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Atomic / Jarrett M.

Canadian List of Shipping 1956: Atomic [C.138147] registered at Amherstburg; built in 1945 at Owen Sound. 75'9 x 20'1 x 7'6; 102 g.t.; 50 n.t.; 600 hp. Owned by McQueen Marine Ltd., Amherstburg 1945 - 1979. Great Lakes Marine Contracting, Ltd. 1979 - current. Steel diesel tug Atomic [C.138147] registered at Amherstburg; built in 1945 at Owen Sound. 76'; 102 gross tons. Also carried in Canadian List of Shipping 1994. Transport Canada List 2003: Owned by McKeil Work Boats, Hamilton, Ontario. Name changed to Jarrett M. Spring 2007. McQueen Marine, Ltd. 1945 - 1979   Great Lakes Marine Contracting, Ltd. 1979 - current   JARRETT M 2007 - current.


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Andrew Smith comments (April 2, 2018): "Scraped some paint off and shined her up for a photo
before the shelf goes up in front of it. Located in the now galley of the Jarret M."

 

From McLean's magazine, Sept. 1, 1947, a profile of Earle McQueen, first owner of ATOMIC. He was quite the character, it seems! "McQueen fitted his newest tugboat, the 80-foot Diesel - powered Atomic, almost completely from the Kamloops. He had the Atomic built to his own specifications by a naval architect but when he purchased her she was nothing but bare hull, walls and engine. That way she cost him $160,000, instead of the $270,000 she would have cost if completed. McQueen put $20,000 worth of equipment from the Kamloops into the Atomic. This includes the rich mahogany paneling, the insulation board, the lead-covered electric wire which was impossible to buy when McQueen was outfitting the boat, and most of the furniture. It also includes luxuries like radar, and an echo sounder for determining water depth. The Atomic today is the most modern tug on the Great Lakes. She sleeps 14 comfortably. McQueen himself designed the bow, which flares sharply back under water, giving it a knifelike point which enables it to cut through five feet of solid ice at six knots. Its main winter job is clearing a path through the ice for the Nicholson Transit Co., which insists on operating all year round from Toledo, Ohio, to Detroit." n.b. to enlarge the article click this link, or the images below. https://archive.macleans.ca/issue/19470901#!&pid=18

 

JOSE D. National Post Toronto, Ontario, Canada 20 Sep 1947, Sat Page 29
Ad shows Atomic and the then brand-new T. Gibbens. EIGHTEEN STANDARD SIZES FROM 22' TO 85' IN LENGTH FOR ANY TOWING OPERATION SIX Standard designs in Harbour and River tugs from 35' to 80' in length. The "Atomic" is powered with a 600 hp Enterprise diesel engine. This tug is capable of towing an 8000-cord boom of pulpwood with a crew of seven. TWELVE Standard designs in Warping tugs from 22' to 85' in length. Photograph shows an 85' tug designed with a minimum draft of 42". Warping gear capacity 5000' of steel cable. Tow capacity 10,000 cords. TUGS CAN BE BUILT IN SECTIONS AND REASSEMBLED AT ANY INLAND WATER.

 

