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Bob Shields News

20 Oct 2016

Robert Alan Designed ATB Tugs for ITB Marine

The ITB Marine Group Ltd. (ITB) is currently well into construction of the first of two, twin Z-drive, ATB pusher tugs for service on the West Coast of North America. The tugs are being built at their Annacis Island Shipyard near Vancouver. The tugs will be connected by an articulating pin system to the existing double-hulled oil barges ITB Reliant and ITB Resolution which will receive retrofitted pin ladders and stern extensions for connecting to the new tugs. ITB had a well-defined statement of requirements for the tugs and a relatively clear vision of the desired layout. Accordingly, the general arrangement for the tug was developed in close collaboration with ITB Marine Group’s Chairman of the Board Captain Bob Shields.

15 Sep 2010

A Good Hull Deserves a Good Rebuild

(Photo: Alan Haig-Brown courtesy of Cummins Marine)

British Columbia, on Canada’s west coast, has some attractive and well-proven tugs, but the fleet is aging with many vessels over thirty years old. Four years ago Vancouver’s Island Tug and Barge (www.islandtug.com) launched the new build Island Scout with a pair of Cummins KTA38 main engines. This August, they will return their 1977-built 21 x 7.3-m tug Island Defender to service. The midlife rebuild has taken a year to complete but as Island Tug’s president Bob Shields explained this was much more than a repower…

05 Aug 2004

Canadian Towing Firm Refits with Cummins

"It is exciting to see our vessels coming and going through the harbour, I particularly enjoy that fact that we appear to be one of the busiest, and best looking fleets on the water," says Island Tug and Barge Ltd. President Bob Shields of the view from his harbour side office in Vancouver, BC. Capt. Shields has built a reputation as a boat proud innovator in the already innovative British Columbia towboating industry. This reputation was furthered last year when Shields and his partner, Capt.

08 Sep 2004

Canadian Towing Firm Refits with Cummins

"It is exciting to see our vessels coming and going through the harbor, I particularly enjoy that fact that we appear to be one of the busiest, and best looking fleets on the water," says Island Tug and Barge Ltd. President Bob Shields of the view from his harbour side office in Vancouver, BC. Capt. Shields has built a reputation as a boat proud innovator in the already innovative British Columbia towboating industry. This reputation was furthered last year when Shields and his partner, Capt. Jack Davies, retrofitted an Intercon connector to their handsome 41.5 by 9.75-metre 3000 HP twin-screw tug Island Monarch. Now, a year later, Vancouver waterfront watchers are seeing the company repower their classic raised-focsle style Island Crown with a pair of Cummins KTA38.