SAAM Towage Canada completed a historic maneuver in the snow under the command of an all-female crew in Stewart British Columbia, a community very close to Alaska.
The operation involved a three-day voyage from Prince Rupert to Stewart aboard the Apache tug by Captain Hailey McIntyre, the company’s female Master Chief, Deckhand Ocean Rutherford and Trainee Sarah Clarke.
SAAM Towage Canada’s Director of Operations, Brook Walker, stressed that maneuvering in the snow “requires additional care and attention to multiple operational risks.” Visibility is reduced, light reflection is more intense, and the snow covers the decks. Additionally, surfaces become slippery when it melts, and the low temperatures make the machinery more fragile and difficult to operate.
Walker noted, “We are proud to be an inclusive and gender-diverse employer in the maritime industry.” He believes this milestone “shows how SAAM Towage lives its values: Safety, Service, Responsibility, Compliance and Honesty.”
