Ship details

Ship Details
Sorter VI Photo Credit: Pete Kovanda

Ship Details

Sorter VI

Photo Credit: Pete Kovanda

Registry #1	190595 (Canada)	Registry #2		Registry #3
IMO#		MMSI#		VRN#

Name 1	1948	Virginia G.	Name 6
Name 2	1960	Sorter VI	Name 7
Name 3	1989	Fraser King	Name 8
Name 4			Name 9
Name 5			Name 10

Year Built	1948	Place	Vancouver	Area	BC	Country	Canada

Designer	(nk)	Measurement (imp)	32.5' x 10.6' x 4.2'
Builder	Harbour Boatyards Ltd.	Measurement (metric)	9.91m x 3.23m x 1.28m
Hull	Wood	Displacement
Gross Tonnage	9.04	Type 1	Tug
Registered Tonnage	6.15	Type 2
Engine	115hp diesel engine (1948);	Engine Manufacture	(nk)
Repower	Repowered with a 400bhp diesel engine	Propulsion	Screw
Rebuilds		Call Sign
Pendant #		Masters

Owner(s)
In 1948-1959 she was owned by False Creek Towing Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1960-1987 she was owned by Fraser River Log Sorting Co. Ltd., New Westminster BC Canada. In 1988-1994 she was owned by William Kelly, Port Coquitlam BC Canada. In 1995-2003 she was owned by Kelly Marine Towing Ltd., Surrey BC Canada. In 2004-2012 she was owned by Allen C. Widstein, Delta BC Canada. In 2017-2024 she was owned by Allen C. Widsten, Richmond BC Canada.

Owner(s)

In 1948-1959 she was owned by False Creek Towing Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1960-1987 she was owned by Fraser River Log Sorting Co. Ltd., New Westminster BC Canada. In 1988-1994 she was owned by William Kelly, Port Coquitlam BC Canada. In 1995-2003 she was owned by Kelly Marine Towing Ltd., Surrey BC Canada. In 2004-2012 she was owned by Allen C. Widstein, Delta BC Canada. In 2017-2024 she was owned by Allen C. Widsten, Richmond BC Canada.

Fate	Afloat in 2024	Date	0000-00-00

Named Features
Significance of Name

Anecdotes
Terry Gustafson states (BC Nautical History Facebook Group 19/10/2015) that "Its been on the hard at Shearwater for a few years. It was originally a wood hull it was sheeted and sponsoned by Kelly Marine." The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports that "on 22 October 1997 The skipper of the tug "Fraser King", which was towing the barge "D.H.T. No. 3", became disoriented at night after the tug's radar broke down. The skipper called a shore station, reported his position and requested guidance. Several vessels and aircraft proceeded to assist, however, the search was prolonged because the tug and barge were some 23 miles from the reported position. Although a helicopter attempted to direct the tug, in an area for which the tug had no nautical charts, the barge went aground. Next morning the barge refloated and the tow was resumed. The barge's shell plating was damaged by the grounding and it took on water and sank. "

Anecdotes

Terry Gustafson states (BC Nautical History Facebook Group 19/10/2015) that "Its been on the hard at Shearwater for a few years. It was originally a wood hull it was sheeted and sponsoned by Kelly Marine." The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports that "on 22 October 1997 The skipper of the tug "Fraser King", which was towing the barge "D.H.T. No. 3", became disoriented at night after the tug's radar broke down. The skipper called a shore station, reported his position and requested guidance. Several vessels and aircraft proceeded to assist, however, the search was prolonged because the tug and barge were some 23 miles from the reported position. Although a helicopter attempted to direct the tug, in an area for which the tug had no nautical charts, the barge went aground. Next morning the barge refloated and the tow was resumed. The barge's shell plating was damaged by the grounding and it took on water and sank. "

References
Canada List of Shipping; http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/1997/m97w0224/m97w0224.asp
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Ship Details

Sorter VI