The Tug Chieftain III

by John MacFarlane 2017

Chieftain III

The Tug Chieftain III in the Fraser River (Photo from the Loch McJannett collection. )

In 1963 she was built at Vancouver BC by Benson Brothers Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. 16.61m x 6.16m x 2.53m (54.2’ x 20.2’ x 8.3’) steel hulled 65.47gt 44.52rt She was powered by a 600hp Stork–Werkspoor engine.

Chieftain III

The Tug Chieftain III (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

In 1963–1967 she was owned by McDougall Towing Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1977 she was owned by Chieftain Towing Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1979–1986 she was owned by Pacific Towing Services Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1987–1991 she was owned by Island Merchant Marine Ltd., Nanaimo BC. In 1992 she was owned by Mercury Launch & Tug Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1993–1999 she was owned by Qualicum Towing (1989) Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 2000–2017 she was owned by Pacific Cachalot Ltd., Campbell River BC.

Chieftain III

The Tug Chieftain III (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

In February 1975 a gale caught the tug and her loaded barge in Malaspina Strait BC en route from Squamish for the MacMillan–Bloedel pulp mill at Powell River. The barge was carrying 250 tons of liquid caustic soda in below deck tanks and four railway cars of chlorine. The barge capsized at the north end of Texada Island BC. The submarine Pisces enabled a subsequent salvage operation.

Chieftain III

The Tug Chieftain III (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )



To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John M. (2017) The Tug Chieftain III. Nauticapedia.ca 2017. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Chieftain_III.php

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