New Angle

 The Royal Canadian Navy's base in Halifax, HMC Dockyard, is served by a small fleet of tugs. They are not commissioned naval vessels, but are classed as auxiliairies, and are operated by civilian crews. There are two classes of tugs, the Glens and the Villes (also known as "pups").

When not berthing ships and doing other chores the tugs can be seen from the Angus L. Macdonald bridge that spans the habour almost directly over their basin.

 

This week, May 15, I saw one of the tugs from a different angle - and much closer - when it was tied up at Dominion Diving's facility in Dartmouth Cove. It was probably undergoing some maintenance as each of the three Glen class tugs in Halifax have been undergoing refits.

 

The Glenbrook YTB 643 was built in 1976 and is a 1750 bhp Voith-Schneider tractor. 

The tugs have been meticulously maintained, but are due for replacement. The new tugs are under construction at the Industrie Océan shipyard in Ile-aux-Coudres, QC. The first two tugs, the Haro and Barkerville were delivered to HMS Dockyard in Esquimalt, BC last year and the second two are due for delivery to Halifax this year. They are to be named Canso and Stella Maris - more on these when they arrive.

Each dockyard will receive two tugs to replace the three tugs and a fireboat originally in service.  

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