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

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

• Albion; #107716;
• Alsterburg; #156616 later Walkure; later Robert Dollar; later Pacific Gatherer; later Island Gatherer;
• A.T.&B. No.9; #150879 later G. of G. No. 74;
• Barracouta; #087185 later Granco;
• B.C. Boy; #131032;
• Bingamon; #152550;
• Chieftain; #094820;
• Celestial Empire; #106769 later Cape Scott;
• Comet; #112812 later Orotava; later James Dollar; later Pacific Forester; later Island Forest; later Crown Zellerbach No. 2;
• Coyle No. 1; #153010 later Pacific Coaster; later Canso Straits; later Sampson; later Ahab;
• Coyle No. 2; #158933;
• Coyle No. 3; #117115;
• Czar; #103907;
• Dauntless; #111599;
• Dreadful; #131148 later Rumania; later Pacific Monarch;
• Eagle; #121981 later Stetson;
• Earl; later #094906 ;
• Eliza A.; #150764 later Tex; later Harris No.6; later Pacific Yarder;
• Farquhar; #126205;
• Faultless; #122197;
• G.H. French; #152803 later Pacific Dawn;
• Hamlin; #107144;
• Harris No. 8; #172309 later Pacific Pilot;
• Imp; #122199 later Ellen McNeill; later Pacific Imp;
• Jessie Mac; #117115 later F.M.R.; later Coyle No. 3;
• John Davidson; #153335;
• USS Keosanqua; #179466 later Edward J. Coyle; later Commodore Straits;
• Koeye; #138522 later Escort No. 1; later Pacific Mate;
• Lorne; #094809;
• Lucienne; #150997 later Norshore;
• Mamie; #090807 later Shamrock;
• M.W.W. No. 1; #140911 later P.T.B. No. 1; later G. of G. No. 30;
• M.W.W. No. 2; #141303 later P.T.B. No. II;
• M.W.W. No. 4; #141435 later P.T.B. No. IV;
• M.W.W. No. V; #141549 P.T.B. No. V;
• M.W.W. No. VI; #141567 later P.T.B. No. VI; later A.L. No. XVI;
• M.W.W. No. VIII; #141787 later H.O. No. 11; later P.T.B. No. VIII; later G. of G. No. 8; later G.N. 4;
• Newington; #110697 later C.G.S. Newington; later H.M.C.S. Newington; later C.G.S. Newington; later Newington;
• Owen; #122396;
• Pacific Foam; #152533;
• Peerless; #111953;
• Pharron; #(UK) later Cape Scott;
• P.T.B. No. III; #141821 later G. of G. No. 49;
• Puako; #152746 later Drumwall;
• Queen City; #121980 later Queen; later Red Fir;
• Steel Head; #126078 later Achates;
• S.&G.T. Co.; #158933 later Coyle No. 2; later Nomad Chief; later Coyle No. 2;
• The McL; #126440;
• USATS TP–100; #193517 later Adak; later Pacific Chief; later Adak;
• USATS TP–123; #320295 later Santrina; later Pacific Master; later Haro Straits; later Haro;
• Wireless; #126783;

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. https://nauticapedia.nauticapedia.info/articles.php?article=102