A List of Vessels Owned by Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC

by John M. MacFarlane 2017

Coyle Navigation

The Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd. fleet (Photo from the Brendan Coyle collection.)

Coyle No. 3

The Coyle No. 3 (Photo from the Nauticapedia collection.)

The origin of this firm goes back to 1905 when James Greer (Canadian Pacific freight department) and E.J. Coyle (Canadian Pacific passenger department) joined forces to start a towing company. They purchased the Queen City, Stetson, Owen, Albion, and Achates and went into business first as Greer & Coyle Towing ltd. and then as Coyle Towing Co. Ltd. (also popularly known as the "Red Band" fleet).

The Coyle Towing Co. Ltd. was located at 905 Dominion Building, Vancouver BC. General towing. In May 1926 the British Pacific Barge Co. merged (along with British Pacific Log Transport Co.) with Hecate Straits Towing Co. Ltd., Pacific Tug & Barge Ltd. and Coyle Towing Co. Ltd. to become Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd.

In May 1926 the British Pacific Barge Co. merged (along with British Pacific Log Transport Co.) with Hecate Straits Towing Co. Ltd., Pacific Tug & Barge Ltd. and Coyle Towing Co. Ltd. to become Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd.

Late in 1956 the Pacific Salvage Ltd. merged with Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. to become Pacific Salvage & Towing Ltd. This company was was in turn owned by Straits Towing Ltd. J. Douglas Coyle was named as Executive Vice–President and General Manager of Pacific Salvage & Towing Ltd. with a combined fleet of 18 tugs and two salvage derricks.

Edward J. Coyle, was born about 1870, and was a pioneer tugboat owner and CPR railway man. He was the President of Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. He served as the President of the British Columbia Towboat Owners’ Association in 1926–1927. He died at Vancouver BC in November 1949.

J. Douglas Coyle operated the Coyle Tugboat Co. c1940. He served as the President of the British Columbia Towboat Owners’ Association. In 1956 he was a Director of B.C. Marine Engineers & Shipbuilders Ltd. (B.C. Marine Ways).

Vessels Owned by the Coyle Family



To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John M. (2017) A List of Vessels Owned by Pacific (Coyle) Navigation Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC Nauticapedia.ca 2017. http://nauticapedia.ca/Articles/Fleets_Coyle.php

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