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le THE LOG The Lake Carriers’ Association reports that, due to an inordinate number of storms and high winds in November, vessels went to anchor more often than usual. As a result, shipment of iron ore, coal, and stone slipped 10 percent to 12.6 million tons in comparison to a year earlier. November shipments of iron ore decreased 9.2 percent to 5.9 million tons, while coal shipments decreased 17 percent to 3.9 million tons. A portion of the decrease in coal shipments was weather related, but the falloff in Lake Erie shipments reflects the continued effects of a work stoppage at a major Eastern coal producer. November stone shipments essentially held even with a year ago, but weather delays snapped a season-long string of increases in the trade. Since the opening of navigation in mid-March, shipments of iron ore, coal, and stone total 123.2 million tons, an increase of 1.4 percent over 1986's end-of-November tally. Iron ore cargos have increased 1.6 percent to 60.2 million tons. The 36.8 million tons of coal moved represent a 1 percent decrease. The stone total of 26.2 million tons represents an increase of 4.1 percent. REX After completing the conversion of H.M.C.S. NIPIGON, Port Weller Dry Docks announced the layoff of 300 employees this winter. In other news from Port Weller: on October 11, SENNEVILLE was towed out of the drydock by the tugs JAMES £. MCGRATH, W. N. TWOLAN, and ARGUE MARTIN. On October 12, the Canadian Coast Guard's BARTLETT, SAMUEL RISLEY, and Algoma Marine's ALGOGULF were placed in the drydock. SAMUEL RISLEY departed on November 9 and BARTLETT on November 10, after completion of their surveys. ALGOGULF is to remain on the drydock all winter to allow for her conversion to a self-unloader. *** On October 13, the salty LUCKY MAN arrived at Dock 17 in the Welland Canal and loaded steel plating from MERLE M. MCCURDY, © CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and FUEL MARKETER. The steel was destined for a Far East port. *** NORDIC, ex NORDIC SUN, arrived in Quebec City x on November 1 after her sale by Welland Shipping Company (managers, Sun Transport Inc.), to unspecified owners who in turn chartered her to Enerchem Transport Inc. of Montreal for operation under the Liberian flag. **¥*X On November 7, Lake Shipping’s SAMUEL MATHER, ex HENRY FORD Il, was moved from the Hocking Valley docks to the Frog Pond in Toledo in order to allow Columbia to lay-up vessels at Hocking Valley. *** The Panamanian-registered salty STAR 1 was at Bay Shipbuilding on November 23 to have approximately 2,000 square feet of bottom shell plating replaced, a result of her earlier grounding near Holland, Michigan. *** Socanay’s J. C. PHILLIPS was downbound in the Seaway on November 24, bound for Halifax, when she went aground in the Beauharnois Canal near Valleyfield. She was refloated later the same day with assistance from McAllister’s tug PATRICIA B. MCALLISTER. After initial inspection, she was allowed to depart Valleyfield on November 26, bound for Quebec City for further inspection, escorted by McAllister’s tug SALVAGE MONARCH. REE On November 30, Bethlehem’s SPARROWS POINT, heading for Indiana Harbor with ore loaded in Escanaba, ran aground off Death's Door in Lake Michigan. Barges operated by Selvick Marine were used to off-load approximately 4,000 tons, and the SPARROWS POINT was floated free the next day. She continued her voyage to Indiana Harbor, and will return to Bay Shipbuilding in December for a damage assessment and to complete repairs. *** The month of December was a difficult one for the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority. As a result of the November 11 Canadian Coast Guard strike, winter maintenance of buoys was neglected. On December 1, Transport Minister Benoit Bouchard closed the section of the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Les Escoumins, Quebec due to fears for the safety of vessels. On Monday, December 4, Coast Guard management and the Shipping Federation of Canada reached agreement to allow daylight shipping east of Quebec, provided two pilots are aboard each ship, and certain visibility and depth-clearance standards are met. One way traffic between 43-5-5