The icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent has had a long and chequered career. Although its recent history has been largely event free, as far as the public knows, her earlier history was was not so.
She suffered a disastrous fire in her accommodation in March 1982, and was towed into Sydney by the smaller icebreaker Tupper. She was then towed to Halifax by Point Carroll and Point Valiant, arriving on March 13, 1982 when the above photo was taken.
Remarkably all these vessels are still in existence. CCGS Tupper is little more than a hulk, laying forlornly at a dock in Dartmouth, NS, renamed Caruso in a stalled bid to convert her to an expedition cruise ship.
Louis S. St-Laurent following another fire, a re-engining and a mid-life refit (which replaced the bow shown in this picture) is now based in Argentia, NF. A replacement has been announced.
The tug Point Carroll was sold to McKeil of Hamilton, ON and renamed Tony MacKay. It called in Halifax in September to tow out the retired warship Fraser to Port Maitland, ON for scrapping.
And Point Valiant was sold to Three Rivers Boatmen (since taken over by Groupe Océan) and renamed André H. It is still in service, most recently at Sept-Iles, QC.
The picture was taken from the harbour tug Point Vim (still in service, now in Newfoundland for Davis Shipping.) Also assisting was Point Vigour, now McKeil'S Molly M 1.
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