Ship Details

O.B. 1

Vessel image

Photo Credit: Tad Roberts

 
 
Registry #1 171784 (Canada) Registry #2 Registry #3
IMO# MMSI# VRN#
 
Name 1 1939 O.B. 1 Name 6
Name 2 Name 7
Name 3 Name 8
Name 4 Name 9
Name 5 Name 10
 
Year Built 1939 Place Vancouver Area BC Country Canada
 
Designer (nk) Measurement (imp) 36.4' x 12.0' x 5.2'
Builder Benson Brothers Shipbuilding Co. (1960) Ltd. Measurement (metric) ?m x ?m x ?m
Hull Wood Displacement
Gross Tonnage 19 Type 1 Work Boat
Registered Tonnage 11.17 Type 2 Yacht, power-cruiser
Engine 60hp engine (1939) Engine Manufacture Atlas-Imperial Engine Co., Oakland CA USA
Repower Repowered with a 165hp General Motors engine (1957c) Propulsion Screw
Rebuilds In 1943 she was rebuilt from a recovered wreck at Sointula BC to 39' x 12.1' x 5.2'`17.0gt 11.0rt Call Sign
Pendant  # Masters
 
Owner(s)
In 1939-1952 she was owned by O'Brien Logging Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1953-1966 she was owned by Alice Lake Logging Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1967-1972 she was owned by Martin Paper Bags Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1973-1982 she was owned by Lund Marine Ltd., Lund BC Canada. In 1983-1996 she was owned by Island Sea & Land Transportation Ltd., Savary Island BC Canada.
 
Fate Registry closed Date 1996-02-06
 
Named Features
Significance of Name O.B. for O'Brien (the O'Brien Logging Co. Ltd.)
 
Anecdotes
On January 30, 1942 this vessel was stranded at Rocky Bay BC. This vessel was recovered and rebuilt in 1943. This vessel was last seen in Lund BC rotting on the beach. Chuck Franzin (British Columbia Nautical History Facebook Group 06/06/2019) stated "Last I saw of her this vessel was at Lund and had been restored by Jens Sorenson of Lund Marine, he used it as his personal cruiser." Elaine Sorenson (Email to Bill Noon 01/12/2021) stated "My father, Jens Sorensen (owner of Lund Marine Ltd), purchased the OB-1 in 1968 from MacMillan & Bloedel (M&B). At that time it had been working in Teakerne Arm and being an older 'wooden' tug, M&B offered it for sale as a 'scrap' vessel (wooden tugs were being replaced by steel vessels). Dad purchased it primarily for the engine - at that time it had a '671 GM' - which Dad felt he could rebuild and sell for a profit over the purchase cost....at least that was the justification he gave my Mom. In 1939, Jimmy(?) O'Brien (O'Brien Logging Co.) invited Dad (Jens Sorensen) to attend the launch of his new tug 'OB-1' (O'Brien No 1), in Vancouver. Due to travel delays, Jens arrived late only to find the 'launch party' already well underway. Mr. O'Brien grabbed hold of Dad and said, "Jens, you are the only sober one here so I want you to flash her up and take us for a spin"....thus Dad was at the helm for the OB-1's maiden run in Burrard Inlet. ...29 years later, with a history of being a BC coastal tug, the 'OB' was in pretty rough shape when this vesselcame to (was purchased by) Lund Marine Ltd... but, on close inspection, our (Lund Marine) then shipwright, George Bone, advised Dad that the vessel was still basically sound and that, with a lot of work, could be restored and serviceable. The restoration at Lund Marine (vessel and engine) took the next 1.5-2 years. Once complete, the O.B 1, served as the 'workboat' for Lund Marine and our family's 'pleasure craft', but also as a primary CCG Aux SAR (Owner/Operated Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Search & Rescue) vessel for the Lund, Savary Island, Powell River, and Desolation Sound area between 1970 and 1981."
 
References
Canada List of Shipping; List of Shipping Casualties Resulting in Total Loss in British Columbia and Coastal Waters Since 1897 (undated manuscript document); Email (Bill Noon - Nauticapedia 03/12/2021);
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