Halifax Tugger has a new job

More or less picking up where I left off :

The small tug Halifax Tugger has been seen for past few days working on new job, handling the refuse scow for cruise ships. It has apparently taken over from Gulf Spray which has remained idle. Halifax Tugger works in a push mode, whereas the classic Gulf Spray used the more unwieldy tow line.

With companion Harbour Runner, which is used in docking the barge, Halifax Tugger works its way to its Pier 9A base to offload refuse from a cruise ship.

Halifax Tugger previously was kept very busy working with the barges used in replacing the Macdonald bridge deck, but those barges have returned to Quebec.

Halifax Tugger (background, left), Captain Jim (middle) and Belle-D. (foreground) with the barge Halcrane carrying a new bridge deck section.

The barges, Océan Abyss and Halcrane were picked up by Océan Echo II in August and towed in tandem up the St.Lawrence. They were met off Ile-aux-Coudres by another Groupe Océan tug, Océan Yvan Desgagnés and towed on individually to Quebec City.

Océan Echo II with its tow trudging up the St.Lawrence against the tide, doing about 3 knots.

Halifax Tugger dates from 2011 when it was built as Cercle Polaire by GFFM Leclerc at Ile-aux-Coudres, QC. The twin screw, 520 bhp 30 footer was used by Leclerc in their rental business, to assist with northern supply lighterage and construction activity until 2015 when RMI Marine acquired the tug and gave it a new name. As a vessel of less than 15 tons the names are unofficial, and it is registered by number.

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Small Tugs - Big Lift

A trio of small tug/workboats operated by RMI Marine were hard at work this afternoon hauling the barge Timberland. The barge is carrying two new bridge deck sections for the Angus L. Macdonald bridge from the fabricator's yard to the bridge site.

The workboat/launch Captain Jim was in the lead towing Belle D which was in turn towing the barge.

Halifax Tugger was bringing up the rear with some pushing power.

At the bridge, the barge will be anchored in position (they are now working over the deep water channel) and the new sections will be hoisted up into place. The old section will be lowered to another barge, Océan Abyss.

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Halifax Tugger update

I have now received conformation on the ancestry of the small tug Halifax Tugger. It was indeed previously known as Cercle Polaire, built in 2011 and carrying registration number C19246QC. Craft enrolled in  Canada's Small Vessel Registry have no official number, only a number. These are generally vessels of under 15 grt.

Halifax Tugger working on the BigLift project in Halifax.

Cercle Polaire moored in the tidal marina at Ile-aux-Coudres last year.

According to the Transport Canada web site its numerical registration has been suspended, which would explain why the number was painted out on the tug's bow. Every vessel must have some form of registration, so it would seem that new owners RMI Marine intend to re-register it by name, which is permitted for vessels of all sizes. It also applies to vessels that are subject to mortgages or financing.

The tug's aluminum wheelhouse top is demountable, allowing it to be transported by road.

Built by the GFFM Leclerc shipyard in Ile-aux-Coudres as their hull number 7, it was first registered in 2011. The tug was part of the Leclerc rental fleet and was used in marine construction and arctic supply work. It is a twin screw boat, powered by two Cat engines. Horsepower is inconsistently reported as 300 bhp or 520 bhp. It measures 33.6' x 10' x 2.6' permitting it to work in very shallow water.

The Leclerc company has built several new and more powerful triple screw tugs recently, so this one seems to have become surplus to their needs.

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