McNally brings in reinforcements

1. S-12, FDJV3, Canadian Argosy, Whitby and Beaver Delta II at pier 9C, Sunday afternoon.

2. Carl M. on a the dredge scow, whose official name is VM/S 87.

3. Whitby swings around Mister Joe, Saturday morning.

4. Whitby secures a fender with Beaver Kay and Beaver Spartan in the background.

McNally Construction has brought in more equipment for the Halterm extension project. They now have another small tug, Carl M. and the dredge scow VM/S 87, to assist in the work. These were towed from Sorel via the Strait of Canso by the tug Mister Joe, arriving Halifax December 9. A crane will be loaded aboard VM/S 87 next week. (The barge owes its name to the Voie Maritime St-Laurent, a.k.a. the St.Lawrence Seaway, for which it was built as S.L.S. 87 in 1958 at Collingwood, ON.) Carl M. dates back to 1957 when it was built as Louis M. A single screw tug of 465 bhp, it acquired its present name in 1975. The M stood for McNamara, the original owners. It was built by Russel-Hipwell in Owen Sound.

On Saturday, to make room for the arrival of another ship, the barges were moved at pier 9 by Whitby, which has been tending the dredge Canadian Argosy. The scows Beaver Kay and Beaver Spartan were moved north, with Mister Joe moved as a dead ship to the outside of the fleet. VM/S 87 and the dredge Harold M. were moved south. The latter will also have a crane moved aboard next week.

Whitby returned to the Halterm site after these moves and later on Saturday night moved Canadian Argosy and the dump scows S-12 and FDJV3 to pier 9C to shelter from Monday's coming storm.The tug Beaver Delta II assisted in this move, but it will be lifted out next week and replaced by Carl M.

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McNally activity at Halterm

1. Canadian Argosy at work off Halterm.

2. Beaver Delta II (left) sports a new coat of paint.

3. Whitby makes a shore run.

Dredging activity off the Halterm container pier continues, night and day. The tugs Beaver Delta II and Whitby are attending the dredge Canadian Argosy. Whitby is doing most of the work, moving the dump scows to the dump site, and Beaver Delta II assists in moving the dredge and running back and forth to shore and swapping empty scows.

The excellent weather over the past week end allowed for a little painting on Delta II so she now looks quite respectable.

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Beaver Delta II

1. Halcyon Bay in DPW colours at Queen's Wharf in 1986. She is fitted with an A-frame for bottom leveling.

2. Beaver Delta II in Beaver Marine colours , lifted out on pier 9 March 5, 1996.

3. After her 1996 refit, in Beaver colours, working off pier 9 May 12, 1999.

4. September 4, 2010, Beaver Delta II sits on pier 9 to wait out Hurricane Earl.

McNally Construction's truckable tug Beaver Delta II has been a fixture off an on in Halifax since the 1980s.

Built in 1959 in Vancouver as Halcyon Bay, the tug was one of a fleet of dredge tenders built for the Canada Department of Public Works. Built to a west coast design, with centre cabin, she ended up in Nova Scotia. The tug remains registered in New Westminster, BC.

When the DPW wound down its fleet, Beaver Marine stepped forward and bought the tug, renaming her Beaver Delta II in 1989. They ran her pretty much as built until 1996 when they carried out a major refit in Yarmouth. She emerged with a forward wheelhouse, and twin funnels. She is twin screw vessel with 320 bhp.

McNally Construction acquired Beaver Marine and repainted the tug in their green colour scheme.

On September 3 the tug was lifted out of the water and placed on pier 9 during the passing of Hurricane Earl. Once he was gone by the tug was lifted back into the water alongside the scow Beaver Kay at pier 9. She appears to be in the midst of a well needed repaint and repair job.