Ship Details
H.C. 96 Photo Credit: John M. MacFarlane

 

Registry #1	170970 (Canada)	Registry #2	HC.96 (RCN)	Registry #3
IMO#		MMSI#		VRN#

 

Name 1	1938	Saravan	Name 6
Name 2	1940	H.C. 96	Name 7
Name 3	1945	Saravan	Name 8
Name 4			Name 9
Name 5			Name 10

 

Year Built	1938	Place	Vancouver	Area	BC	Country	Canada

 

Designer	(nk)	Measurement (imp)	35.0' x 30.0' x 4.4'
Builder	Stanley Park Shipyards Ltd.	Measurement (metric)	9.24m x 3.14m x 1.34m
Hull	Wood	Displacement
Gross Tonnage	7.07	Type 1	Tug, harbour
Registered Tonnage	4.81	Type 2	Work boat
Engine	105bhp 6-cylinder diesel engine (1938)	Engine Manufacture	Vivian Engine Works, Vancouver BC
Repower	Repowered with a 106bhp 4-cylinder engine by General Motors Corp. Detroit MI (1951);	Propulsion	Screw
Rebuilds	In 1991 she was totally rebuilt.	Call Sign
Pendant  #	HC.96	Masters

 

Owner(s)

In 1938-1940 she was owned by William F. Nelson, Vancouver BC Canada. In 1940 she was owned by Harry Van Froome, Victoria BC Canada. In 1940-1942 she was owned by the Royal Canadian Navy as a harbour auxiliary (HC-96) and as a boom defence tug and was stationed at H.M.C.S. Naden (III) in Comox BC Canada. In 1946 she was owned by War Assets and Disposal Corp., Ottawa for disposal. In 1946-1958 she was owned by George D. Hemmingsen and Hamilton Baillie, Chemainus BC Canada. In 1958-1972 she was owned by Chemainus Towing Co. Ltd., Chemainus BC Canada. In 1972 she was owned by Ladysmith Log Sorting Co. Ltd., Chemainus BC Canada. In 1979-1985 she was owned by John D. Melan, Port Hardy BC Canada. In 1985 she was donated to the Ladysmith Tall Ships Society, Ladysmith BC Canada. In 1991-2024 she was owned by Ladysmith Maritime Society, Ladysmith BC Canada.

 

Fate	Afloat in 2024	Date	0000-00-00

 

Named Features
Significance of Name	The vessel was named for the wife (Sarah nelson) of the original owner. The Initials "H.C." stood for Harbour Craft.

 

Anecdotes
In 1938 this vessel was in service as a harbour tug in Victoria harbour. Carvel-built fir hull on oak frames, straight stem, round stern. In 1991 this vessel was rebuilt by the Ladysmith Maritime Society, Ladysmith BC. In 1991 this vessel was designated as a British Columbia Vintage Vessel by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.

 

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Freeman, David J. (2000); MacFarlane, John M. (1993); Photo Courtesy of Nauticapedia Collection; Email (Bryon Taylor-Nauticapedia 2017); LAC RG24 Volume 5844 File 8000-401/96 General Information - Harbour Craft 96; DHH 8000 Series Box 173 File 045 H.C. 96 - Naval messages, correspondence, information sheets and photographs;
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