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No Cost Yet For James Whalen Tug Work

There may be some light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to pulling the James Whalen Tug out of the Kaministiquia River.

The 117-year-old vessel has been sitting at the bottom of the waterway since sinking on Sunday, May 1st.

“We are getting some underwater inspections completed this week to inform the procurement required to float and move the tug,” said Manager of Parks and Open Spaces Cory Halvorsen, in an email to Acadia News Monday. “I have heard various costs referenced from different sources, but until we go out for procurement we won’t know exactly what the cost will be.”

Halvorsen is hoping to move forward with procurement over the next week or so.

Halvorsen released a statement to the council on Monday, May 2nd, which detailed the history surrounding the tug, including installing a submersible pump to manage potential leaks/infiltration.

Site observations just hours before the sinking reported the boat appeared to be upright and not out of position.

  • Originally from southern Ontario, Jason found his way here and fell in love with the community and music scene of Thunder Bay over twenty years ago. In between various stints on radio, television and writing, Jason is a dad, a partner and (some would consider) a zoo keeper (seriously, he has a LOT of pets).

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9:21 am, Jun 10, 2026
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