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Vancouver Harbour News

11 May 2022

SAAM Towage Adds New Tug in Canada

(Photo: SAAM Towage)

SAAM Towage has acquired a new tug, the SAAM James Point, that arrived in Vancouver, Canada after completing its loading operation onto the cargo ship BBC Moonstone in Halong Bay, Vietnam.The Damen ASD 2312 design tug was acquired from the Dutch company Damen and built at its Song Cam shipyards in Vietnam. Measuring 23 meters long and 12 meters in beam, it boasts 70-ton bollard pull capacity, Kongsberg azimuth thrusters and two CAT 3512C IMO Tier III main engines, which enables…

03 Oct 2018

ITB Christens New Tug Island Raider

(Photo: ITB)

Island Raider, the newest articulating tug in Island Tug and Barge’s (ITB) fleet, was christened September 28, during an afternoon ceremony at ITB’s headquarters in Burnaby, B.C.The new vessel is first of two in a series built by on-site at ITB’s Annacis Island facility along the Fraser River. The Island Raider, along with its sister the Island Regent (delivery February, 2019), was designed by renown Robert Allan Limited naval architects and marine engineers of Vancouver, B.C. to be paired with ITB’s double-hulled oil tank barge, the ITB Resolution, as an articulated tug and barge (ATB).

24 Jan 2018

Biodegradable Lubricants Under Spotlight

Thordon Bearings has welcomed an industry initiative to evaluate the effect of biodegradable lubricants on sterntube bearings following a reported marked increase in sealed oil lubricated propeller shaft bearing failures. While many ship operators consider the rise in use of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL) a cure-all to meeting environmental regulations, particularly in waters where the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulated the use of mineral oils, their performance as a propeller shaft bearing lubricant has come under increasing scrutiny. It is thought some EALs may impede bearing and seal performance, damaging critical components and compromising oil-tight integrity.

21 Feb 2016

VIMC Recognized in B.C. Budget, Exe. Dir. Christens Vessel

The Vancouver International Maritime Centre (VIMC) welcomes the Provincial government’s $1-million commitment for the second year in a row. B.C. The VIMC’s mandate is to encourage global shipping companies to move their operations to Vancouver, bringing high-paid, high-value jobs with them. The city is well-positioned to create the first maritime hub on the west coast of North America, offering competitive tax rates and access to the Asia Pacific Gateway. Last fall, Singapore-based AAL opened an office in Vancouver, with the support of the VMIC. Yesterday, VIMC Executive Director Kaity Arsoniadis-Stein, along with Jewel Jacobs of the Squamish First Nation, were given the honour of officially christening the SST Capilano. The new tug was named after historical leader, Chief Joe Capilano.

03 Feb 2016

Saam Smit Towage Kissing Around Vancouver Harbour

Photo: SST

Saam Smit Towage Canada will support the Heart and Stroke Foundation during the month of February by donating a portion of its revenue from each vessel it assists in British Columbia. The company also plans to have various internal employee participation fundraising initiatives. Saam Smit Towage (SST), a joint venture between SAAM and Royal Boskalis, and operating in various locations in the Americas, announced its support to the Heart and Stroke Foundation during the month of February.

23 Apr 2015

Marathassa Released After Vancouver Bunker Spill

The Cyprus-flagged  cargo ship M/V Marathassa — which has been blamed for spilling several thousand litres of bunker fuel into English Bay — has been released by the Canadian Coast Guard. The vessel headed to a berth in Vancouver Harbour to be loaded with grain before departing on its next voyage. The bulker had been ordered to remain berthed following the spill earlier this month. "The incident command science and environment teams have concluded that further efforts to remove this ring would necessitate the use of chemicals which was deemed to be unacceptable to partner agencies represented at incident command," the Coast Guard said. The agency added that when the M/V Marathassa departs, it will also be accompanied by an environmental response vessel in case of further leakage.

28 Nov 2013

New Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft Arrives

CCGS Moytel: Photo courtesy of Canada Govt.

Canadian Government ministers have announced the arrival in Canada of the new hovercraft to be stationed at Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia – the 'CCGS Moytel'. The new hovercraft will be named the CCGS Moytel. Moytel is a Halq’emélem word meaning “to help each other.” Canadian Coast Guard vessels are given names that promote Canadian sovereignty, culture, geography and history. As a replacement for the CCGS Penac, the new Moytel will be a heavy-duty, more versatile amphibious vehicle capable of patrolling inland waters.

25 Mar 2010

New Fuel Station for Vancouver Harbour

Photo courtesy Robert Allan Ltd.

In December 2009, the Chevron Legacy, a new and now the only marine fuel station for Vancouver Harbour, was completed by the builders, Alaska Ship & Drydock, Inc. of Ketchikan, Alaska. The station was then towed to Vancouver and was installed and made operational in late January, 2010. This station replaced the Chevron barge S.O.B.C. No. 5 which has been moored in Coal Harbour since it was built in 1959. Both the original fuel barge and the modern replacement were designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C. The project leaders at Robert Allan Ltd.

30 Jul 2009

PacifiCat Ferries Sold

The Washington Marine Group of Companies announced that is has sold the three PacifiCat ferries to foreign buyer, Abu Dhabi Mar, for export from Canada. The details of the transaction are confidential. The three ferries will be transported from Vancouver Harbour via heavy lift deep-sea vessel. The first is scheduled to depart next month. (www.washingtonmarinegroup.com)

10 Nov 2003

Vessel Charged with Illegal Discharge in Canadian Waters

Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that the federal government has successfully prosecuted the MV Cape Benat, a Liberian-registered chemical tanker, for spilling canola oil in Vancouver Harbour. The pollution incident occurred while the vessel was loading canola crude oil at Vanterm, in the Port of Vancouver, on November 23 and 24, 1999. The MV Cape Benat is owned by the Cape Benat Navigation Company of Liberia and operated by Columbia Ship Management of Cyprus. The vessel was charged with unlawfully discharging a noxious liquid substance into Canadian waters, a violation of the Canada Shipping Act. The British Columbia Provincial Court imposed a $60,000 penalty on the vessel owner, the Cape Benat Navigation Company.