Available Photos

View details and
download

The latest tugboat to be constructed at East Isle Shipyard in Georgetown was officially christened in Quebec City late last week.

A portion of Section 17 of the Port of Quebec is now lined with three impressive, state-of-the-art tugboats, all of which were constructed at the Kings County facility. Development and Technology Minister Richard Brown attended the christening on behalf of the Government of Prince Edward Island.

“I was honoured to represent the workers at East Isle shipyard at the ceremony,” Minister Brown said. “To see first-hand their work in its new home and to hear the compliments being paid to Islanders and the fantastic work they do was a tremendous experience.”

The new tug, christened the Ocean Henry Bain, is the latest acquisition of the Ocean Group, one of Quebec’s leaders in harbour towing operations. The company operates harbour tugs in Quebec City, Montreal, Sorel-Tracy, Trois-Rivieres, Hamilton, Oshawa and Toronto.

Minister Brown took the opportunity to discuss future opportunities for East Isle Shipyard with members of the Ocean Group executive.

“The Ocean Group has already purchased a number of tugs from East Isle and they are clearly pleased with the quality of the product they have received. I would be surprised if this is the last purchase they make from Prince Edward Island,” Minister Brown said.

The Ocean Henry Bain is currently posted in the Port of Quebec as part of the daily harbour towing activities. She will also be solicited for escort services, short and long-distance towing and salvage and wreck-removal operations.

Minister Brown said he was pleased to hear a number of speakers praise the work of the Prince Edward Island shipyard during the formal part of the ceremony, including Jim D. Irving, president of JD Irving, East Isle Shipyard’s parent company, who commended the Government of Prince Edward Island’s ongoing commitment to the shipbuilding industry in the province.