Primo - game over

 The trawler Primo, a fixture on the Lunenburg waterfront for many years, and which sank at its berth during a storm February 7-8, 2021, has been hauled out on the Lunenburg Foundry and Engineering marine slipway.

With its masts cut down, the vessel was raised, but its fate was not clear. There was hope that the vessel could be sold, even in damaged condition, for future use. Owners Dawson Moreland and Associates Ship Riggers Ltd had orginally hoped to convert the vessel to auxiliary sail for trading in the Pacific, but that fell through several years ago and no buyers could be found. It was while lying idle last winter when it is assumed a hull fitting failed and it settled on the bottom. The vessel was insured according to press reports, but it seems unlikely that repairs would make economic sense if no buyers can be found.

I covered the ship's history in a previous post in February: Primo sinks
 

Built by George T. Davie + Co Ltd of Lauzon, QC as a side trawler during the trawler building boom of the 1960s (say goodbye to the cod), it was later converted to a scallop dragger and was last employed by Clearwater.

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Trawler Primo sinks in Lunenburg

 This winter has been hard on old trawlers, with two coming to grief in recent days.

In Halifax, commercial and Coast Guard crews are still at work removing contaminants from the Hydra Mariner (ex Cape Mira) which drifted ashore on Navy Island after parting its mooring line in a storm January 14. See January 30, 2021

Now secured with a line ashore (!) Hydra Mariner is boomed off at Navy Island with CGE 310 alongside.

The latest casualty - and a far more serious one - is also a product of the same  George T. Davie + Sons shipyard in Lauzon, QC. The Primo also dates from 1963 when it was built for St.Lawrence Sea Products as a side trawler.

Primo preparing to haul out at Dartmouth Marine Slips.

The vessel was delivered in March 1964 and made its own way through 740 miles of severe ice en route to Lunenburg, without icebreaker assistance. In December of the same year it had a fire on board while 23 miles off Halifax. Crews from HMCS Terra Nova and HMCS Gatineau put out the fire, but five crew were injured suffering from exposure and one was missing and presumed lost.

In 1982 it tipped over on the slip at Sydney Engineering and Drydock, but was righted with only minor damage. 

Safely on the slip at STENPRO in Liveprool, Primo shows off its fine hull lines.

After several changes of ownership it was converted for scallop dragging and fished out of Riverport, NS until 2005 when it retired from fishing. New owners planned to convert the boat to a cargo ship to work under sail, but this work seems to have stalled and it has remain neglected in Lunenburg for many years.

Zebroid (at left) was converted to sail, but Primo (at right) languished at the pier.

Under the weight of a heavy deck load of snow from the storm of February 7 the boat gradually sank alongside its berth.

Prospects for anything beyond scrapping seem unlikely for the veteran vessel.

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Outport Report

With the possibility of winter weather coming soon, it was time to check in on nearby 'outports'.  before road travel becomes unpleasant.

Lunenburg is now home to a couple of globe trotting vessels, both of which have recently returned to port after their latest voyages.

Polar Prince, the former CCGS Sir Humphrey Gilbert (built 1959)  is tied up adjacent to Picton Castle  (built 1928).  Both vessels might be considered by some to be past their prime, but they are carrying on useful functions in research, and training and look set to continue in these roles for some time to come.

It was a  bright sunny day in Lunenburg on Wednesday as Picton Castle and Polar Prince await their next assignments. Picton Castle returned from its latest round the world trip in June, then joined Tall Ships events including a trip to the Great Lakes). Polar Prince returned to Lunenburg in late October after another summer in the north.

The future is not so bright for the vessel that appears between the two in the photo. Conversion of the trawler Primo to a sailing vessel appears to be stalled. It is listed as owned by the same owners as Picton Castle. Built in 1963 by Geo T. Davie + Sons Ltd in Lauzon, QC, it should have many more years left if work can be found for it.

Holiday Island hauled out in Pictou for refit.

The open decks are normally tarped in for the winter.

In Pictou the 1971-built summer ferry Holiday Island has been hauled out at the shipyard for refit. Replacement for the Voith-Schneider propelled ship has been the subject of speculation recently, but there did not seem to be much mention about it during the federal election. New construction seems the likely route in view of the dismal performance of some second hand ferries recently acquired in Europe.

Confederation approaching the Caribou, NS dock on its noon time crossing.

Its fleet mate Confederation was built in 1993 as a result of an election promise - (made by a sitting MP without the knowledge of his caucus or leader according to legend).  Its performance has not always been sterling either, and the Holiday Island is the go to boat. However with the season winding down it is running the Caribou, NS / Wood Island PE route solo.

What appears to be a former Province of Nova Scotia cable ferry is tied up near the shipyard,  less its wheelhouse.

Devoid of any name, but still equipped with at least one hydraulic ramp, the boat may have been converted to a work barge. It is possible that it is the former Englishtown ferry Angus MacAskill replaced in 2010. Since the Province of Nova Scotia does not register its ferries, it is difficult to trace individual units.

Tenders were supposed to close October 18 for two new cable ferries for the Province (one for Country Harbour and one for Little Narrows) but I have not heard the results yet.

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