One of Russel Bros. most famous boats, Atomic was designed as an ice-breaker. Thrice winner ('50, '51 & '55) of the International tug race, she could break up to 30" of ice, keeping shipping channels open for coal carriers between Toledo and Detroit.
On Saturday, May 20th, 1950, Captain J. Earl McQueen in his Steelcraft tug Atomic outclassed nine other tugs and won a gold trophy in the first International Tugboat Race on the Detroit River. The winning time was 20 minutes over a 4.75 mile course...a 14.25 miles average. The Atomic is the flag-ship of six tugs operated by McQueen Marine Limited of Amherstburg, Ontario, and the most powerful. She was built at Owen Sound in 1945 on "Glen" class lines and is powered by a 600 h.p. Enterprise diesel. In five years, she has operated over 12,600 hours with no more than a change of pistons. The hull is built for ice-breaking and she cracks 30-inches of clear blue ice. All winter the Atomic helps to keep a channel open between Detroit and Toledo for coal carriers which ply this route...and several times has had to go to their rescue during a sudden freeze-up. From Russel-Hipwell News, Fall 1950
Canadian tugboat, the Atomic from Amherstburg wins the first international tugboat race down a three-mile stretch of the Detroit River. Under a dense cloud of smoke is the Oregon, the only steam-powered tug in the race, and at right is the Roen III of Detroit, which edged the Oregon by half a length to take second place. Capt. J. Earl McQueen skippered the Atomic. Canadian Press, May 22, 1950.
Atomic leading one of the international tug races it won, between the USA and Canada, on the St. Mary's river.
ATOMIC LEADS AGAIN... Capt. J. Earl McQueen and his Steelcraft tug "Atomic" have won it again...the Second Annual International Tugboat Race for Canada. May 19th, 1951 on the Detroit River was the scene with ten tugs to the starting line - six diesels, one gasoline and three steam tugs with a combined horsepower of about 6000. The "Atomic" was built at Owen Sound in 1945 and is an ice breaker and salvage tug. She is welded steel and powered by a 600 h.p. Enterprise turbo-charged diesel and a Cummins 10 k.w. diesel auxiliary. Here Captain McQueen is being presented with the silver cup and bronze plaque by Naval Officers who judged the contest. From Russel-Hipwell News, Fall 1951
Again... "Atomic" wins for Canada. The Second International Tugboat Race - Detroit River, May 19, 1951. STEELCRAFT design and welded steel construction for strength. ENTERPRISE diesel for rugged main propulsion. CUMMINS dependable diesel power for auxiliary services. KENNEDY cast propeller for maximum power transmission. The "Atomic" was built by us in 1945 and has given year-round service for the owners, McQueen Marine Limited of Amherstburg, Ontario, with an especially excellent record for winter ice-breaking operations. Clipping courtesy Pat Walsh.
Owen Sound-Built Tug Wins Again Seen above is the Atomic, built by Russel-Hipwell Engines LTD. here in Owen Sound which has won its third international tugboat race trophy. The race was held in the Detroit River for the fifth time. Clipping courtesy Pat Walsh.
Owen Sound-Built Tug Wins Third Race The Owen Sound-built tugboat, the Atomic, won its third international tugboat race in the Detroit river on Saturday to capture the international tugboat race trophy. The Atomic, which has won this honor for Canada three times since the competition was started five years ago, was built by Russel-Hipwell Engines Limited, Owen Sound, in 1945. It is owned by Captain J. Earl McQueen, of Amherstburg, who had several other tugs in the race. The Atomic's time for the three and a half mile course was 16 minutes. The Atomic is a 600 horse-power diesel-engined vessel 80 feet long with a 20 foot beam. It draws 8 feet in the water. WINDSOR (CP) - The Atomic, a 600-horsepower tug owned by Capt. J. Earl McQueen of nearby Amherstburg, churned down the Detroit river Saturday ahead of eight other craft to win the fifth annual international tugboat race and return the England Trophy to Canada. The 1000-horsepower Maryland, owned by the Great Lakes Towing Company, Detroit, was second and a sister ship, the Wisconsin, only steam tug in the race, was third. Clipping courtesy Pat Walsh.

 

From the Company Brochure
"Steelcraft Powerful Diesel Tugs"
GLEN CLASS

 

Terry Scott has a large 1946 photo of the Atomic (66 X 46 inches).
Anyone know who the fellas are on the bow deck? (5/18/09).

 

GAO notes: this is a retouched photo used by McQueen Marine in their advertising.

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Atomic historical clippings from newspapers.com
Mon. June 1, 1953 - THE WINDSOR DAILY STAR: Wisconsin Tug Crosses Line First in International Race; Skipper of Amherstburg's Atomic Honored by Town Amherstburg's tug Atomic failed Saturday in its attempt to recapture the England Trophy, symbolic of the tugboat speed championship of the Great Lakes, but the cause of international friendship was upheld. The American tug John Roen III won a hard fought victory over the Atomic, but the citizens of Amherstburg honored Captain J. Earl McQueen, owner of the Atomic and twice winner of the tugboat race, with an illuminated scroll. At left above, the Rev. Harry Wright, (left), on behalf of the town, presents the scroll to Captain McQueen. Between Mr. Wright and Captain McQueen are Michigan's governor, G. Mennen Williams, (left), and Mayor Albert E. Cobo of Detroit.

The presentation ceremonies took plate on the Government Dock in Windsor. The centre picture, taken from the Ambassador Bridge, shows the scene as the speeding tugs passed upriver. The twin plumes of smoke come from the tugs Wisconsin and Florida, only steam tugs entered in the race, and the Roen III can be seen leading the pack, with the second-place Sachem to her left and the Atomic to her right. The picture at right shows the presentation of the England Trophy to Captain John Roen of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, who holds the trophy for his second year. Left to right in the picture are: Captain Roen, Mayor Cobo, Controler L. A. Deziel, acting mayor of Windsor while Mayor Arthur J. Reaume is in England at the Coronation; and Governor Williams. (Star Staff Photos)

 


Photo Date: Unknown
Photo and tables below courtesy Great Lakes Vessels Index, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes,
Bowling Green State University

 

The Atomic from Wallaceburg keeps Thames river open in winter.
Clipping back dated Feb. 25th, 1951. Newspaper unknown (likely from Toronto).

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Atomic brings in emergency generators to west side of Pelee Island, c. 1955. Photos courtesy Paul Feltz.

