Salvage on the Grey Seas - Foundation Maritime

The Foundation Company of Canada started off early in the 20th century as a construction company, and continued on under that name until the 1990's. In the 1930's, they branched out into maritime interests with the formation of Foundation Maritime, which later operated primarily out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Foundation Maritime slowly built up a fleet of tugs and other vessels, with which they rescued countless vessels in distress off the Atlantic Coast. It was this period which was imortalized in two books by Farley Mowat, The Grey Seas Under and The Serpent's Coil. Foundation Maritime also played a part in the Second World War effort by building many of the Park class cargo vessels which were used by Canada to transport goods to the United Kingdom during the Second World War. An era came to an end when Foundation Maritime sold off its shipping interests in the late 1960's to focus soley on construction.

After the tug fleet was sold, the tugs initially carried on under their own names. The towing firm was eventually renamed Eastern Canada Towing Ltd., or ECTUG. The remaining tugs were partially renamed, substituting the Foundation for Point (for example, Foundation Vim became Point Vim). ECTUG was purchased by Switzer and still operated from the old Foundation Maritime wharf on the Halifax waterfront until they relocated to Point Tupper in 2010.

The photos collected in this feature are separated into two sections, showing the company's tugs as well as some of the salvage operations in which the company participated. 

Vessels:

• Harbour & Coastal Tugs

The Salvage Tugs, Vessels, and Barges - In All Respects Ready for Sea:

• Foundation Franklin
• Foundation Scarboro

Foundation Maritime Salvage Operations:

• Salvage of the Maplebranch
• Salvage of the Maurienne
• Foundation Maritime: Salvaging HMCS QUINTE
• Torpedoed tanker "Nipiwan Park"
• Salvaging the cargo liner Manchester City

Miscellaneous:

• Demolishing the Foundation Wharves
• Sailor and Diver - A Career on, and under, the Sea
• Heavy Lifting

Much of this content originally appeared on the Haze Gray and Underway website (www.hazegray.org) which went offline in 2025.

Sources:

Aecon (formerly the Foundation Company of Canada). Special thanks to Harold Beswick, Gerry Dell, and Kevin Wilcott.

All photos courtesy of the Foundation Company of Canada, unless noted otherwise.

Baird, Donal M. (2003). Under Tow - A History of Tugs and Towing. Vanwell Publishing Ltd., St. Catharines, ON.

Maginley, Charles D. and Collin, Bernard. (2001). The Ships of Canada's Marine Services. Vanwell Publishing Ltd., St. Catharines, ON.

Jane's Fighting Ships, various editions.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/ships-at.html

Various information courtesy of Travis Mullen.