End of the Line for May C

It is not often that I report on a tug being scrapped, but such is the unfortunate news regarding the small tug May C owned by Aecon Atlantic Industrial Inc, (previously known as Aecon Fabco) operators of the Pictou, NS shipyard.. I have just received photos from a reader showing the tug cut up at the shipyard.

Built in 1972, the tug is not old by Canadian standards, and it had been re-engined. It only passed into Aecon's hands in 2011 and it did not see extensive use. It looked pretty good, superficially, when I reported on it as recently as April of this year:
http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2015/04/may-c-gets-spa-treatrment.html

Even as late as June 20 it still appeared intact, but remained hauled out at the shipyard. There must have been a severe problem with the tug to warrant such a drastic solution.

I also covered the tug's history in a post in 2011 when it was operating as Mary Steele for Superport Marine Services Ltd of Port Hawksbury, owners from.1996.

Leaving Halifax with Superport Marine's barge in tow.

 

http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2010/11/mary-steele.html

Its longest tenure was with the federal Department of Public Works as Tignish from 1981 to 1996.

 Tignish often tied up at the Queen's Wharf in Halifax - much has changed since then.

 

With the retired CSS Acadia in the background - both were members of the "buff funnel' fleet of Canadian government ships.

 

It was built as Jacques Rochette and renamed Techno-Rochette in 1975.


Perhaps Aecon will build a new tug for themselves, but I have no news on that front yet.

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