Tugs and Ice

Tugs have to work year round, and in the cold of winter they are likely to take on quantities of frozen spray as they go about their business.

However towing in the winter takes on another set of problems as the tow line can become fouled by ice. If the towed ship cannot maneuver or use its own power, there is the danger of over running. If the tug is stopped by ice, the towed vessel can catch up quickly, and if it is unable to stop can slam into the tug. Therefore great care must be taken in towing in those conditions.

On successful, albeit lengthy, tow occurred in March 19898 when the tug Orion Expeditor was called out from its North Sydney, NS base to assist the paper carrier Margit Gorthon. The ship's rudder had become jammed 5 degrees off centre in ice and was unable to proceed. The tug set out on March 12 and took the ship in tow off Cape Ray.

It then had to tow well east along the Newfoundland south coast as far as the Avalon Peninsula before turning south. Fortunately it had the assistance of CCGS Edward Cornwlalis when it transited the Cabot Strait where ice was as its worst. From a position off Cape Race, it sailed to the northern tip of Sable Island to remain clear of the ice. It then made for Halifax, arriving March 16.
Under normal circumstances the voyage time from Cape Ray to Halifax would be a day and a half.

Just passing Ives Knoll inbound to Halifax, the Orion Expeditor is about to hand off the tow to harbour tugs.

A weary looking Orion Expeditor makes for its berth. After some rest the crew ill set to trimming the tug by shifting some bunker fuel.

Dominion Diving's Big Steel with divers and some work scows, attacked the rudder almost immediately on arrival.

Orion Expeditor was built in1974 by Bolsones Werft, Molde, Norway as Orion. Powered by an 8 cyl MaK it had 3400 bhp delivered to a single controllable pitch prop. It also had a huge "barn door" rudder that swung nearly 90 degrees to each side and was well suited to working in ice.

It came to Canada in 1981 for Arctic Offshore and worked in the Beaufort Sea until 1987. It then moved its base to North Sydney. 

In 1990 Secunda Marine Services acquired the tug and renamed it Breton Sea and moved its base to Halifax in 1992. In 1994 it returned to Europe for Finnish owners OY Yxpila Hinaus and resumed the name Orion. It is believed to still be in service from the port of Kokkola.

  All dressed and ready for action at North Sydney, NS.

If this post seems familiar, I posted some of the same information before see: Tugfax January 27, 2012

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