Ville-class tug

The Ville-class harbour tugboats are a class of tugboats employed by the Royal Canadian Navy.[2][3]

Ville-class tugboat CFAV Merrickville
Class overview
Name: Ville class
Builders:
Operators:  Royal Canadian Navy
Built: 1974–1975
In commission: 1975–present
Completed: 5
Active: 5
General characteristics
Type: Tugboat
Displacement: 45 long tons (46 t)
Length: 19.5 m (64 ft 0 in)
Beam: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in)
Draught: 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Installed power:
  • East coast Villes - 1 × Caterpillar 3406 diesel at 365 hp (272 kW)
  • West coast Villes - 1 × Caterpillar D343 rated at 365 hp (272 kW)
Propulsion: 1 × steerable kort nozzle
Speed: 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Notes: Bollard pull: 7.5 tons

Canada operated a fleet of 17-ton tugs, built during the Second World War which were also called the Ville class.[3] The current vessels are named after those vessels.[4] There is confusion that the current Ville-class design was based on the British Pup-class tugs. The original 17-ton version was based on that design, however the new Villes are an independent design.[3]

Design

The Ville class were designed by the Canadian naval architecture company Robert Allan Ltd as harbour tugs. They have a low-slung shape that is ideal for tight maneuvering and nudging exercises on larger ships. Their kort-nozzle allows for a greater bollard pull however it loses its pull at anything over 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and loses speed in turns.[3] The Ville class are 13.71 m (45 ft 0 in) long with a beam of 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in) and a draught of 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in).[5]

Propulsion

Members of the class built on the east coast were given one Caterpillar 3406 diesel engine that provides 365 horsepower (272 kW) and Ville-class tugs built on the west coast were supplied with one Caterpillar D343 diesel engine rated at 365 hp (272 kW). This power is directed towards a steerable kort nozzle which gives the class a speed of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph).[5]

Towing

The Ville class has a max bollard pull of 7.5 tons, denoting them as small tugboats. The bollard pull measures the amount of pulling or pushing power a ship has.[3]

Ships
Ville-class tugboats
Name Pennant number Commissioned Builder Stationed
LawrencevilleYTL 5901974Vito Steel & Barge Co.CFB Esquimalt
ParksvilleYTL 5911974Vito Steel & Bargo Co.CFB Esquimalt
ListervilleYTL 5921974Georgetown Shipyard, P.E.I.CFB Halifax
MerrickvilleYTL 5931974Georgetown Shipyard, P.E.I.CFB Halifax
GranvilleYTL 5941974Georgetown Shipyard, P.E.I.CFB Halifax

Other auxiliary ships

The Royal Canadian Navy operates five other, larger tugboats, the 140-ton CFAV Tillicum, and five 250-ton Glen-class tugs, and one 140-ton Fire-class fireboats.[3][6][7] The larger tugs are also split between both coasts.

On 29 April 2019 the Government of Canada announced Ocean Industries of Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec was awarded the contract to build four tow-tug/rescue vessels to replace both the Fire-class fireboats and Glen-class tugs with delivery expected from 2021 to 2023.[8] The new tugs will be staffed by civilian crews and be restricted to the naval base/yard only.

References
  1. "Naval Tugs Built Since WWII". shipbuildinghistory.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. "Esquimalt Harbour". Canadian Department of National Defence. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2008. Two VILLE (YTL) Class tugs - LAWRENCEVILLE and PARKSVILLE - 45 gross tons, fitted with steerable Kort Nozzle. Maximum bollard pull 7.5 tons.
  3. "Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Ville class YTL Harbour Tug". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  4. "Merrickville / Ann Marie". Russel Brothers Limited. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  5. Moore, John, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships 1981–1982. London: Jane's Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.
  6. "Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Glen class YTB Tractor Tug". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  7. "Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Fire class YTR Rescue Boats". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  8. Pugliese, David (29 April 2019). "Ocean Industries to build four tugs for the Royal Canadian Navy". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
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