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The Tug Hecate Crown

by John MacFarlane 2021

Hecate Crown

The Hecate Crown on launch day (Photo from the James Picard collection.)

James Picard recently sent me a series of photographs taken by his father that give a glimpse of a happy day at Star Shipyards (Mercers) Ltd. He wrote "My dad (Wilfrid Garfield Picard (growing up he went by Garfield and I also recently discovered his nickname was Moose)did his apprenticeship at Star Shipyards (Mercers) before going on to work at BC Rail. I was going through his photo albums and found several pictures from just before and during the launch of the Hecate Crown in 1970."

Hecate Crown

The Hecate Crown refuelling in Vancouver Harbour. (Photo from the Nauticapedia collection.)

The Hecate Crown 344602 (Canada) 7017789 (IMO) was built in 1970 at Star Shipyards (Mercers) Ltd., New Westminster BC to a Robert Allan design. She was 122.0’ x 32.0’ x 17.9’ with a steel hull 501gt 124rt. She was powered by a GM EMD 20-645 E2 3600bhp @900rpm diesel engine by General Motors Corporation, Detroit MI USA with a Kort nozzle. In 2001 she was rebuilt 37.37m x 9.75m x 5.58m 486gt 145rt with a 2686kw diesel engine. In 1970–1984 she was owned by Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1985–2004 she was owned by Seaspan International Ltd., North Vancouver BC. She was renamed as the Seaspan Challenger In 2011–2013 she was owned by Seaspan ULC, North Vancouver BC. In 2013–2020 she was owned by Seaspan Ferries Corp., Delta BC.

Hecate Crown

The Hecate Crown on the hard while under construction in the yard. (Photo from the James Picard collection.)

Picard was obviously interested in his work because he recorded progress on the construction with a small camera.

Hecate Crown

The Hecate Crown (Photo from the James Picard collection.)

The Hecate Crown prior to launch.

Hecate Crown

The Hecate Crown (Photo from the James Picard collection.)

The big Kort nozzle, then still a focus of curiosity, is evident in this pr–launch image. The slipway was a "no nonsense" construction which served the purpose.

Hecate Crown

The Hecate Crown (Photo from the James Picard collection.)

The launch was a big event and excited guests often took numerous photographs which recorded the proceedings. Cameras must have been snapping pictures as quickly as their owners could wind the film.

Hecate Crown

Wilfrid Garfield Picard (Photo from the James Picard collection.)


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John (2021) The Tug Hecate Crown. Nauticapedia.ca 2021. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Hecate_CrownLE.php

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