Vessel Name: Prince Ray #
Official Number: C.126395
Year of Build: 1909
Built at: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Propulsion: Steam-powered, originally fitted with an engine and boiler (removed in later years)
Dimensions:
- Length: 73.6 feet
- Beam: 18.8 feet
- Depth: 8.2 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 72 tons
- Net Tonnage: 39 tons
Construction and Early Ownership
The Prince Ray was a wooden tugboat built in 1909 at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a well-known shipbuilding hub. Designed as a steam-powered tug, the Prince Ray was constructed to meet the growing needs of shipping companies for efficient harbor and towing operations along Canada’s eastern seaboard and later the Great Lakes.
By 1914-1918, the Prince Ray was owned by the W. J. Poupore Company Ltd., based in Montreal, and likely served as a general-purpose tug in and around Montreal‘s busy port. The vessel’s services would have been invaluable during World War I, when shipping needs intensified.
Ownership Timeline and Operational Life
- 1923-1924: The Prince Ray was sold to Knox Bros., a Montreal-based company, continuing its work in local towing and harbor operations.
- 1927: The tug was acquired by Henry J. Dixon and operated by the Toronto Drydock Company Ltd.. During this time, the Prince Ray shifted from Montreal to Toronto, where it became a regular part of the harbor’s towing and salvage fleet.
Final Years and Salvage
After several decades of service, the Prince Ray was laid up at Ramey’s Bend in the Welland Canal for an extended period. By the late 1920s, the vessel was no longer in active use, leading to its eventual salvage by the Toronto Drydock Company Ltd. in the early 1930s.
After being brought back to Toronto, the Prince Ray’s engine and boiler were removed, signaling the end of its operational life as a steam-powered tug. The hull, stripped of its machinery, was towed out into Lake Ontario and scuttled in deep water, a common practice for vessels that had reached the end of their service lives.
Historical Significance
The Prince Ray represents a typical early 20th-century wooden steam tug that served the commercial needs of Canadian ports and inland waterways. Operating first in Montreal and later in Toronto, the vessel was part of a fleet of workhorses that supported the busy shipping industries along the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes.
The Prince Ray’s long career, followed by its salvage and scuttling, illustrates the life cycle of working vessels during this era. From supporting war-time and industrial shipping needs to eventually being retired and dismantled, the Prince Ray played an important role in Canada’s maritime history.
Summary of Key Events: #
- 1909: Built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia as a steam-powered tug.
- 1914-1918: Owned by W. J. Poupore Company Ltd., Montreal.
- 1923-1924: Owned by Knox Bros., Montreal.
- 1927: Acquired by Henry J. Dixon and operated by the Toronto Drydock Company Ltd..
- 1930s: After a prolonged lay-up, salvaged by Toronto Drydock Company Ltd., engine and boiler removed.
- 1930s: Hull scuttled in Lake Ontario.
The Prince Ray exemplifies the life of a working tugboat in early 20th-century Canada, having contributed significantly to both Montreal and Toronto’s maritime operations before being retired and scuttled.
