CRAIG TRANS

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Sold to breakers by auction

The scrap metal Mike Parsons dealer has bought at auction the derelict "Craig Trans" that sat idle in Halifax Harbour at the Wrights Cove wharf in Dartmouth since summer 2013. On Feb 17, 2016, Mike Parsons of Duncans Cove bought the vessel for $1,000 at an auction ordered by the Federal Court of Canada. He was the only bidder. The company that runs the wharf was suing the tugboat's previous owner, Tracy Dodds, for unpaid dock charges. Court documents showed that Dodds bought the ship in 2013 for $13,000. Dodds has been linked to other vessels abandoned in other harbours along Nova Scotia's coastline, including the "Farley Mowat", which sank in Shelburne in 2015 and had to be raised. The Town of Shelburne was suing Dodds for unpaid berthing fees. It also wants a Federal Court judge to send Dodds to jail for 10 days if he does not remove the Farley Mowat by Feb. 26. The "Craig Trans" was once owned by Gerard Antoine of Vesta Shipping Lines. Its eight crew members appealed to the public in January 2013, saying the company had abandoned them in Canada. The Mission to Seafarers charity helped raise money to return the crew to their families in Honduras and El Salvador. The sale is not final until it is approved by a Federal Court judge. Report with photos: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/craig-trans-auction-1.3452207

Craig Trans already detained in terrible condition in 2011

The decision of the "Craig Trans"-crew to leave its rusty tug in Halifax and fly home was similar to a U.S. incident involving the tug. According to the International Transport Workers Federation it was detained by the U.S. Coastguard in Seattle in November 2011. The ITF paid $3,800 to return the then three crew members to their homes in Central America and the Caribbean after they decided they wouldn't stay on the "Craig Trans" which was in terrible condition and offered poor living conditions. The U.S. Coastguard detained the vessel from Nov 2 until Dec 2, 2011 due to safety problems which included a lack of proper navigational publications, life-saving equipment and immersion suits. One of the generators had a pinhole leak and was spraying fuel into the air . USCG allowed the vessel to leave when the owner fixed the various deficiencies and a plan was made to restrict the tug to steaming close to shore. Gerard Antoine, president of Vesta Shipping, which owns the tug, denied the generator was spraying fuel in Seattle and stated all nine defiencies were fixed before it departed. He is now planning to fix the "Craig Trans" in Halifax and find a new crew for the vessel. Transport Canada should carefully examine the structural integrity of the vessel and ensure its seaworthiness to tow large vessels along the Canadian coast. The deficiencies also included life-saving equipment and firefighting equipment. The problems have been thoroughly discussed with Vesta and the firm has the responsibility to fix the boat. Report with photo of crew leaving on Jan 21: http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/troubled-tug-detained-in-halifax-has-history-of-problems-union-1.1122613#ixzz2Ih5cv9IX

Crew left cockroach riddled tug in Halifax

The eight sailors of the "Craig Trans" who made an unplanned month-long stop in Halifax left for their homes in Honduras and El Salvador early in the morning of Jan 21, thanks to a lot of Nova Scotians who donated Aeroplan miles. They appreciated "all the good people from this lovely place, Halifax,” Milton Tavora, the captain said at the Port of Halifax. The Seafarer's Mission collected donations and provided the men with a place to relax, plus food, clothing, sheets, phone cards, Aeroplan points and haircuts. He and seven other sailors were headed to Montreal when bad weather forced them into the Port of Halifax on Dec. 18. They’ve been here since because Transport Canada said the cockroach-riddled vessel was unfit to sail. The crew wasn’t receiving assistance from the ship’s owner, the Vesta Shipping Line from New Jersey, so they were essentially stuck in Halifax. As for the tug, Transport Canada’s Steve Bone said the owner is always responsible for its movements. Should the Halifax Port Authority wish the vessel removed from port property, it is a matter between the vessel owner and the Halifax Port Authority.