Everlast

The tug Everlast with its articulated barge Norman McLeod were the cause for some minor excitement off Sorel-Tracy last week. At an early hour August 9 , while at anchor, the barge's anchor cable parted and the the barge drifted aground.

Several workers appear to be admiring their handiwork as Norman McLeod and Everlast lie alongside at Sorel.

The tug was built by Hakodate, Muroran, way back in 1976 as Bilibino for Russian operators and was acquired by current owners McAsphalt in 1996 to be paired with the heavy fuel/asphalt barge Norman McLeod of 6809 grt, built in the same year by Jinling, China.

Sorel based tugs, both with former Svitzer / ECTUG ties, wait their next assignments.

Local Sorel tugs (presumably Océan Sept-Iles and Océan Comeau soon freed the barge. There was no damage. There are conflicting reports as to whether the anchor and chain were recovered or not, however when I happened by August 15, the barge had been re-equipped with an anchor (it carries only one) and sailed later in the day for Detroit (or perhaps Windsor). It regularly works through the Seaway making transits on average every ten days to two weeks.

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New name for McAsphalt tug

Making its way from the Great Lakes to Halifax for the first time this year, an articulated tug/barge arrived at the McAsphalt jetty in Eastern Passage this afternoon. As of January this year the tug is now named Leo A McArthur in honour of one of the McAsphalt founders. It is paired with the barge John J Carrick, named for the McAsphalt co-founder.

Leo A McArthur has rounded Ives Knoll and is passing Indian Point on its way up Eastern Passage.

The pair were built by Penglai Bohai Shipyard Co Ltd in Shandong, China in 2007 and are connected by the Articouple system that allows the tug to pitch independently, but remains connected except in the most extreme weather conditions. It is equipped to tow the barge if necessary.

 Taking the way off, the combo begins to turn in the small basin off the McAsphalt dock.

As built, the 5,000 bhp tug was named Victorious, after a famous Great Lakes bulker, once operated by the Upper Lakes Shipping Co Ltd. Upper Lakes managed the McAsphalt fleet, until 2011 when the company sold its ships and was wound up. McAsphalt Marine Transportation Ltd now manages the McAsphalt fleet which also includes the articulated tug/barge combo Everlast / Norman McLeod.
Both units normally operate on the Great Lakes and St.Lawrence River, but the McArthur / Carrick combo usually makes a few coastal trips each year.

Using a bow thruster on the barge and its own twin screws, the Leo A McArthur powers a turn to allow it to back into the dock.

 The tug's stern is heavily fendered and there is a large strong back on the fan tail for towing. The wheelhouse also has excellent visibility aft. 

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