Irving Birch

In 1980 this vessel made a partial transit of the Northwest Passage. This vessel was the largest Canadian commercial vessel to penetrate as far as Rae Point, Melville Island into the Passage from the East. This vessel traveled in the company of the CCGS Pierre Radisson and the Irving Arctic.

In 2016 this vessel was tied up at Saint John NB for dismantling.

In 2017 this vessel was broken up at Saint John NB. A 2016 article in The Nauticapedia article by George Duddy - “Arctic Barges L.A. Learmonth, Scotty Gall and Johnny Norberg - An Unusual Tribute to the Fur Trade” - relates the story of ice strengthened tug Irving Birch’s 1968 and 1969 voyages to Rea Point on Melville Island for Panarctic Oils. The 1968 voyage was a success with the Scotty Gall left grounded on the beach to serve as fuel supply for drilling operations. The tug and the L.A. Learmonth returned to the east coast after testing the Learmonth’s unique Alexbow ice breaking bow. An attempted repeat voyage with the tug, the Learmont and a new tanker barge The Johnny Norberg was a disaster as both barges were sunk after being crushed in a ice flow while approaching Rea Point. Although the Johnny Norberg was probably registered, no record appears in government published records. This is probably related to the fact this vessel was lost in the year of her construction. This vessel is no longer registered in Canada."