 

Rod Morrison notes "This is a picture of Captains Mantell, Becker & Morrison (my dad Capt. Angus J. Morrison) taken in the wheelhouse of the Atomic in 1956, I think. They were towing the Greater Detroit and Eastern States out into Lake St Clair to burn. My dad is the one not in uniform. Frank Becker owned Becker Towing in Detroit and Capt. Mantel had been the Captain of the Greater Detroit. "

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The Russel Brothers built tug, ATOMIC, breaking ice.
source: http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/GLImages/details.asp?ID=1388

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Atomic and T.F. Newman in Wallaceburg. Probably late '50s or early '60s. Photos courtesy George Lee.

 

Atomic Aug. 1967, possibly Point Edward, Ont., photo by B. Bluekamp, Rene Beauchamp collection.

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B C photo taken circa 1984. Atomic following a Great Lakes Towing Tug. International Tug Boat Race on the Detroit River.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33535417@N05/49353667676

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Dave Otterman comments (May 5, 2018): "Atomic up on the bank around 1985 for rudder stock and stern bearing inspeciton at GLM yard in Port Dover." Photo courtesy Dave Otterman. Click to enlarge.

 

Scott Bruley comments (Feb. 7, 2018): "Tug Atomic with GLM 511 on the hip , secured in Toronto . With another old girl the Seaway Queen in the back ground. This photo was taken in the late 80's. The tug and barge were owned By Great Lakes Marine (Dooner Misner) out of Port Dover. This is when he started the Molasses contract for Canada West Indies Molasses. Tank barge loads of molasses where hauled from Yonkers New York [New York City] via the Erie barge Canal or from Montreal via the St Lawrence Seaway. The molasses was purchased by the Gooderham & Worte Distillery in Toronto for their rum making process . Almost modern day Rum runners, we joked!"

 

Ownership Changes
Owner Name Date Registry Official #
McQueen Marine, Ltd.
Amherstburg, Ont. Canada
1945 - 1979 CANADA 138147
Great Lakes Marine Contracting, Ltd.
Port Dover, Ont. Canada
1979 CANADA 138147

 

From Russel company brochure: STEELCRAFT TOWING.
Gerry Ouderkirk archive.

 


Calgary Herald Calgary, Alberta, Canada 09 Apr 1979, Mon Page 41 Disabled freighter grounded while being towed to safety. Photo Caption: LABRADOC BEING TOWED TO PELEE ISLAND SATURDAY . . . ran aground Sunday morning in the channel.

CLEVELAND (UPI) - The disabled, heavily listing Canadian freighter Labradoc ran aground in Canadian waters of Lake Erie near Pelee Island Sunday morning while being towed by two Canadian tugs that were attempting to get the vessel to a safe anchorage. "She ran aground this morning in Pelee Passage," said Petty Officer Edward Brichard of the U.S. Coast Guard's Ninth District Headquarters in Cleveland. "That was not their intended position and we don't know why she ran aground. We just received a message from the Canadian Coast Guard that said she was aground in that position at 7:27 a.m. "All they would tell us is that the Labradoc is aground and it was unintentional."

Pelee Island is the southernmost point of Ontario. The Labradoc's 20-member crew was rescued by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews Friday after the 315-foot vessel developed a 30-degree list during a storm. The ship's cargo of 160,000 bushels of corn apparently shifted early Friday morning after the Labradoc had weathered eight hours of 20-foot seas and 50-knot winds. "They intended to go up and anchor on the west side of Pelee point and pump out the ship," Brichard said. "But it's right there. The channel is a little over 30 feet deep. The Labradoc draws 23 feet, but she had taken on a lot of water.

"They would have to go through that passage. It's the most direct route to where they were planning on going. All the other passages through that area really aren't more than a few feet deeper." Brichard said the owner planned to anchor at Pelee Point, pump out the ship and rearrange the cargo. If the Labradoc is not badly damaged, the crew might go back aboard.

The Coast Guard rescued the crew Friday afternoon when it appeared certain that the Labradoc would sink. Fifteen crew members were evacuated almost immediately. Five others, Including the ship's master. Captain Ray Chambers, stayed aboard for more than three hours in an unsuccessful attempt to get the Labradoc into port. Abandoned, the Labradoc fell into the trough between the waves and her bow dipped under the surface. But the storm abated after several hours and she stayed afloat. The Labradoc was taken in tow by the tug Atomic at 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Later, the tug Glenbrook joined in the operation. The owner, N.M. Patterson and Sons, Ltd., of Thunder Bay, Ont., hired the tugs.


The Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada 09 Apr 1979, Mon Page 5. Tugs towed abandoned vessel. Crippled freighter aground in Lake Erie

CLEVELAND - (UPI) - The disabled, heavily listing Canadian freighter Labradoc ran aground in Canadian waters of Lake Erie near Pelee Island yesterday morning, while being towed by two Canadian tugs that were attempting to get the vessel to a safe anchorage. "She ran aground this morning in Pelee Passage," said Petty Officer Edward Brichard of the U.S. Coast Guard's Ninth District Headquarters in Cleveland. "That was not their intended position and we don't know why she ran aground. "We just received a message from the Canadian Coast Guard that said she was aground in that position at 7:27 a.m. "All they would tell us is that the Labradoc is aground and it was unintentional."

Pelee Island, in Ontario's Essex County, is the southernmost point in Canada. Crew rescued The Labradoc's 20-member crew was rescued by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews Friday after the 315-foot vessel developed a 30-degree list during a storm. The ship's cargo of 160,000 bushels of corn apparently shifted early Friday morning after the Labradoc had weathered eight hours of 20-foot seas and 50-knot winds. "They intended to go up and anchor on the west side of Point Pelee and pump out the ship," Brichard said. "But it's right there. The channel is a little over 30 feet deep. The Labradoc draws 23 feet, but she had taken on a lot of water.

None deeper "They would have to go through that passage. It's the most direct route to where they were planning on going. "All the other passages through that area really aren't more than a few feet deeper." Brichard said the owner planned to anchor at Point Pelee, pump out the ship and rearrange the cargo. If the Labradoc is not badly damaged, the crew might go back aboard.

Friday afternoon it had appeared certain that the Labradoc would sink. Fifteen crew members were evacuated almost immediately. Five others, including the ship's master, Captain Ray Chambers, stayed aboard for more than three hours in an unsuccessful attempt to get the Labradoc into port. Abandoned, the Labradoc fell into-the trough between the waves and her bow dipped under the surface. But the storm abated after several hours and she stayed afloat.

The Labradoc was taken in tow by the tug Atomic at 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Later, the tug Glenbrook joined in the operation. The owner, N.M. Patterson and Sons, Ltd., of Thunder Bay, Ont., hired the tugs.


The Windsor Star Windsor, Ontario, Canada 09 Apr 1979, Mon Page 3. Crippled freighter Labradoc under tow Sunday by tug Atomic, right, before it ran aground south of Point Pelee. Experts wait for break in weather to go after ship.

Salvage experts are waiting for a break in the weather to resume their efforts to save the crippled freighter Labradoc. The ship was aground again this morning, after being freed for a short time Sunday night. The vessel had run aground during the day, but was pulled free about 8.30 p.m., only to get stuck again when two tow lines from the tug Atomic broke. The ship is presently in about 30 feet of water just southeast of Point Pelee, near the Pelee Passage, according to a spokesman for McQueen Marine Ltd., which owns the Atomic.

Two other tugs, the Glenbrook and the Barabra Ann, are with the Atomic, about two miles west of the ship. The 20-member crew had been airlifted from the 315-foot ship Friday after she ran into trouble during a Lake Erie storm. The experts are waiting for a freak spring storm, which is causing heavy swells, to pass before deciding their next move with the Labradoc. One option is to remove part of the ships cargo of corn to correct a severe list, then resume towing when the weather changes. But the Labradocs captain and engineer are on the scene, and there is achance they may be able to take the ship into port under her own power.

Troubles began early Friday morning, when the load of corn shifted as the ship was buffeted by Lake Erie's wind-whipped waters. U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force helicopters airlifted 15 crew members to safety, but Captain Ray Chambers and four crewmen stayed aboard in an attempt to steer the ship to a safe port. That effort failed, though, and the five were removed later Friday by helicopter.

Sunday morning, the ship was being towed to a Canadian port when she ran aground. A U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said the coast guard is watching the salvage operation "out of environmental concern" only. It is unclear where the ship will be towed, but a Canadian Coast Guard spokesman suggested Pelee Island, Leamington, or Amherstburg were the most probable destinations. A McQueen spokesman said today a port hasn't been desginated yet. Representatives of the Labradocs owner, N M. Paterson and Sons Ltd., of Thunder Bay, were reportedly taken to inspect the vessel Sunday afternoon. While Captain Chambers, who lives in Dunnville, Ont., declined to comment. Second Mate Marc Caron, 45, of Trois Rivieres, Quebec, said in an interview in Toronto that he had sailed on a similar freighter in the Caribbean one winter and survived a hurricane. Caron called Captain Chambers the coolest guy I ever I saw," and said he had stayed aboard when it was impossible to stand in the wheelhouse without hanging onto something.

Crew member Gordon Hewitt said he feared the ship would sink when it shuddered and went over on its side about 3:10 a.m. Friday. I thought she was going down," Hewitt said. Helmsman Ferdinand Defosses said: It was like we were under a big wave. I put the wheel over to starboard to try to bring her back, but it just stayed like that. The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last ship to sink on the Great Lakes, going down Nov. 10, 1975, in a Lake Superior storm with all 29 crew members aboard.

