Fire at Port Cartier

The tug Brochu suffered a fire at Port-Cartier, QC in mid-September and was removed from service. With its sister tug Vachon it was to be retired September 30 when Groupe Ocean is due to take over tug services in the port.






Brochu and Vachon entered service in 1973 for Quebec Cartier Mining (now ArcelorMittal) in Port-Cartier - a busy iron ore and grain transshipment port. They are 3200 bhp Voith-Schneider tugs.


See photo here: Boatnerd, Robert Talbot photo




Groupe Ocean has assigned Ocean Yvan Desgagnes and Ocean Ross Gaudreault to work in Port-Cartier. Both are 5,000 bhp ice class, fire fighting tugs, built in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
They can also call for assistance from tugs based in Sept-Iles, which is nearby.

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Newest tug for Groupe Océan

The newest tug for Groupe Océan of Quebec City is named Ocean Ross Gaudreault, and was registered yesterday. Registration usually precedes completion by some months.

The 402 gross ton tug is under construction at East Isle Shipyard in Georgetown, PE and is of the same design as several sisters delivered over the past few years. It is an ice rated 5,000 bhp azimuthing stern drive tug, with fire fighting and escort capabilities.

Following Groupe Océan's recent naming policy this tug honours another important figure in Quebec shipping. M. Ross Gaudreault was the CEO of the Port of Quebec, and retired on December 31, 2010.

Update: The tug arrived in Quebec City May 4 to begin trials and commissioning.