Port Colborne in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Steam Tug Yvon Dupré Jr.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 21, 2025

1. Steam Tug Yvon Dupré Jr. - Marker

Inscription.

Steam Tug Yvon Dupré Jr.. . The wheelhouse of the steam tug Yvon Dupré Jr. arrived at the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum in July 1974. The generous donation of Mr. Richard E. Dwor of Marine Salvage Co. Ltd., the wheelhouse was transported from Marine Salvage's slip at Ramey's Bend by flatbed truck. At the museum, a crane placed the wheelhouse on a specially designed concrete pad where it now rests. Built in 1946 by Marine Industries Ltd. of Sorel, Quebec, the Yvon Dupré Jr. was the second tug to bear this name. , In 1918 a wooden hull steam tug was built at Sorel for Sincennes-McNaughton Lines Ltd. Christened Macsino, it measured 74 feet in length, 22 feet 6 inches at the beam and 10 feet in depth. Its engines, made at Sorel Mechanical Shop were two-cylinder compound steam producing 54 horsepower. The Macsino was registered in Montreal. In 1922, Sincennes-McNaughton changed the Macsino's name to Yvon Dupre Jr. , In 1946, a steel hull tug built for Sincennes-McNaughton Lines Ltd. was launched at Marine Industries Ltd. in Sorel. The engines from the old wooden hull Yvon Dupré Jr. (1918) were removed and overhauled at Sincennes-McNaughton's shop. They were then refitted in the new steel hull. The new vessel was christened Yvon Dupré Jr. (1946). The new Yvon Dupré Jr. measured 90 feet 6 inches in overall length, 25 feet at the beam and 12 feet 3 inches depth in the hold. , Sincennes-McNaughton sold its towing rights and fleet of tugs to McAllister Towing Ltd. in 1959. The Yvon Dupre Jr. was included in the sale. For some thirteen years the Yvon Dupré Jr. was a workhorse for McAllister Towing Ltd. The tug primarily served her owners in the Montreal area seldom venturing into the lakes. By 1972, the Dupré's 54-year-old steam engines made a relatively new tug obsolete, and it was sold to Marine Salvage Ltd. of Port Colborne. However, the tug's new owners delayed scrapping the vessel, hoping that a purchaser would be interested in the steel hull. A new engine installed in the Yvon Dupré Jr. would have given it a new lease on life. The tug was never sold again. It lay idle at Ramey's Bend until 1974 when it was finally scrapped. The wheelhouse was saved and moved to its present location.

The wheelhouse of the steam tug Yvon Dupré Jr. arrived at the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum in July 1974. The generous donation of Mr. Richard E. Dwor of Marine Salvage Co. Ltd., the wheelhouse was transported from Marine Salvage's slip at Ramey's Bend by flatbed truck. At the museum, a crane placed the wheelhouse on a specially designed concrete pad where it now rests. Built in 1946 by Marine Industries Ltd. of Sorel, Quebec, the Yvon Dupré Jr. was the second tug to bear this name.

In 1918 a wooden hull steam tug was built at Sorel for Sincennes-McNaughton Lines Ltd. Christened Macsino, it measured 74 feet in length, 22 feet 6 inches at the beam and 10 feet in depth. Its engines, made at Sorel Mechanical Shop were two-cylinder compound steam producing 54 horsepower. The Macsino was registered in Montreal. In 1922, Sincennes-McNaughton changed the Macsino's name to Yvon Dupre Jr.

In 1946, a steel hull tug built for Sincennes-McNaughton Lines Ltd. was launched at Marine Industries Ltd. in Sorel. The engines from the old wooden hull Yvon Dupré Jr. (1918) were removed and overhauled at Sincennes-McNaughton's shop. They were then refitted in the new steel hull. The new vessel was christened Yvon Dupré Jr. (1946). The new Yvon Dupré Jr. measured 90 feet 6 inches in overall length, 25 feet at the beam and 12 feet 3 inches depth in the hold.

Sincennes-McNaughton sold its towing rights and fleet of tugs to McAllister Towing Ltd. in 1959. The Yvon Dupre Jr. was included in the sale. For some thirteen years the Yvon Dupré Jr. was a workhorse for McAllister Towing Ltd. The tug primarily served her owners in the Montreal area seldom venturing into the lakes. By 1972, the Dupré's 54-year-old steam engines made a relatively new tug obsolete, and it was sold to Marine

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Salvage Ltd. of Port Colborne. However, the tug's new owners delayed scrapping the vessel, hoping that a purchaser would be interested in the steel hull. A new engine installed in the Yvon Dupré Jr. would have given it a new lease on life. The tug was never sold again. It lay idle at Ramey's Bend until 1974 when it was finally scrapped. The wheelhouse was saved and moved to its present location.

Erected by Port Colborne Historical Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 42° 53.258′ N, 79° 15.103′ W. Marker is in Port Colborne, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It can be reached from the intersection of King Street and Princess Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is on the wall inside the tugboat bridge, outdoors at the Port Colborne Historical Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 280 King Street, Port Colborne ON L3K 4H2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central

Steam Tug Yvon Dupré Jr. - Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 21, 2025

2. Steam Tug Yvon Dupré Jr. - Marker in context

Photo faces north and north-west. The marker is within the red tugboat bridge.

Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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: Hand operated winch from 2nd Welland Canal Lock Gate (here, next to this marker); Anchor from the Raleigh (a few steps from this marker); SS Hochelaga Lifeboat 1949 (a few steps from this marker); Earth Scraper Used On Construction of Welland Canal (a few steps from this marker); Port Colborne and the Niagara St. Catharines and Toronto Railway (NS&T) (within shouting distance of this marker); Ingleside c. 1867 (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Founding of Port Colborne (about 150 meters away); King George Memorial Park War Memorial (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Colborne.

Regarding Steam Tug Yvon Dupré Jr.. The ship scrapyard business in Port Colborne has provided lots of gently used ship artefacts - anchors,

Steam Tug bridge - facing astern image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 21, 2025

3. Steam Tug bridge - facing astern

Big sitting bench, info on communications protocols. The metal box controlled running lights.

propellers and such - at museums and parks all over Niagara.

Steam Tug bridge - port quarter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 21, 2025

4. Steam Tug bridge - port quarter

No climbing on the ladders up to the roof.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.