 

Atomic still in service at Toronto, July 29th, 2002.

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The Rod Morrison Collection
Atomic through the decades. Rod's dad Angus J. Morrison and brother Cliff Morrison were captains of the Atomic. The photos from top to bottom were taken by:

Cliff Morrison (my brother). He is a tug captain who sailed the Atomic and also the tug Amherstburg for McQueen Marine... Burt Johnson (deceased). He was a Windsor Star photographer and he worked at McQueen Marine. He would have taken all or most of the early publiciy pictures that were taken in the 40's and 50's of the Atomic... Rod Morrison... Cliff Morrison... Herb Miller (my late stepfather) taken in the Thames River while breaking ice... Cliff Morrison... Rod Morrison... Rod Morrison... Cliff Morrison... Cliff Morrison... Rod Morrison... Vince Spearing... Les Hudson ?? mechanic at McQueen's... unknown taken by a friend of the family and sent to my mother in 1948... Bill Hoey (I think) owner of Gaelic Tugboat Co.... Rod Morrison... Cliff Morrison... The photo in the wheelhouse was probably taken by B. Johnson as well. Most or all of the early photos in the ice were taken by him. He would get out on the ice and lay down and take the pictures.
 
Atomic   1946

Atomic in the ice. Photo by Cliff Morrison.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in the ice probably late 40's or early 50's. Photo by Burt Johnson.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in Kingston, ON. Photo by Rod Morrison.
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Atomic   1963

Atomic on Lake Erie. Atomic bow shot was taken approx. 1963 or 1964 en route to Pelee Island with fuel She had a fuel tank on her stern and the tug Buoy Girl with an extra tank on her was tied astern to help thru the ice. Photo by Cliff Morrison.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic port side. Photo by Herb Miller. Thames River.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in Lake St Clair with tug Amherstburg en route to the Thames River. Photo by Cliff Morrison.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in 1966, Amherstburg, Ont. Photo by Jack Ouellette.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic propellor damage.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic with smokestacks in background.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic on the river Thames.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic as seen from the wheelhouse of the tug Amherstburg, going up the Detroit river.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic beside Glenevis, Toronto.
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Atomic   1946

Photo by Vince Spearing of the Atomic in the 1978 tugboat race at Windsor. Cliff Morrison was captain.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic pulling the English River.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic and Patricia McQueen in Southbaymouth in 1948. The P.McQ had been aground and almost lost on Scotchy shoal at SBM and the Atomic towed her back to Amherstburg for repairs. My dad had been captain on the Patsy and we lived in SBM. We moved to Amherstburg aboard the tugs at that time. I was 14 months old.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in August 1977.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in 2005.
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Atomic   1946

Atomic in Qu�bec City.
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Atomic in Erieau, Ont., with a bent prop. We had hit something. We pulled her up sternfirst and repaired her. Roller on stern was for pulling anchors for the Nordrill.
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Rod Morrison comments: The Nordrill was a converted canaller. She was the Simcoe owned by CSL. Had been self propelled but they got in trouble with her and she ended up being towed. She had an anchoring system that would rotate to keep her nose to the wind. Four sets of anchors. We would set one set in each direction. We would hook on to one anchor and pull it out, then attach a cable from an anchor on the stern of the tug and run out from under it, then attach a can buoy to it and over the side with it. Same for all four anchors. When picking up we would grab the can and bring it aboard and then raise the anchor and pull it over the roller and down the ramp, hook on the next anchor and pull it free of the bottom and they would pull us back to the drillrig. They would lift the anchor off the tug and we headed out again. It was quite a procedure and we had to be very careful with all the cables and the ramp would be muddy from the anchors. We had to keep hosing the mud away. That is sort of a brief description of the way that we did it. Most of the time it was done with 2 of us and the engineer on the tug was always watching us and helped if we needed him.
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From McKiel.com April 2007. More McKeil Russels: Glenevis and Progress (ex P.J. Murer).

 

Atomic became Jarrett M. in the spring of 2007. GAO Photo.

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This model of the Atomic was built and photograghed by Jim Turner of Amherstburg, April 2007.
Jim notes: The Atomic was the nicest tug that McQueen had, other than the Amherstburg, which came later. I worked on the Aburg mostly, and occasionally on the Atomic. My friend Gary Lacey and I decided to build the Atomic after we had started to make a Glen Class tug. While we where in the throws of making the hull he asked me if we should be making the Atomic instead of the Glenevis. He thought we had more of an attachment to the Atomic. My Dad used to chum with Capt. Angus Morrison and rode on the Atomic at the races and other events. The most important thing that I remembeer about the Atomic was that when we were out there working, we had the best food, prepared by the best cooks ever. We couldn't have built this tug without the help of Rod and Cliff Morrison who sent us plans and drawings. We followed them meticulously and it turned out pretty well fo a scatch built, first model.

