Photo: Dave Roels (www.daveroels.com)
TUGS & TOWBOATS
One of 12 tugs in the Catherwood fleet — the Fraser Navigator.
Amix can reach deeper into the logistical chain because of its equipment and fleet, says Marra, giving a better value proposition to its customers with the Artic Tuk being a valuable selling point in that equation, coupled with yards in Surrey and Prince Rupert which have rail access.
Catherwood Towing
The B.C. tug and towing fleet is in better balance now than in the years before, says Ron Dunsire, in Operations for Mission-based Catherwood Towing. But he agrees with others that crewing is the big issue facing the industry. Training and retaining are a challenge. Whether it’s a different generation “not so wrapped up in work” or another reason, he’s just not sure, but being on a tug is
a physical job, with odd and often long hours ... and even then, some crews want even longer hours in what is a “well-paying job.” Catherwood has 12 tugs in its fleet and has been moving away from single-screw vessels in favour of twin-screw tugs. The company has gained wider use of its fleet in recent years. Once it specialized in log towing, but today, it also hauls aggregates, construction materials and other project cargoes using the same tugs. Two tugs are based in Prince Rupert where they have made inroads in recent years. There’s a new build due from the Sylte Shipyard near the end of the first quarter of 2017, a 53-foot, 1,000-horsepower combo barge and river tug. Today, there’s also increasing cooperation between tug companies, says
Dunsire. “Before, a lot of companies had their own customers and their own base. Now, if there’s extra work, we hire out our capabilities as others do to help us.” Dunsire feels the tug fleet is safer now than ever before and says the company has grown with its safety management system. However, he is concerned the domestic shipping channels in the Fraser River are not being looked after as they should and says some tugs can’t go up river at low water. When Catherwood founder Ernie bought his first tug in 1971, the company developed a philosophy that still stands today: “that we can service our customers from A to B, one way or another, even if we have to hire a vessel,” says Dunsire. “We like to think of ourselves as a onestop shop.”
Harken Towing
Some days, Ian Shandler, as General Manager of Harken Towing, is busy with work, but business is often “day-to-day,” affected by weather, lumber demand, and customers’ scheduling needs. “One day we could have half our boats tied up at our dock and the next day we simply can’t find enough tugs,” he says. The inconsistency of work is making it harder to find and retain qualified personnel — something he sees as the industry’s biggest challenge. “It’s hard to hire someone when you can’t guarantee consistency of work.” The Port Coquitlam-based tug operator doesn’t feel the B.C. tug fleet is too old and says the recent “run of bad luck”
Photo: Dave Roels (www.daveroels.com)
Harken Towing’s Rose Mackenzie transits the Fraser River.
22 BC Shipping News December 2016/January 2017