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20170013 (2)-SharpenAI-Focus The Tugs of Thunder Bay Harbour

The local tugs managed through the heavy Ice to assist the Freighters into the Elevators. Using the passages cut by the Ice Breakers.

Tug "Point Valour"

Call Sign: VC3237

Flag: Canada [CA]

AIS Vessel Type: Tug

Gross Tonnage: 247

Deadweight: 86 t

Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 29.77m × 8.95m

Year Built: 1958

The Point Valour is a classic tug which was built by the Davie Shipbuilding Company in 1958 and is hull # 621. The Point Valour was originally ordered by the Foundation Maritime company and the original name was the Foundation Valour. There are two other "sister" boats to the Valour and the original names are Foundation Victor (Ex Jerry Newberry , currently R. J. Ballott ) and the Foundation Vibert (currently Florence M.). The Point Valour is 98' long by 28' wide, but because of the rubber strips and the tires which are chained to the side of the bulwarks to act as bumpers the tug is approximately 104' long by approximately 30' wide and has a reinforcing hull able to break ice up to five feet thick. The propeller on this tug measure approximately 9' straight across. Unlike many other tugs which are "modernized", there has been very little done to this tug - most of it is all original from 1958.

 

History

In 1973 when the Foundation Maritime company sold their tug fleet, they renamed the company Eastern Canada Towing Ltd. and when they sold the tug fleet they renamed the tugs from "Foundation" to "Point". In 1992 Thunder Bay Tug Services purchased the Point Valour and has since became one of the main work boats for Thunder Bay Tug Services. The Point Valour is also known for bringing the historical James Whalen tugboat back to Thunder Bay in 1992.

 

While the tug was on the east coast it inspired the children's TV show Theodore The Tugboat.

 

 

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Uploaded on April 18, 2019
Taken on January 9, 2017