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Oberon Class submarine Olympus at Burlington July 2011. Evans McKeil up front, Jarrett M. at rear.
Photos by Eric Holmes via boatnerd.

 

Jarrett M. July 28, 2007. Toronto. Simple Simon via flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/49503154838@N01/934137463

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Wyatt M & Jarrett M wintering at Toronto, Jan. 23, 2008.
Gerry Ouderkirk (boatnerd.com).

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Jan. 3rd, 2009 Michel Tremblay of Gasp� sends these 4 photos of Jarrett M (ex ATOMIC). He says "ATOMIC (now known as JARRETT M) made an emergency call in Gasp� Dec. 30, 2008 to complete repairs made after an incident in Matane harbour, and also after a general black-out in the Honguedo Strait were they lost all power and also the anchors and chain. She was waiting for good weather for the trip to the Magdalen Islands to escort bulk carrier traffic from the Grosses Iles salt mines. Atomic archive page
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Dec. 22, 2009 Terry Scott writes: "Hitch to Sorel at the spur of the moment, Capt. Dave
Seymour on the Florence, Kevin Morrison on the Jarrett (ex-Atomic)."
Florence M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Jarrett M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Jarrett M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Jarrett M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Florence M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Jarrett M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Jarrett M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Jarrett M. in Sorel QC, Dec. 2009. Photo courtesy Terry Scott.
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Tug Jarrett M. still going strong
Opinion Mar 15, 2012 by Skip Gilham, Port Colborne Leader
https://www.niagarathisweek.com/opinion-story/3264363-tug-jarrett-m-still-going-strong/

The 67 year old tug Jarrett M. remains very active. The ship had a long career on the Great Lakes as Atomic and, in 2011, spent time in Newfoundland helping berth the large crude carriers at Placentia Bay. Atomic was built for McQueen Marine at Owen Sound in 1945. It was a product Russel Bros. Ltd., and this firm had a very great reputation for producing quality tugs. Atomic was based at Amherstburg, Ontario, and was used for towing, salvage and ice breaking.

The 24.38 metre long, 102 gross ton diesel powered tug ran aground in Lake Erie during environmental water testing in 1968 and was stuck for four days. Some crew and the on board scientists were airlifted to safety. When released, Atomic was repaired at Port Weller. Atomic was a fine ice breaker and was used on the Thames River to relieve flooding in the late winter of 1984. It came to Port Colborne at the end of March to open the harbour and south end of the Welland Canal for the new shipping season.

Atomic was sold to McKeil Marine in 1992 and repainted in their colours. It was re-powered at Port Maitland over the winter of 1995-1996 with the diesel engine removed from the idle sand carrier Niagara II. But this was unsatisfactory and new twin Detroit diesel engines were installed later in 2006. The vessel returned to work as Jarrett M. and had been based at Montreal before heading to the Maritimes last fall.

 

Carl Burkett notes (April 24, 2017): "The photo below was taken by Shaun Judge when the JARRET M was the stern tug for the AMERICAN FORTITUDE scrap-tow in December 2014. For more on that see Carl's blog: http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2014/12/scrap-tow-american-fortitude.html

Kent Simpson notes (April 24, 2017): Jarrett M. was updated to McKeil's blue and white paint scheme while it was stationed in Newfoundland for a few years. It was brought back to Nadro colours after coming back on the lakes 3 years ago for dry docking. The Wyatt M is still in the blue and white paint of McKeil's and is still stationed in Bay Roberts Newfoundland.

This is a picture from the day I left Newfoundland to bring the Jarrett M back to Hamilton. Wyatt M (ex P.J. Murer) alongside.

 

Jarrett M in Montreal, Apr. 23, 2017. Photos by Kent Simpson.
"Dead ship" tow of the ferry Camielle Marcoux to Port Colborne Ont.
Click to enlarge.

 

Jarrett M. April 24, 2017, in the St.Lawrence Seaway assisting another tug towing the ferry LE MARC, ex CAMILLE MARCOUX, bound for Port Colborne from Quebec City. Photos by Ren� Beauchamp. Click to enlarge to 2048 pixels wide.

