Ville-Marie in Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
Le remorqueur Daniel McAllister
Vieux-Port
⎯⎯⎯
The Tugboat Daniel McAllister
Old Port
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024
1. Le remorqueur / the Tugboat Daniel McAllister Marker
Un siècle d'existence
Le Daniel McAllister est le plus gros remorqueur conservé au Canada, ainsi que le deuxième plus ancien remorqueur de mer conservé dans le monde. Il a été reconnu comme étant d'intérêt exceptionnel par la Commission canadienne d'examen des exportations de biens culturels.
Au fil des années, en plus de changer de lieu de travail, le Daniel McAllister a changé de nom et a subi plusieurs transformations. Lancé en 1907 sous le nom de Helena, il a entamé sa carrière sur la côte atlantique. Dans les années 1940, alors qu'il œuvrait sur les Grands Lacs, on a remplacé sa machine à vapeur par un moteur diesel pour le rendre encore plus puissant.
En 1956, il est rebaptisé Helen M.B. à la suite d'importants travaux de modernisation. C'est à Montréal, dans les années 1960, que la McAllister Towing Limited lui a donné le nom de Daniel McAllister, d'après un des membres de cette importante famille
this page online
Pendant Expo 67, le Daniel McAllister guide les grands paquebots du Canadien Pacifique: l'Empress of Canada et l'Empress of England. Il cesse ses activités dans les années 1980.
Un partenariat important
Lorsque le Groupe Océan a acheté la compagnie McAllister Towing Limited de Montréal en 1997, le Daniel McAllister a été acquis par le Musée maritime du Québec. Pour assurer la conservation du navire, le Musée maritime du Québec s'est associé à la Société du Vieux-Port de Montréal. En 2008, la Société du Vieux-Port de Montréal est devenue propriétaire du navire.
A century and counting
The Daniel McAllister is the largest preserved tug in Canada and the second-oldest preserved oceangoing tug in the world. The Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board has recognized her as being of exceptional importance.
Over the years, the Daniel McAllister has undergone several transformations, changing workplaces and names several times. Originally launched as
Port De Montréal, Archives, APM-0607
2. Marker detail: Tugboats at dock, circa 1925
Remorqueurs à quai vers 1925.
After a major refit in 1956, she was renamed Helen M.B. Later, in the 1960s in Montreal, McAllister Towing Limited named her Daniel McAllister, after a member of this important family of ship owners.
During Expo 67, the Daniel McAllister guided Canadian Pacific's great liners: the Empress of Canada and the Empress of England. She finally retired from service in the 1980's.
An important partnership
When the Ocean Group purchased Montreal's McAllister Towing Limited in 1997, the Daniel McAllister was acquired by the Musee maritime du Quebec, which partnered with the Old Port of Montreal Corporation to ensure the ship's preservation. The Old Port of Montreal Corporation acquired the ship in 2008.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.
Location. 45° 29.878′ N, 73° 33.142′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec. It is in Ville-Marie. It can be reached from
Port De Montréal, Archives, APM-3167
3. Marker detail: Tugboat towing a ship, 1917
Un remorquer tirant un navier, 1917.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Le Canal de Lachine / The Lachine Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); Un Monde de Silos / A World of Elevators (within shouting distance of this marker); Place du Génie (within shouting distance of this marker); Le site des écluses nos 1 et 2 / The site of locks 1 and 2 (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Un petit monde en soi / A World Unto Itself
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024
4. Le remorqueur / the Tugboat Daniel McAllister Marker
The marker is located on the dock, beside the tugboat.
Also see . . .
1. The Daniel McAllister 1907 (Tugboat Information.com).
Excerpt: Built in 1907, by Collingwood Shipyards Limited of Collingwood, Ontario (hull #12) as the Helena for the Public Works Department of Canada. In 1946, the tug was acquired by Fred H. Ellis of Hamilton, Ontario. Where she retained her name. In 1966, Fred H. Ellis renamed the tug as the Helen M.B. In 1967, the tug was acquired by McAllister Towing Limited of Montreal of Montreal, Quebec, and she was renamed as the Daniel McAllister.(Submitted on March 31, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)The tug is now a museum piece resting on a concrete cradle (visible when the intermediate pool is drained).
2. An old tugboat in The Old Port of Montreal (Youtube). This is the Daniel McAllister, the oldest
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024
5. Le remorqueur / the Tugboat Daniel McAllister
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 21, 2024
6. Le remorqueur / the Tugboat Daniel McAllister
Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 31, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
