Originally a Victoria-based towing company established by Harold Elworthy in 1924, the company acquired the large towing vessel Sudbury, a converted corvette, in 1954 that was BC’s most famous tug. It acquired another towing company, Young & Gore, in 1965 and Victoria Tug Company in 1958. McAllister Towing of Montreal purchased Island Tug in 1960 and then, in 1961, Griffiths Steamship Company. In 1969, Genstar Ltd. acquired Island Tug & Barge and in 1970 merged Vancouver Tug Boat Company and Island Tug to become Seaspan International.
High speed gas turbine-powered passenger craft that operates on foils, built by Boeing Marine in Renton Washington. Provided scheduled passenger service between Seattle and Victoria beginning in 1980. In 1985, the operation was taken over by Flying Princess Transportation Company and then sold to Japanese interests.
George Hastings Inskip was an officer in the Surveying Service of the Royal Navy. From 1846 to 1850, he served as the second master of HMS Rattlesnake surveying coastlines in South East Australia, the Torres Strait, and the South coast of New Guinea. From 1952 to 1855, he served as master of HMS Virago on the Canadian Forces Pacific doing extensive surveys in the waters of what would become British Columbia. In 1874, he retired in the rank of Captain.
Captain Inskip’s “Remarks Books” (private journals) covering his time on the northwest coast are currently being held at the BC Archives in Victoria, BC. “HMS Virago in the Pacific 1851-1855” written by G.P. and H.B. Akrigg in 1922 is based on these record books.