 

Photos from Shipspotting.com (downloaded May 2017)
http://www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=5030086

Seen here in 1949 off of Amherstburg, Ontario when owned by McQueen Marine. Now owned by McKiel. (given to me by my parents). Photo courtesy Rudi Rabe.
Tug Atomic and Carl W Meyers upbound Lower Lake Erie early 1950's. Photo given to me by my mother who took it...unknown. Photo courtesy Rudi Rabe.
Upbound the Detroit River with the Island Transport 1970's. Photo courtesy Rudi Rabe.
Seen here in the Detroit River 1980's. Photo courtesy Rudi Rabe.
Oct. 6, 2005. ATOMIC is docked at wharf 52 in St. Catharines, ON. She's just finished helping CANADIAN LEADER to back up into the dry dock. Photo by Michel Gosselin.
Oct. 21, 2003. ATOMIC AND GLENEVIS of McKeil Marine registered in Hamilton are moored at the pier southwest of Cherry Street lift bridge (McKeil Marine dock). They have been laid-up for a winter. October 21, 2003 (Tuesday) @ 11:59 to 12:00. Photo by Vedran Mlacic.
Oct. 25, 2004. Photo by Jim Gallacher.
Oct. 11, 2005. ATOMIC,PRESQUE ISLE & CANADIAN LEADER at Port Weller Dry Dock. Photographed on October 11, 2005 @ 1448. Photo by Vedran Mlacic.
Oct. 13, 2005. ATOMIC & her �compadre� LAC COMO are sailing upbound Welland Canal. (�What a site � joint venture�) . Photographed at Port Robinson on October 13, 2005 @ 1205 to 1210. Photo by Vedran Mlacic.
May 5, 2007. JARRETT M & BATCHAWANA are tied up at a dock in Hamilton, ON. Photo taken from the deck of HMCS HALIFAX. Photo by Michel Gosselin.
June 21, 2007. tugboats JARRETT M & VAC are tied up at a pier in the western channel in Toronto, ON. behind them is the Irish navy vessel L.E. EITHNE. Photo by Michel Gosselin.
July 8, 2007. tugboat JARRETT M is tied up at a wharf in Hamilton, ON. Photo by Michel Gosselin.
June 26, 2008. stern view of JARRETT M as she's entering lock 2 in St. Catharines, ON. She's heading downbound in the Welland canal. Photo by Michel Gosselin.
June 26, 2008. stern view of JARRETT M as she's entering lock 2 in St. Catharines, ON. She's heading downbound in the Welland canal. Photo by Michel Gosselin.
Dec. 30, 2008. JARRETT M ex ATOMIC See here at Sandy Beach Pier in Gasp� Harbour Nice old tug build in 1945 by Russel Bros. Sandy Beach, Gaspe, Canada. Photo by Michel Tremblay.
Dec. 30, 2008. JARRETT M ex ATOMIC See here at Sandy Beach Pier in Gasp� Harbour Nice old tug build in 1945 by Russel Bros. Sandy Beach, Gaspe, Canada. Photo by Michel Tremblay.
May 12, 2009. McKeil's Jarrett M rafted to fleetmate Bonnie B. III in Sorel-Tracy. 05-12-09. Photo by Mathieu Larochelle [.
July 18, 2010. JARRETT M (ex-ATOMIC) as shown while downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Varennes on July 18, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 18, 2010. JARRETT M (ex-ATOMIC) as shown while downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Varennes on July 18, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 18, 2010. JARRETT M (ex-ATOMIC) as shown while downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Varennes on July 18, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 18, 2010. JARRETT M (ex-ATOMIC) as shown while downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Varennes on July 18, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 20, 2010. JARRETT M as shown while upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on July 20, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 20, 2010. JARRETT M as shown while upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on July 20, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 20, 2010. JARRETT M as shown while upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on July 20, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
July 20, 2010. JARRETT M as shown while upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on July 20, 2010. Photo by Marc Pich�.
Aug. 11, 2010. The McKeil Marine tug Jarrett M helps hold a jack-up barge in place in the St Marys Current on the St Lawrence at Montreal Aug 12/10. They were making prepartions to submerge a prototype hydro electric turbine in the river. Photo by Dennis J. Dubinsky.
Aug. 18, 2010. The McKeil Marine tug Jarrett M holds a barge in place as a crane sets a prototype hydro electric turbine in the St Marys current on the St. Lawrence river at Montreal. Photo by Dennis J. Dubinsky.
Aug. 18, 2010. The McKeil Marine tug Jarrett M holds a barge in place as a crane sets a prototype hydro electric turbine in the St Marys current on the St. Lawrence river at Montreal. Photo by Dennis J. Dubinsky.
Nov. 6, 2010. Jarrett M tows the Canadian Leader to the scrap yard at the Welland canal, Canada. Nov 7/10. Photo by Paul Beesley.
Nov. 6, 2010. Jarrett M tows the Canadian Leader to the scrap yard at the Welland canal, Canada. Nov 7/10. She is assisted by the tugs Seahound and Lac Manitoba. Photo by Paul Beesley.
Mar. 18, 2011. Jarrett M manoeuvres below Lock 1, Welland canal. Mar 19/11. Photo by Paul Beesley.
Mar. 18, 2011. Jarrett M manoeuvres below Lock 1, Welland canal. Mar 19/11. Photo by Paul Beesley.
Aug. 25, 2011. JARRETT M as shown while upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Varennes on August 26, 2011. Photo by Marc Pich�.
Aug. 29, 2011. Jarrett M as the lead tug for the tow of the J R Rouble up the Welland canal, Canada. Aug 30/11. Photo by Paul Beesley.
Oct. 20, 2011. Reserch vessel Sedna 1V was brought ont the slipway of Chantier Naval Forillon this morning by the tug JARRETT M. Sandy Beach, Gaspe, Canada. Photo by Michel Tremblay.
Oct. 24, 2011. Jarrett M and fleetmate Wyatt M in Jerseyide, Newfoundland, Canada. Oct 25/11. Photo by Paul Beesley.
Oct. 24, 2011. Jarrett M and fleetmate Wyatt M in Jerseyide, Newfoundland, Canada. Oct 25/11. Photo by Paul Beesley.
June 5, 2013. St. John's Narrows. Inbound. Newfoundland, Canada. Oct 25/11. Photo by Wes Pretty.
June 5, 2013. St. John's Narrows. Inbound. Newfoundland, Canada. Oct 25/11. Photo by Wes Pretty.
Oct. 12, 2014. Upbound on the St-Lawewence River in front of Quebec, Quebec, Canada. Photo by Jacques Trempe.
Oct. 12, 2014. Photo by Marc Boucher.
Apr. 7, 2015. Jarrett M below Lock 2, Welland Canal. Photo by Paul Beesley.
June 13, 2016. Port St-Francois.QC.CANADA. Photo by jack2.
June 14, 2016. JARRETT M downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on June 14, 2016. Photo by Marc Pich�.
June 14, 2016. JARRETT M downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on June 14, 2016. Photo by Marc Pich�.
Apr. 23, 2017. JARRETT M upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res on April 23, 2017. Stern tug of the LE MARC tow, the former ferry CAMILLE MARCOUX, to Port Colborne, ON, to be scrapped. Photo by Marc Pich�.

