Canada: Ocean Group Adds One More Vessel to Its Fleet

Completing the expansion of its fleet announced in 2004 at the cost of 90 million dollars, Ocean proceeds with the commissioning of the Ocean Ross Gaudreault, a state-of-the-art tug that will be based in the Port of Québec. It will take on daily harbour towing responsibilities and provide de-icing, escort, long and short distance towing, salvage and wreck removal services.

Ocean has chosen to name its most recent tug in honour of Ross Gaudreault, a business leader for more than 25 years in the development of the maritime industry. This 30.8-metre ship is equipped with water cannons for firefighting with a capacity of 2,400 cubic meters per hour, equivalent to that of ten fire trucks. The tug can fight fires using the water from the St. Lawrence River. The Ocean Ross Gaudreault has a reinforced hull for ice navigation and can reach 5,000 BHP, which allows for a bollard pull of more than 60 tons.

A tribute to an important player in the maritime industry

Mr. Gordon Bain, President and CEO of Ocean, is particularly pleased by this event:  “The Port of Québec has gained the importance and the recognition that it has today because of the efforts of my friend, Ross Gaudreault. He has been a great ambassador and our port, our region and our river will benefit from the impact of his work for years to come. ”

“What an honour Ocean bestows on me today! underlines for his part the former President and General Manager of the Quebec Port Authority, Mr. Gaudreault. This company has been an invaluable partner during my career and its tugs have always provided the necessary support to maritime traffic and harbour operations in a secure and reliable manner. I am very proud to be part of its fleet! ”

“Ocean rejoices at having completed its expansion efforts started a few years ago, required because of the emergence of new markets, stringent navigational safety rules, and the arrival of bigger ships in the Gulf and on the St. Lawrence “, adds Mr. Jacques Tanguay, First Vice-President and General Manager at Ocean. ” We now own a fleet of 25 automated tugs including eight state-of-the-art that numerous ports around the world would envy. We must be equipped with high technology in order to offer first-class service to our clients. ”

The tug, built at the East Isle Shipyard owned by Irving Group, was blessed and the traditional bottle of champagne broken on its hull in the presence of Messrs. Gordon Bain, President and CEO, Jacques Tanguay, First Vice-President and General Manager, both from Ocean, Mario Girard, President and CEO of the Quebec Port Authority, Ross Gaudreault and Ms Chantal Belley, the ship’s godmother. This blessing ceremony, a tradition in the maritime world since the years 1800, serves to protect the ship and its crew during voyages.

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Source: groupocean, June 6, 2011;