Anticosti sails away - AMENDED

The former tug supplier and former naval trials craft Anticosti has finally left Canadian waters six years after being sold foreign. [See corrections in paragraph 2 -underlined.]

The ship was built in 1973 by Allied Shipbuilders in North Vancouver as Lady Jean Tide for International Offshore Service (Liberia) an arm of P+O. They ran it only until 1975 when it went to Tidewater Marine of Liberia and was renamed Jean Tide. In the late 1980s when the Royal Canadian Navy needed trials craft for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel program, and reserve training, they acquired this ship and sister  Joyce Tide ex Lady Joyce , which they renamed Anticosti and Moresby respectively, Pennant Numbers MA 110 and MA 111. When the MCMDVs were delivered the two were decommissioned in March 2000 and sold. Anticosti left Halifax in tow of Escort Protector (McKeil) December 10, 2001 for Clarenville, NL for new owners, Star Line Inc.and it was registered without change of name in 2002. Ownership later passed to North Atlantic Corp (Cape Harrison Marine) of St.John's. The ship was then available for a variety offshore duties including research.

On about May 10, 2013 in St.John's, NL, a crankcase fire broke out as the ship was being shifted by tug from refit. While the move was being completed the boat slammed into a pier causing damage to both. The fire however self-extinguished before it could spread very far.  I don't believe the ship ever returned to service, and remained laid up until its Canadian registry was closed August 8, 2014. Eventually the new name Todo Pederoso II appeared. [Loosely translated the name means "strong man" or "almighty man"].

Some work was carried out intermittently, and a few old cars appeared on its after deck as possible export cargo, but it was not until quite recently that there have been serious signs of life aboard. This has certainly taken the "manana" principal to heart. Honduras Aero Marine S de RL have been listed as owners since about February of this year and the ship was listed under Honduran registry (it had been Panama since 2014 but that lapsed in 2017).

On April 12 the ship finally got underway from St.John's and sailed giving La Cieba, Honduras as a destination. Central America and the Caribbean region is the graveyard for a lot of old ships and some work is occasionally found for them. Old suppliers are often pressed into service to carry deck loads, but they are really unsuitable for most other kinds of work, and expensive to operate. They usually do not last long.

This one apparently has some life left in it, so lets hope it does see a few more years of use.

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Western Tugger and Anticosti Updates

The recent capsize of a barge in tow of Western Tugger and the tragic loss of life of a crew man will result in a comprehensive study by the Transportation Safety Board. Although the Board sometimes releases preliminary information, it will be many months, if not years, before a final report is issued.
However this much is apparent. The barge, loaded with 7,000 tonnes of rebar capsized 70 miles off Burgeo in moderately rough weather. From Miller Shipping's excellent website, they have two barges, only one of which has a capacity of 7,000 tonnes. http://www.millershipping.ca/
The barge Arctic Lift 1 is the larger of their two barges and it had a previous capsize.
Built in 1972 by Equitable Equipment in Madisonville LA, as OC 300, it was acquired by Groupe Océan in the early 2000s, and was renamed OTM 3072.
On October 29, 2006 it capsized off Bas Caraquet NB while sheltering from high winds and in tow of Ocean Foxtrot. It carried a cargo of wood chips, loaded in Sheet Harbour, NS and destined for Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC. The cargo and two excavators mounted on the load were lost, but the barge was towed, upside down, into Gaspé. It was anchored there and declared a total loss.
Miller Shipping bought the barge, righted it, repaired it and put it back in service. In 2008 they renamed it Arctic Lift 1. It has been in service ever since, carrying various loads, including trips to Baker Lake on Hudson Bay.

1. Barge Arctic Lift 1 in Miller ownership.

2. In tow of Point Halifax the barge is returning from Baker Lake on Hudson Bay.

The Transportation Safety Board report of the capsizing makes interesting reading, although little of it may be relevant in this incident. http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2006/m06m0110/m06m0110.asp
Further investigation revealed loose manhole covers, hull cracks and possible overloading, and wetting of the load by rain were factors in the capsize.

Anticosti

According to news reports, the fire on Anticosti started in the crankcase area when the boat was being shifted by tug from refit to another pier. By the time the boat was alongside the fire had extinguished itself. There has been no update on the extent of damage from impact with the pier.

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Bad Day in Newfoundland

The Transportation Safety Board is looking into two incidents in Newfoundland today, one involving loss of life.

1. Western Tugger recently photographed in St.John's by Clar Vautier. Photo used with permission.

The tug Western Tugger, bound from Sorel, QC to Long Harbour NL, was towing a barge loaded with 7,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel. While off Burgeo the barge capsized and one man on the tug's deck was struck by the tow line and sustained severe injuries from which he later died. This outcome is most regrettable, and reminds us all that working at sea is a dangerous job.
Western Tugger is operated by Midnight Marine Ltd (Miller Shipping) and is a veteran of many years standing. Built in 1943 as LT-643 for the United States Army, it is a product of  the Jakobson Shipyard in Oyster Bay shipyard in New York. It is single screw, with a GM Detroit EMD* installed in 1979, giving 1925 bhp. The Army kept the tug until 1973 when it became Taurus until 1990, when it was acquired by Gaelic Tugboat Co of Detroit, MI  and renamed Gaelic Challenge. In 1995 it was renamed Frankie D then in 1997 Dawson B before settling on the name Doug McKeil in 1998. McKeil Marine operated the tug until 2005 when it passed to Miller and became Western Tugger. It is still often employed by McKeil, but has also worked on the Nova Scotia/PEI gravel run and with pulpwood barges on the St.Lawrence.
At this time I do not know the name of the barge involved.

2. As Doug McKeil in Halifax. The elevated wheelhouse has since been lowered, no doubt to improve stability.

The other incident involved the supply/deck cargo vessel Anticosti. An engine room fire broke out on board and as I understand it, it was not possible to fight the fire with the resources available on the boat. It was while bringing it alongside for assistance from the fire department that it struck the pier very heavily, incurring as yet unknown damage.

1. The civilian Anticosti

 The ship was built in 1973 by Allied Shipbuilders in North Vancouver as Lady Jean Tide for International Offshore Service (Liberia) an arm of P+O. They ran it only until 1975 when it went to Tidewater Marine of Liberia and was renamed Jean Tide. In the late 1980s when the Royal Canadian Navy needed trials craft for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel program, and reserve training, they acquired this ship and sister  Joyce Tide, which they renamed Anticosti and Moresby respectively, Pennant Numbers MA 110 and MA 111. When the MCMDVs were delivered the two were decommissioned in March 2000 and sold. Anticosti left Halifax in tow of Escort Protector (McKeil) December 10, 2001 for Clarenville, NL for new owners, Star Line Inc.and it was registered without change of name in 2002. Ownership has since passed to North Atlantic Corp (Cape Harrison Marine) of St.John's. The ship has been available for a variety offshore duties including research.

2. The military Anticosti.

* Corrected after initial posting.

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