 

Wyatt M. and Jarrett M. in Toronto.

 

Click photos to enlarge.
Aug. 30, 2011. Jarrett M. as the lead tug for the tow of the J. R. Rouble up the Welland Canal, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Paul Beesley, shipspotting.com.
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1472877
June 05, 2013. Approaching St. John's Narrows...inbound. St. John's NF. Photo by wes pretty, shipspotting.com.
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1815683
June 14, 2016. JARRETT M downbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res. Photo by Marc Pich�, shipspotting.com.
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2533089
April 23, 2017. JARRETT M upbound on the St.Lawrence River off Verch�res. Stern tug of the LE MARC tow, the former ferry CAMILLE MARCOUX, to Port Colborne, ON, to be scrapped. Photo by Marc Pich�, shipspotting.com.
source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2653424

 

Jake van Reenen took these photos May 21, 2017 in Clayton, NY.
source: https://tugster.wordpress.com/2017/05/22/enterprise/

 

Jarrett M (ex. Atomic). Christopher Howitt photo taken on November 24, 2017.
source: https://flic.kr/p/21R7rFv

 

Transporting windmills near Kingston, at Amherst island, mid Feb. 2018. Photo by Andrew Mcfarlane, Chief mate at McKeil Marine.

 

Jarrett M. in Port Dover, photos by Helen Bingleman.
Jan. 17, 2019
Feb. 25, 2019
April 5, 2019
April 5, 2019

 

McKeil / Nadro Marine Spec sheet PDF (May 2018).
http://www.nadromarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Jarrett-M-Spec-Sheet.pdf

 

Jarrett M. wintered at the Nadro Port Dover office. Photo by Rob Kindree Mar. 7, 2019.

 

10 Apr 2019 down St Lawrence Seaway into Prescott Port of Call McKeil's tug Jarrett M 10 Apr 2019 down St Lawrence Seaway into Prescott Port of Call 09h05 for provisions before proceeding down for Quebec. Posted by Joanne Crack on Wednesday, April 10, 2019

 

Rene Beauchamp posted to Seaway News-Voie maritime infos... December 7 2019. A ferry, the LUCIEN L. inactive at Sorel-Tracy for several months, was sold to an Ontario company. It will leave under tow tomorrow or the next few days for the Seaway. This will be its first trip and surely its last. Thanks to Vincent Lavallée for the photo with one of the tugs.

 

Overnight guests here in Kingston at 'Elevator Bay'! Framed by an early morning snowstorm is Lead tug Molly M I with former Sorel ferry Lucien L and tug Jarrett M on stern. Almost lost in the blizzard is stern McKiel tug Jarrett M, the former tug Atomic. This tug accompanied the brand new ferry Wolfe Islander III all the way from Port Arthur Shipyard about this time in 1975! Photo by Brian Johnson, Dec. 11, 2019.

 

John LaBlance Photo courtesy Mike Cunningham, Mar. 9th, 2020.

 

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