Theodore tugboat partially sinks | CTV News

An iconic tugboat that was a fixture in Halifax Harbour for 21 years has partially sunk in Ontario.

Theodore Too, based mostly on the favored kids’s TV present “Theodore Tugboat,” moved three years in the past, travelling greater than 1,900 kilometres and stopping at 15 ports earlier than reaching its ultimate vacation spot in Hamilton, Ont.

A press release from Theodore’s new proprietor, Blair McKeil, reads, “Sadly, Theodore Too took on water whereas tied up on the dock at Ontario Shipyards. The vessel is now partially submerged and resting on backside.”

McKeil says crews are actually engaged on a refloating plan.

“It’s a really unlucky occasion, fortunately there have been no folks concerned and no accidents,” reads the assertion.

A press release from Theodore Too’s proprietor about it being partially submerged is pictured. (Supply: Fb)

Theodore Too is a totally operational 65-foot tugboat. It was constructed at Snyder’s Shipyard in Dayspring, N.S., in 2000 as a reproduction of the primary character of the youngsters’s present, which aired between 1993 and 2001.

In its early years, the tugboat spent summers on the Nice Lakes in Ontario and the japanese seaboard of america and Canada, selling tourism in Nova Scotia.

From the mid-2000s onward, the vessel hosted child-themed excursions of the Halifax harbour, with many passengers being former followers of the tv present.

“Theodore tugboat was a type of Halifax icons,” mentioned Halifax historian Blair Beed. “Folks keep in mind once they have been youthful, their go to to Halifax due to Theodore.”

In March 2021, Theodore was bought to McKeil, who’s the president and CEO of Breakwater Investments in Ontario.

Theodore Too is partially submerged at a dock in St. Catharines, Ont., in December 2024. (Courtesy: Bobby Davidson)

“It meant quite a bit to Halifax, and it related to folks right here,” added Richard Loughery, who additionally lives in Halifax. “It introduced out the children together with it and we went on a few excursions on it, in the course of the summer time.”

“Our youngsters and grandchildren noticed numerous Theodore and so they have been disenchanted once they moved away from Halifax,” mentioned Halifax resident Mel MacConnell.

Dennis Campbell used to personal Theodore Too, and after talking with the present proprietor, is assured the vessel will be saved.

“They’re engaged on it and they’ll get Theodore Too raised as much as the water and get it again in to prime form,” mentioned Campbell, who added it is unhappy to see tugboat on this state however is hopeful Theodore Too will quickly be repaired and seaworthy.

With recordsdata from CTV’s Paul Hollingsworth.

For extra Nova Scotia information, go to our devoted provincial web page.