Industrial History: THEODORE TOO sunk while stored at Ontario/Heddle Shipyard

This incident taught me that the name of Heddle Shipyards has been changed to Ontario Shipyards.

Theodore Too sunk about 14:50 on Dec 17.

Dec 17, 8:38pm

Janey Anderson posted

Dec. 18, 2024 Theodore Too update: [How can she post a Dec 18 update on Dec 17? Is she clairvoyant?]

Divers on-site this morning assessing for hull damage and adjusting slings.

Crews are still working to get her ashore. No one aboard her at the time and in real good hands at Ontario Shipyards.

Patti Kingswood: Where is Ontario Shipyards !?

Janey Anderson: Patti Kingswood you know it as Heddle, Port Weller.

[A lot of comments about whether Theodore Too is a him or her. All ships are feminine, but the Theodore Too character is masculine. ]

Alanna Hayter: Well Mr Blair McNeil, owner, that never happened when he was here in Halifax, doesn't Ontario take care of its ships?

Firebird Carrie: Maybe the owner should sell him back to us where he can be properly taken care of instead of being neglected!

[The comments contain several photos of the tug during happier times.]

Jim Myers shared

I note this photo because it is the only view I have seen of the stern end.

John R Witt commented on Janey's post
Theodore Too on a better day - September 15 of this year as I passed 'him' while traversing the Welland Canal. Prayers that awesome little tug is back in the water and floating again soon!

Dec 18, 6:39am

Amy Daggett posted

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗢 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦

At approximately 14:50, Theodore Too began taking on water. Yard personnel promptly responded, securing lines, deploying a safety boom, and hooking up pumps. Everyone should be commended for their swift and professional response. Most importantly, everyone acted safely- there were no injuries, and thanks to the team's efforts, there is no environmental pollution.

The vessel is now partially submerged but safely resting on the bottom. We have developed a refloating plan and will began work today to resolve the situation.

Lisa A. Brewer: Why was it in Ontario? It's a Nova Scotian boat...

Tim Shafley: Lisa A. Brewer Because it was sold to an Ontario guy ???

[It was moved in 2021.]

Brian Lugar: Andrew Cochrane, producer and owner of the Adventures of Theodore Tugboat series had this built in Dayspring Nova Scotia. It was well designed and built.

When the company went bankrupt, the assets were being sold and there was danger that the series and assets were heading to Japan. The then Mayor of Halifax formed a committee to look at ways to keep Theodore in the ‘Big Harbour’ (Halifax).

We were able to convince a local tour operator to take ownership with the assistance of the City and a contract with Halifax Port Authority (who charted the boat to greet cruise ships as they entered the harbour.

To put the then popularity of the series in perspective native Haligonian Denny Doherty (of the band Mamas and Papas) played the character of the Harbour Master. When Theodore was launched and brought to Halifax the docks were lined with parents and their children.

Sadly Theodore was not designed as a passenger carrying boat and it was difficult for the operator to generate much tourist passenger revenue.

Rebecca Ingalls: Brian Lugar by Snyder’s Shipyard in Daysprings 💞

Steve William Lindsey: Jeez. I wish the tug James Whalen had received a small portion of this outpouring of grief. Theodore Too deserves your sympathy. But so did the Whalen, soon to be scrapped.

Lance Aerial Media shared

Poor Theodore the Tugboat - taking on water with a smile.

Jim Myers shared

Comments on Amy's post

Becky Haag commented on Amy's post
Poor Theodore! I saw him in the Big Harbour with Bluenose many years ago and I love him. Toot toot!

At the Scene Photography posted two photos with the comment:

At the Scene with some news out of St. Catherines Theodore Too, the beloved 65-foot [20m] replica tugboat, has partially sunk at Port Weller Dry Docks in St. Catharines, Ontario, after taking on water while docked. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. Owner Blair McKeil is already working on a refloating plan to restore the iconic vessel.¹
Theodore Too has a rich history, built in 2000 by Snyder's Shipyard in Nova Scotia as a promotional tool for the children's TV series "Theodore Tugboat". It went on to become an ambassador for clean-water strategies in Canada and advocate for marine industry careers. After 21 years in Halifax, it moved to its new home in Hamilton in 2021.
We caught up with Theodore in 2022
2nd photo FB

Krista Cook: The owner posted on the tugboats page it was due to a spring that busted and it started to leak.

Collin Downes: Since he's been adopted it looks like he's abused.

Sue Mollins-Hamilton: Collin Downes he was given up ‘for adoption’ because NS was neglecting him. Losing money for over five years before they sold him. 2016 they talked about selling, tried to make it work for five more years but locals certainly weren’t taking advantage of his presence by supporting the business.

