Quebec Report 3 - Ocean Basques update (and friends)

Tugfax has been following the Océan Basques since it was acquired last year from Svitzer. After layup and renaming in Halifax over the winter of 2013-2014, it went to Industrie Océan in Ile-aux-Coudres for a comprehensive refit this spring. See: http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2014/07/return-visit-to-ile-aux-coudes.html
By mid- August repainting was just about complete:

For a tug built in 1972, her hull looks incredibly good.

 Later in the month she moved on to Quebec City where she tied up for more work by Océan's repair facility in Bassin Louise. The large covered shop on the pier tends to the in-water maintenance of Océan's large fleet, and other machine shop and steel fabrication work. The facility has prefabricated components for new tugs, such as the Tundra class bow and superstructure.

Still without her tires, the tug looks quite different from her ECTUG / Svitzer days. Immediately astern is Océan Delta, which despite reports that she is for sale, was also undergoing refit work.

 In the background is Océan's shore facility, which is soon to be complemented with a new branch in Bas-Caraquet, NB, which will include a floating drydock.

.

Quebec Tug News - all good

A sister to Océan Serge Genois built in 2010 is under construction, with a bigger tug to follow.

Groupe Océan seems to be going from strength to strength as it continues to build its fleet. With the recent completion of the dredge Océan Traverse Nord at its Industrie Océan shipyard, work is well underway on another 24m  4,000 bhp fire fighting tug at a cost of $10.6 mn to be delivered in December.
Work will then start on a large 34m 8,000 bhp tug at a cost of $24mn. It will be the first in a series called the TunDRA 100 class. It will be an ice class, escort and sea-going tug, built to work in the North. It will have two Ulstein (Rolls Royce) azimuthing stern thrusters.
Océan has worked in the north for many years, and in mid-August Océan Delta, assisted in freeing the grounded Vega Sagittarius near Nuuk, Greenland.

Despite many new tugs in recent years, such as Océan Keith Rusby (right) Océan still has many noble veterans in its fleet. The 1969 Océan Echo II and the 1973 Océan Charlie are still providing excellent service, largely in fresh water. 

Despite the huge newbuilding program in recent years, Océan still has many veterans in its fleet, and seems to find new work for its new tugs rather than just building replacements for its old ones. The company has its own shipyard and a new maintenance facility in Quebec City, and keeps its boats in tip top condition.