Everlast

The tug Everlast with its articulated barge Norman McLeod were the cause for some minor excitement off Sorel-Tracy last week. At an early hour August 9 , while at anchor, the barge's anchor cable parted and the the barge drifted aground.

Several workers appear to be admiring their handiwork as Norman McLeod and Everlast lie alongside at Sorel.

The tug was built by Hakodate, Muroran, way back in 1976 as Bilibino for Russian operators and was acquired by current owners McAsphalt in 1996 to be paired with the heavy fuel/asphalt barge Norman McLeod of 6809 grt, built in the same year by Jinling, China.

Sorel based tugs, both with former Svitzer / ECTUG ties, wait their next assignments.

Local Sorel tugs (presumably Océan Sept-Iles and Océan Comeau soon freed the barge. There was no damage. There are conflicting reports as to whether the anchor and chain were recovered or not, however when I happened by August 15, the barge had been re-equipped with an anchor (it carries only one) and sailed later in the day for Detroit (or perhaps Windsor). It regularly works through the Seaway making transits on average every ten days to two weeks.

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