MV Glenada



The Glenada is an ex-Canadian navy tugboat that was launched in 1943. The Glenada was built by Russel Brothers Limited in Owen Sound, ON. It is one of twenty 1943 Glen class tugs, eleven of which were built by the Russel Brothers Company. When it served for the Royal Canadian Navy the official number for this boat was (W30) 177886 and the Canadian Navy number was 534. The Glen class tugs were made in two designs (designated "A" and "B"); the Glenada is an "A" design, with a longer main deck house, extending aft over the engine room, and uniform height bulwarks from forward to aft. A lifeboat is mounted on the bridgedeck aft of the stack. The Glenada was originally powered by one Vivian 320 hp 8-cylinder diesel (400 hp with supercharger).

After it was decommissioned from the navy it was registered in Montreal in 1956, and used by Sandrin Bros. in Sarnia, ON until 1995 when it was purchased by Thunder Bay Tug Services who still owns/runs it in Lake Superior.

In 1977 the Glenada was widened two feet on each side. In 1977 the main engine suffered serious damage while assisting a ship named Hilda Marjanne in the St. Clair river so the engine was changed to a Caterpillar D399 V16 turbo-charged diesel engine that produces 1100 hp at 1200 RPM. this tug has 2 generator, a Detroit Diesel 3-71 generator and a John Deere 4 cylinder diesel generator.

In the public view
The Glenada and its crew were on hand to assist in the 1996 rescue of a cruise ship named the Grampa Woo that had broken free from its dock while undergoing repairs. At the time of the incident, the Grampa Woo had no propulsion capability, and was adrift. The Medal of Bravery was awarded to CAPTAIN GERRY DAWSON, M.B. and Engineer JOHN E. OLSON, M.B., deckhand JAMES HARDING, received the STAR OF COURAGE on May 10, 1999.

The Glenada has also been in the local Thunder Bay newspaper for the rescue of a fishing vessel on April 7, 2007. The Glenada is on display once a year at the Thunder Bay River Fest, alongside the historical James Whalen tugboat and the TBay Coast Guard boat.