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Mirjana K ex Atlantic Tern
The former Atlantic Tern having been sold only a month ago and renamed Mirjana K (Panama flag) has not been idle. It left its layup berth in Stephenville NL May 7 and sailed directly to Rotterdam...
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Siem Commander - gone to Rotterdam
The last offshore tug/supply vessel based in Halifax sailed for Rotterdam today (June 16) [in dense fog]. Siem Commander first arrived in Halifax July 31, 2019 and participated in the removal of the...
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Atlantic Cedar in Halifax
There has been a temporary re-assignment of tugs to Halifax, with Atlantic Towing Ltd transferring Atlantic Cedar from Saint John, NB.Built in 2005 by East Isle Shipyard in Georgetown, PE, it is a...
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Sandra Mary - a narrow escape
The tug Sandra Mary had a narrow escape today August 1, 2021 when it began taking water off Charlottetown, PE. Thanks to a quick response from the CCG and private boat owners a pump was delivered and...
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Work for Suppliers
With the lack of offshore oil and gas activity off Nova Scotia there has been no call for supply ships in the area. There were several boats laid up here earlier in the year, but they had all been...
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Transatlantic Crossing
It may be the first time that a "multi-cat" type vessel has made an unassisted transatlantic crossing. Even if it is not the first, today's arrival (August 24) of Tidal Pioneer is a notable one. The...
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Strait Raven and barge
The small tug Strait Raven arrived in Halifax from Sydney late August 30 with the McKeil Marine barge MM143 and tied up at the Cherubini dock in Eisner's Cove. Although a small barge at 542 gross...
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New life for old tugs
A pair of elderly tugs appear to have been sold, or at least are in the process of being sold for further service.The older of the two tugs is the W.N.Twolan, built by G.T.Davie + Sons Ltd, Lauzon, QC...
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Island Champion in transit
The Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) Island Champion made a short stay at anchor in Halifax, NS September 14-15. The Bahamas flag vessel is en route from Montrose, Scotland to Norfolk, US.Built in 2007 by...
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Tug Zeus and barges
The tug Zeus arrived in Halifax today, September 24, towing two barges on a long trip. They are en route from the barge builder's yard in Erie, PA to the owner's home port of Newark, NJ.The tug is an...
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Tug Zeus and Barges - Part 2
The tug Zeus sailed this afternoon (September 28), towing the barges Witte 3301 and Witte 3302. The tug and tow arrived in Halifax September 24 en route from Erie, PA to Newark NJ. [See previous...
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Maersk Clipper for cable work
There are only a few ships built exclusively for the installation and repair of subsea cables. However offshore support vessels can often be pressed into service for specific jobs. This particularly...
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Roseway - veteran tug soldiers on
The little tug Roseway despite its many years of service is in almost daily use for Dominion Diving in Halifax harbour. This morning I caught sight of it while en route to one of its regular...
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Siem Dorado
The offshore construction vessel Siem Dorado sailed from Halifax today, October 21, giving "Dover" as its destination. My guess is Dover Strait, for orders.The ship arrived in Halifax July 31, 2021...
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Atlantic Cedar - rare visitor
Atlantic Towing Ltd provides harbour tug services in Saint John, NB and in Halifax. Tugs are sometimes reassigned between the ports, and it is always interesting to see one from Saint John come to...
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Atlantic Elm - veteran at work
It is hard to believe that the tug Atlantic Elm has reached the venerable age of 41 years, yet still does a a day's work tugging and towing. The tug spent the summer barging cargo in Chesterfield...
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Salvor to the breakers
McKeil Marine has been disposing of surplus tonnage in recent years, and the latest to go under the torch is Salvor, one of two similar former Moran tugs in the fleet. I covered the tug's history on...
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Merry Christmas from Tugfax
Wishing all readers a Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy 2022.A wintry scene from the old Eastern Canada Towing (ECTUG) dock in March 1977. (Oil rigs were a common sight in Halifax harbour in those...
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An explanation and an apology
There is a long tradition among ship watchers to exchange photos at Christmas time showing ships in snowy or icy conditions. I was going through some photos from 1977 and grabbed the photo that was...
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Sixty years on
In my previous post I made note of the six sister tugs built for Foundation Maritime in 1962. Remarkably, three are still operating, and are likely to put in several more years of service.Since this...
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