The Province of Alberta has become an important market for small tugs and workboats as the major oil companies need numerous reservoirs and catchment basins. These waterbodies require maintenance including dredging and icebreaking.
One of the major players is Suncor in Fort McMurray. In recent years it has built up a fleet of its own in addition to several boats it has chartered in, including conventional tugs and multicats to support work barges and cutter suction dredges.
The tugs are generally under 15 gross tons, and thus are only registered by official number, despite carrying a name.
Quebec City based Groupe Ocean has been providing various of the craft some chartered and some for purchase, which can be transported to Alberta over the road and assembled on site.
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The latest appears to be a twin screw icebreaking tug/ workboat, built at Ocean's Quebec City facility, Ocean Marine Works Inc. Carrying the (unofficial) name Suncor 11, it was spotted last month already loaded onto a heavy lift trailer, less its deckhouse, and ready for the road. No official number was visible on the hull, but it is likely C28964AB. If so, it is equipped with engines delivering 975 bhp and measures about 40 feet long.
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One of the major players is Suncor in Fort McMurray. In recent years it has built up a fleet of its own in addition to several boats it has chartered in, including conventional tugs and multicats to support work barges and cutter suction dredges.
The tugs are generally under 15 gross tons, and thus are only registered by official number, despite carrying a name.
Quebec City based Groupe Ocean has been providing various of the craft some chartered and some for purchase, which can be transported to Alberta over the road and assembled on site.
The latest appears to be a twin screw icebreaking tug/ workboat, built at Ocean's Quebec City facility, Ocean Marine Works Inc. Carrying the (unofficial) name Suncor 11, it was spotted last month already loaded onto a heavy lift trailer, less its deckhouse, and ready for the road. No official number was visible on the hull, but it is likely C28964AB. If so, it is equipped with engines delivering 975 bhp and measures about 40 feet long.
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