abutment on the north side of the harbor entrance canal east of the aerial bridge. After being temporarily hung up on the abutment, the carrier was backed into the harbor where she sank, her bottom so badly damaged that estimated repair costs are in the millions. Relieved of her ore cargo at the Duluth Port Terminal, after having been refused per- mission to proceed south, she awaits repair at the Fraser Shipyard. Earlier in the month, Interlake's JOHN SHERWIN, downbound at the Soo, tangled with the Mission Point ice buoy and the buoy's anchor, causing substantial lower hull damage. Along with the BEEGHLY, she awaits repairs to be undertaken at Fraser Shipyards, Superior. The situation is further complicated by the lengthening project on the WILLIAM CLAY FORD which is already keeping the drydock occupied. ** Bay Shipbuilding's HULL 722, the 635-footer completing for Columbia, will be christened FRED R. WHITE, JR., honoring a director of Oglebay, Norton. Columbia also announced that the ROBERT C. NORTON | has been withdrawn from service. Several proposals are being considered as part of her disposition. forte es