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Kim | profile | all galleries >> Canada - Underwater >> Nova Scotia >> Keta V tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Keta V

Here is an example of a relatively modern shipwreck. The Keta V was a tug with 7 persons on board when she ran aground off Liverpool, N.S. in September of 2000. The crew tried to save the vessel; however, she was too badly damaged and sank onto her starboard side.

Fortunately, there were no injuries and everyone was picked up by the Coast Guard Ship Hudson. A salvage team was immediately engaged by the owner to remove the fuel and subsequently raise the vessel. Unfortunately, their best efforts were to no avail. The combination of ever increasing damage to the tugs' structures and weather systems added another wreck to the Nova Scotia coast.

Mike Grebler's underwater photos were taken in June 2001, 9 months after the original grounding. The amount of growth which had attached itself to the wreck during that time was surprising.
The anchor windlass on the foredeck of the Keta V as seen from the bridge (Environment Canada photo).
The anchor windlass on the foredeck of the Keta V as seen from the bridge (Environment Canada photo).		 Salvors came tantalizingly close in their efforts to salvage the Keta V (Environment Canada photo).
Salvors came tantalizingly close in their efforts to salvage the Keta V (Environment Canada photo).		 A small boat from the salvor and the lifeboat from the Keta V can be seen above the wreck (Canadian Coast Guard Photo)
A small boat from the salvor and the lifeboat from the Keta V can be seen above the wreck (Canadian Coast Guard Photo)		 The stern of the Keta V showing her name. Her port of registry Quebec is barely visible
The stern of the Keta V showing her name. Her port of registry "Quebec" is barely visible
A diver moves along the starboard side of where the engine room used to be.
A diver moves along the starboard side of where the engine room used to be.		 The anchor windlass on the foredeck of the Keta V
The anchor windlass on the foredeck of the Keta V		 Port propeller of the Keta V, note the damage to the tips of the prop.
Port propeller of the Keta V, note the damage to the tips of the prop.

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Larry Arsenault 19-Nov-2006 16:35
This tug was formerly known as the Kelligrews.I have many fond memories of sailing on her in the 70's when she was owned by Public Works Canada and used for towing dredges in Newfoundland, NS,& PEI.I worked as Oiler & acting Second Engineer .I remember once coming from St. John's NFLD to Charlottetown PEI in a storm the wind was 85 mph it made you feel like you were on a toothpick in those huge seas but I never lost faith in the seaworthiness of the tug .She would roll over so much that the fuel in the day tank would run out the overflow back down into the double bottoms and about every 20 minutes the low fuel alarm would be sounding and we would have to pump up more fuel as well as changing fuel filters because any dirt that was in the tanks was being stirred up clogging the filters.
The captain that was in command when she hit the rocks should have toughed it out and kept going rather than attempt to enter an unfamiliar harbour.
PS I have a few pictures of this tug when it was The Kelligrews
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