Page 46: of Marine News Magazine (September 2020)

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North Arm Transport: North Arm Transport:

Innovation in Towing

By Alan Haig-Brown

The Veth Z-drives ounded in 1958 as an extension of the Stradiotti fami- North Vancouver, they anticipate a January 2021 launch, ly businesses, North Arm Transportation has grown to with the name North Arm Tempest. Gino Stradiotti, said, be a signi? cant fuel company on the B.C. coast. Over “We’ve had a lot of discussion with Jack Davies, owner of

F the years, the company ? eet has expanded and evolved. the Z-drive tug Renegade, a sister to our new boat, about

With tugs in a range of size and power, as well as cargo the design and about towing. While he has out? tted her, and fuel barges, the company services the coast out of its with a towing winch I do not know if he has had much headquarters in Vancouver on the North Arm of the Fra- opportunity to use her for work other than ship docking.” ser River. They also have facilities on Mitchell Island in With few exceptions, all tugs towing barges on the B.C. the Fraser and at Masset on Haida Gwaii. Much of their coast are ? tted with conventional propellers in nozzles. work entails deliveries of fuel and heavy equipment to lo- The new North Arm tug is being ? tted with a pair of Veth cals with water only access in the inlets and on the islands Z-drives. This will make the boat capable of assisting with of the B.C. coast. ship handling, but importantly, it will also be able to more

This work, especially when fuel is involved, requires safely maneuver its own barges in isolated up-coast ports. powerful and reliable tugs. The company is currently build- Stradiotti explained, “We work in remote areas, without ing an A.G. McIlwain designed tug that will provide a still much access to assist boats. A lot is on the hip, taking the greater level of safety. The new 64-foot nine inch by 17-foot barge into the beach or bulkhead. Part of the thinking was (19.736 X 8.23-meter) tug is well along at ABD Boats in to take a page from Bob and Russell Shrewsbury’s book at

September 2020

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