Russel Brothers Limited OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO Steelcraft Boat Builders
| Expanse / Le Phil D.
Ex- Expanse. Canadian List of Shipping 1970: Steel tug Expanse [C.313124] registered at Ottawa. Built at Owen Sound in 1961. 56'; 37 g.t. Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston, - Russel Brothers clipping file: Photo. Built for Canadian International Paper Company. GAO Notes Renamed b) Le Phil D. owned in 1997 by Navigation Arcade Ltd., Notre-Dame De Pierreville, Québec. Transport Canada List 2003: Owned by Navigation Arcade Ltee, Pierrville, QC |
Don Moon Collection.
From Russel company brochure.
OSMRM archive.
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Notre-Dame de Pierreville, 8 Jan. 1983. Photo by Rene Beauchamp.
Rene Beauchamp comments (March 20, 2018): "LE PHIL D. wintering at her base in January 1983 at Notre-Dame-de-Pierreville. At that time, the registered owner was listed as Artlac Dredging Ltd. Later on, Navigation Arcade Ltée. became the registered owner. Nowadays, owned by a number company, a subsidiary of Groupe Ocean."
June 21, 2001, St. Lawrence River. Photo by Mac Mackay. 
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2006. Photo by Kent Malo.
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July 27, 2007, Mac Mackay photo. 
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August 1, 2010. Le Phil D. Dredging maintenance operation for high spots in front of Deschambault Quebec. Photo by Jean Hemond.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturepainter/4850940333
From Mac Mackay's excellent Tugfax blog about Halifax boats WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2011
source: http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2011/07/russel-tugs-do-they-last-forever.html
Le Phil D. ex Expanse, was built in 1961. It is seen here at Rivière du Loup, June 30, 2011,
tending the dredge Ocean Basque 2. It too works for Groupe Océan.
From Mac Mackay's excellent Tugfax blog about Halifax boats WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2011
source: http://tugfaxblogspotcom.blogspot.ca/2011/07/russel-tugs-do-they-last-forever.html
As usual maintenance dredging was underway at Rivière-du-Loup (they can't start much before the end of June due to the freshet of spring run-off). Also as usual, the veteran 1961 tug Le Phil D was attending the dredge Océan Basque 2. Over the past several years, crews have been working away at painting the small tug in Groupe Océan colours. This year it was time for the corporate logo.
August 25, 2011. OCEAN LE PHIL D. Photo by Jean Hemond.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturepainter/6096515256/in/photostream/
Click photos to enlarge.
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Dec. 03, 2011. LE PHIL D assisted by the work boats OCEAN NIGIQ and OCEAN UANNAQ are towing the dredge OCEAN BASQUE 2. Trois-Rivieres, QC.CANADA. Photo by Jacques Gauthier, shipspotting.com.
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1449618 |
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Nov. 06, 2013. Quebec City Quai 86. Photo by Marc Boucher, shipspotting.com.
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1911530 |
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May 21, 2016, Port St-Francois, QC, CANADA. Photo by Jacques Gauthier, shipspotting.com
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2463535 |
November 21, 2013. Photos by Jean Hemond. Tug Ocean PHIL D shouldering a dredging dumping scow in St-Romuald Valero refinery.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturepainter/10986118444/in/album-72157611631961250/
July 25, 2014 Photos by Jean Hemond.
OCEAN dredge tow led by Ocean Phil.D barge Basque 2 pushed by the tugs Ocean Uannaq and Ocean Nigiq.
For those who are not familiar with dredging operations; the efficiency of the dredging machine and the transportation of the spoil material comes first. Second, but very important ,for maintenance dredging where small volumes are the usual fare, moving the equipment from one area to an other one becomes also a major consideration. And if the system tonnage acount make it so, that pilots are required by regulation, It becomes an impossible and complex task.
Designing a dredge plus a tug-barge system used to tow the main dredge is a clever way to beat the competion of large dredges. I was involved in one such design Using self propelled dumping barges and a self propelled dredge. But here I wouldn't be surprised that the total crew complement is leaner. With ship ( tug)" regulations it is a very complex organisation.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturepainter/14745251435/
Nick Bernard photo taken on July 13, 2015.
Le Phil. D - In front of Ste-Petronille O.I. Pier, Qc. Upbound on the St-Lawrence River.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141169384@N03/26374565250
Mar. 23, 2017: Ocean Yvan Desgagnes opening the ice for Le Phil D, a 1961 Russel Brothers Ltd. vessel. Photos by Will Van Dorp.
source: https://tugster.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/ocean-blue-4/
From source: https://gltugs.wordpress.com/le-phil-d/
April 9, 2017. Le Phil D. ahead, Mado Ray on the hip. Photo by Jean Hemond.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturepainter/33832369891/in/album-72157611631961250/
April 24, 2018. Le Phil D. and two other Ocean tugs on the move. Belle vue pour le Groupe Océan. Photo by Jean Hemond.
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/naturepainter/40785953715
For more Russel exhibits visit Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum 1165 1st Ave West, Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8
(519) 371-3333  http://marinerail.com |
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