Ship Details
Alsterberg Photo Credit: City of Vancouver Archives AM54-S4-_Br_P55.3

 

Registry #1	156616 (Canada)	Registry #2	221636 (US)	Registry #3
IMO#		MMSI#		VRN#

 

Name 1	1902	Alsterberg	Name 6
Name 2	1905	Walkure	Name 7
Name 3	1921	William Dollar	Name 8
Name 4	1930	Pacific Gatherer	Name 9
Name 5	1936	Island Gatherer	Name 10

 

Year Built	1902	Place	Dumbarton	Area	Scotland	Country	UK

 

Designer	(nk)	Measurement (imp)	320.5' x 47.0' x 27.1'
Builder	A. McMillan and Son Ltd.	Measurement (metric)	?m x ?m x ?m
Hull	Steel	Displacement	3037
Gross Tonnage	3234	Type 1	Bark, four-masted
Registered Tonnage	3234	Type 2	Barge, log
Engine		Engine Manufacture	(nk)
Repower		Propulsion	Sail
Rebuilds	In 1930 she was rebuilt as a log barge	Call Sign	MDFL;
Pendant  #		Masters

 

Owner(s)

In 1902-1912 she was owned by A.G. Alster, Hamburg Germany. In 1912-1920 she was owned by H. Folsch & Co., Hamburg Germany. In 1914 she was interned as an enemy belligerant at Santa Rosalia Mexico. In 1920 she was awarded to France as a war reparation. In 1921-1929 she was owned by Robert Dollar Co. Inc., San Francisco CA USA. In 1930-1934 she was owned by the Canadian Robert Dollar Co., Vancouver BC. In 1934-1936 she was owned by Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1936-1937 she was owned by Island Tug & Barge Co., Victoria BC.

 

Fate	Registry closed	Date	1937-04-17

 

Named Features
Significance of Name

 

Anecdotes

On September 13, 1930 while owned by Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC, this vessel collided with the Second Narrows Bridge and demolished a span north of the bascule. This vessel became wedged under the bridge’s fixed centre span. The tide rose pushing the barge up under the span, knocking it off its supports. The span hung off one side before suddenly breaking free and sinking into the depths of Burrard Inlet. Lawsuits and the bankruptcy of the Bridge company delayed any attempt at repairs. The bridge remained closed for four years. Captain Fred MacFarlane, while in command of the Island Queen in Gordon Channel one mile west of Pine Island BC, with the barge Island Gatherer in tow on December 13, 1936 the tow line parted during a storm in Queen Charlotte Sound. The tug ran alongside the barge suffering damage. The crew lined the side with mattresses so that Captain J.R. Paulson on the barge with his family (wife and two children) could leap on board the Island Queen. this vessel was in tow of the tug Island Queen when the winch on the barge broke and went overboard with the towline. By the time the towline was recovered and the barge crew rescued, the barge disappeared in the darkness and vanished.

 

References
Transportation Safety Board of Canada (1993); Fred Rogers, Qualicum Beach BC (Personal conversation 08/06/1998); Email Communication (Joe McMillan (South Australia) - Nauticapedia 28/10/2015); List of Shipping Casualties Resulting in Total Loss in British Columbia and Coastal Waters Since 1897 (undated manuscript document); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Narrows_Bridge; Lloyd's Register Vol. 1 1926-1927; http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t11896/157?r=0&s=5 ;
Last update

Disclaimer: We are a group of volunteers, and this is not an "official" site. The information on this site is for informational purposes only and for the enjoyment of floating heritage. The Nauticapedia Project, its volunteers and its contributing authors assume no liability for any inaccurate or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, vessel and firm has been checked to the best of our ability but may contain unintended inaccuracies or omissions. Please cite the source of the information you quote from these articles and database searches.

© 2002-2023