Tough, practical and proven on the West Coast, McIlwain tug designs gain new reach through M3, backed by advanced engineering and the latest marine technology.
By Daniel McIntyre, P.Eng., Vice President, 3GA Marine Ltd.
On the British Columbia coast, a tug earns its reputation through years of hard work. Operators remember the vessels that handle well, pull reliably, remain stable under demanding conditions, and can be maintained without unnecessary complexity.
That practical understanding shaped the work of A.G. “Al” McIlwain and the tug designs that carry his name. McIlwain-designed vessels have served towing companies and marine operators across the West Coast for decades. They were developed around the realities of the work, the operating environment, and the people who would ultimately run them.
3GA Marine and Steve McIlwain’s Macmarine have established an exclusive collaboration to develop the M3 Series: M for McIlwain and 3 for 3GA. The series combines proven McIlwain designs with 3GA’s engineering capacity. 3GA will market, sell, and deliver the modernized design packages, with Steve McIlwain contributing to design development.
M3 covers river and barge-handling tugs, coastal towing vessels and ship-assist tugs, spanning a broad range of sizes and power requirements. Owners can contact 3GA to review suitable designs and discuss a new-build configuration.
A West Coast design legacy
Trident Shield provides a recent example of the McIlwain lineage. Built in 2022 by ABD Enterprises for Trident Navigation, the tug has registered dimensions of 19.74 metres in length and 8.24 metres in beam. Its machinery includes two 1,000 hp Cummins KTA38 engines driving Veth azimuthing units, with a Burrard Iron Works Model 14 towing winch.
The vessel is an existing McIlwain design, illustrating the heritage behind the collaboration. Future configurations will be developed for each owner’s operating requirements rather than treated as copies of one vessel.
Steve McIlwain of Macmarine will work alongside 3GA through the design iterations. His knowledge of why particular arrangements were chosen, how vessels have been used, and which features operators value will help preserve the original design intent.
That knowledge is especially important when adapting an established tug. Features that crews value can be retained and enhanced as the engineering develops, giving owners continuity with the vessels they know.
From proven design to yard pricing
Starting with an established design reduces initial design work and helps owners reach a credible construction budget sooner. It provides a basis for discussions with shipyards while leaving room to configure the tug for its intended work.
3GA will develop and deliver professionally engineered M3 design packages, with drawings and calculations stamped and sealed by the responsible professionals as required. Naval architecture and structural, mechanical and electrical engineering will be coordinated from concept through detailed design, with full production packages available to suit the selected shipyard.
Advanced design software, three-dimensional modelling and coordinated engineering will support efficient construction and competitive builds. Digital production information will help shipyards plan and execute the work, while a consistent technical package makes yard quotations easier to compare.
The scope will reflect the selected vessel, equipment and operating area. Owners can incorporate preferred machinery and working arrangements, with 3GA maintaining engineering continuity as the project moves toward construction.
Canadian and overseas construction
Owners can bring their preferred shipyard or work with 3GA to explore suitable builders in Canada and overseas. The firm can support the quotation process and help owners understand differences in price, equipment and scope.
With multiple vessel builds currently underway across Canada, 3GA brings experience supporting both builders and owners. That perspective helps connect the production information a yard needs with the technical oversight an owner requires during a new build.
3GA also has relationships with shipyards around the world and experience supporting international vessel construction. Its involvement can continue through construction, commissioning and trials, with the level of support tailored to the owner’s team and chosen yard.
Carrying the McIlwain name forward
The collaboration builds on a tug design family that has helped shape West Coast operations for decades. Steve McIlwain’s involvement preserves a direct connection to the vessels and their design intent. 3GA adds the multidisciplinary engineering capacity and digital packages expected by today’s owners and shipyards.
Through M3, owners can purchase a modernized McIlwain-derived design from 3GA, configured for the job and supported from initial development through construction in Canada or abroad.
Owners considering a replacement tug or fleet expansion can contact Daniel McIntyre, P.Eng., Vice President of 3GA Marine, to review M3 designs and discuss the engineering scope and path to shipyard pricing. An initial conversation can begin with the operating requirements; a completed vessel specification is not required.
For more information, visit 3gamarine.com.