[There are some more comments about him vs. her.]

2, cropped

Three people used this image in comments on the above post and none of them credited the source.

I presume this is from the TV show for which it was built to promote.

Lorrie Gingras commented on the above post
Aww toot toot ..

Dec 18, 10:07am:

Q104 FM posted
Anna: Update on Theodore Too. He'll be craned out (stabilized and water already being pumped out) and pulled ashore. He didn't fully submerge. (Meme credit @evilpez4)

Dec 18, 10:12am:

Official Theodore Tugboat posted

Ahoy friends!

I don’t want to alarm you but I had a mishap yesterday and took on some water while floating alongside a dock in the Ontario Shipyard in Port Weller.

I am resting safely on my belly in the mud and my family in Ontario, has assembled a team of experts to carefully right and refloat me. They are working super hard to have me ship shape in time for the holidays. I will keep you posted on how things go!

At this time of year, when so many of my friends across the country are struggling, I want you to know how much I love you all and I wish you a heartfelt happy, healthy and toot-ally magical holiday.

Toot Toot!

Theodore TOO

Heidi Schmidt shared

Dec 18, 1:10pm

ctvnews

Dec 19, 3:06pm

Helen Cooper posted

**UPDATE**

Theo is now afloat at Heddle Shipyard!

YAY🎉🎉🎉

Poor Theo 💔

Hope he’s out of the water soon

Bradley Moore commented on Helen's post, cropped

Michael Perks commented on Helen's post

Dec 19, 1:39pm:

Todd Melville posted

They be workin' on 'er.

Theodore's help 'as arrived

Official Theodore Tugboat posted

Ahoy there, friends!

Wow! After an eventful couple of days, I’m so happy to let you know I’m back afloat!

I’m so grateful for all the amazing friends who lent a helping hand to get me back upright—what a team effort!

A super-duper thank you to Olous Boag and his crew at Ontario Shipyards for their swift response and top-notch expertise during my refloat operation.

A big ol’ whistle-blow of thanks to the ASI Group’s dive team for their fast action and unwavering support.

A hearty salute to the Canadian Coast Guard's Urgent Response Team, led by Greg Yizhou Yang, for their expertise and equipment in keeping our waters safe and sound.

And an extra special toot-toot out to Kevin Cameron of North American Marine—a true anchor of support—whose dedication made all the difference.

You’re all true marine heroes!

I am also so very grateful for all of the well wishes you have shared with me over the past two days. Your love and support mean the world to me - thank you from the bottom of my tugboat heart!

Remember to keep sharing your love and kindness with those around you—it makes the harbour shine even brighter!

Toot toot!

Theodore TOO

2 of 8 drone photos posted by Joseph Burd with the comment: "Theodore Too Tug above water once again, as I am sure most of you all know. Theodore Too took on some damage on the stern of the tug possibly during the lifting of the little guy out of the canal. Few updated photos from drone taken just now under advanced license with transport Canada flight plan approved."

Robert Hubbard: Poor little boat heard there putting him in dry dock. [I included the third photo to show that at least one of them is currently empty.]

Aaron Carpenter: Those whole bulwarks were rotten before it left NS - one of the major reasons it was not considered worth restoration to a certified tour boat.

Partial fiberglass over wood is not a good combination.

The bulwarks are sacrificial, but expensive.

But down underneath that area is the stern tube, also wooden, and that area is also very fragile.

They cracked it off a rock a few years befire it left NS and did a lot of damage

b
[The boat is made with wood. Aaron's comment confirms that the covering was fiberglass. The shipyard workers are familiar with steel instead of wood. They should have used a spreader bar.]

Some background information

Theodore Too visited several locations on the Great Lakes in 2023.

Official Theodore Tugboat posted
Heelllooo Cleveland. The crew and I are at Oasis Marina until 4pm Tuesday Oct 3 before we start our sail back to Canada. Come on by to say Toot toot
[I recognize the bridge in the background. It is a pedestrian bridge.]

Just a couple hours after I wrote these notes, I came across a photo of Thomas the Tank Engine. He is the USA equivalent of Theodore Too.

Michael Constable, Jun 2023 via Dennis DeBruler

I learned about McKeil Marine when I researched Ontario Shipyard because I was only familiar with Heddle Shipyard.

onshipyards_about

If anybody can restore the boat, it would be Blair McKeil in terms of both money and knowledge about tugboats. For example, McKeil Marine is the company that towed four bridges from the East Coast to Toronto.