Naval Marine Archive - The Canadian Collection
Library Catalogue Ships database Research Collections Bibliography About us Donate

Victoria Machinery Depot VMD, Victoria BC

VMD was originally known as Albion Iron Works, which opened for business in about 1882 as an engine & boiler builder: the name was changed to VMD in 1900.  VMD did not assign hull numbers until WWII, but then they started at #14, so they apparently took account of the 13 ships that they had previously built.  The original yard was in the Inner Harbour, but during WWI, VMD operated a yard on the Songhees Indian reservation, using the name Harbour Marine Company, and during WWII it operated a yard at Ogden Point, to build Forts and Parks, and continued there after the war.  When the company stopped building ships, in 1967, it sold the Ogden Point yard to the Canadian Coast Guard and continued at the Inner Harbour site as an industrial fabricator until the mid 1990s.  See the Ogden Point yard from the air on Google here. Comments or queries, please email info@navalmarinearchive.com.

Most recent update: 14 July 2021.

Hull # O.N. Original Name Original Owner Vessel Type GT Built Disposition
Built by Albion Iron Works
1   Princess Dept. of Public Works Tug   1888  
2   Vigilant Dept. of Public Works Tug 29 1890  
3   Joan Esquimalt & Nanaimo RR Passenger/Cargo 821 1892 Destroyed by fire 1920
4   Beaver Canadian Pacific Navigation Sternwheeler 545 1898  
    Archie T. E. Ward Yacht 4 1900  
Built by Victoria Machinery Depot
5   Georgia Dept. of Marine & Fisheries Tender 34 1900  
6   Mount Royal Hudsons Bay Company Sternwheeler 471 1902  
7   Beryl Royal Engineers Minefield Tender 26 1903  
8   Topaz Royal Engineers Minefield Tender 34 1903  
9   Petrel Dept. of Public Works Tug 134 1906  
10 122381 Transfer No.2 Canadian Pacific RR Railcar Barge 1,090 1907  
11   Inlander Prince Rupert, Skeena Tptn Sternwheeler 533 1910  
12   Kluhane Taylor & Drury Sternwheeler 14 1910  
13   Oil Transport No. 1 VMD Tank Barge 201 1913  
  133976 Trident No. 4         Closed
Built by Harbour Marine Company
1   Canadian Winner CGMM Cargo Ship 5,442 1920 Kosei Maru 1933, Banshu Maru No. 7 1942, torpedoed and lost 1943
2   Canadian Traveller CGMM Cargo Ship 5,455 1921 Procida 1932, Empire Volunteer 1940, torpedoed and lost 1940
3   Transfer No. 8 Canadian Pacific RR Barge 1,124 1921  
  194372 C.Z. 84-4 Crown Zellerbach Barge 534 1921 Now Crown Forest 84-4
Built by Victoria Machinery Depot
14 PV 59 Jasper/Kamloops (K 176) Royal Canadian Navy Corvette 940 1941 Scrapped 1945
15 PV 60 Quesnel (K 133) Royal Canadian Navy Corvette 940 1941 Scrapped 1945
16 PV 61 Dawson (K 104) Royal Canadian Navy Corvette 940 1941 Scrapped 1946
17 CN 124 New Westminister (K 228) Royal Canadian Navy Corvette 940 1942 Elisa 1950, Portoviejo 1952, Azua 1954
18 CN 125 Dundas (K 229) Royal Canadian Navy Corvette 940 1942 Scrapped 1945
19 na         1942 Possibly refit and conversion of HMCS Prince Henry
20   Fort Camosun Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,126 1942 Scrapped 1960
21   Fort Douglas Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,129 1942 Scrapped 1958
22   Fort Liard Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd Cargo Ship 7,131 1942 Scrapped 1958
23   Fort Hudson's Hope Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,129 1942 Vega 1948, Italvega 1950, Bellport 1966, scrapped 1972
24   Fort Tremblant Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,128 1942 Beatus 1947, Stanland 1955, scrapped 1963
25   Fort Walsh Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd Cargo Ship 7,126 1943 Monstella 1948, Tihi 1965, scrapped 1967
26   Fort Wrigley Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd Cargo Ship 7,120 1943 Pantrooper 1948, Royal William 1950, Appulo 1956, scrapped 1962
27   Fort Sturgeon Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd Cargo Ship 7,127 1943 East Hill 1950, Rio Alto 1957, Aktor 1964, foundered 1966
28   Yoho Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd Cargo Ship 7,129 1943 Fort Highfield 1944, Darfield 1950, wrecked and scrapped 1954
29   Mount Royal Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd. Tanker 7,246 1943 Adna 1946, Sterling Viking 1954, Alcyone Might 1956, Orjen 1957, scrapped 1968
30   Brentwood Bay Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd. Tanker 7,263 1943 Norse King 1946, Dodger 1951, Arosa 1953, Antonios D.S. 1956, Apj Ambar 1959, scrapped 1961
31   Clearwater Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd Tanker 7,261 1944 Norse Mountain 1946, Tioga Star 1951, Marinegra 1955, Lorenzo 1966, scrapped 1968
32   Cypress Hills Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd Tanker 7,262 1944 Halcyon II 1946, Gundine 1947, Sterling Venture 1954, Alcyone Angel 1956, Betaluna 1960, Varuna Duti 1968, scrapped 1971
33   Mount Maxwell Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd Tanker 7,256 1944 Mount Maxwell 1946, Buccaneer 1949, Plate Mariner 1959, Beatrice 1964, scrapped 1967
34   Salt Lake Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,166 1944 Wairuna 1946, Bonna 1960, scrapped 1969
35   Fort St Ignace/Hastings Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,165 1944 Lake Kamloops 1946, Lavadara 1950, Al Sayyada 1952, scrapped 1967
36   Fort Berens/Mission Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd. Cargo Ship 7,164 1944 Ottawa Valley 1947, Rog 1964, Mills Trident 1966, scrapped 1969
37   Montebello Park/Fort Langley Wartime Merchant Shg Ltd Stores Ship 7,285 1945 Scrapped 1970
38   Lakeside Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd Cargo Ship 7,149 1945 Lakeside 1946, Evgenia Mg. 1952, Theodora 1952, wrecked 1958
39   Seven Oaks Park Park Steamship Co. Ltd Cargo Ship 7,149 1945 Seaside 1946, Rubystar 1952, Lagos Huron 1956, foundered 1960
40   Ottawa Pasqua/Hai Han M O W T/China Cargo Ship 1,351 1946 Hsin Men 1950, deleted 1957
41   Ottawa Painter/Hai Tsin M O W T/China Cargo Ship 1,351 1946 Feng Yuen 1950, Hu Ming 1960, Folklight 1962, Great Eastern 1966, scrapped 1967
42   Ottawa Pandora/Hai Yu M O W T/China Cargo Ship 1,351 1946 Hai Ping 1946, Hua Lien 1950, Ta Chung 1964, Antares 1967, deleted 1981
43   Ottawa Parian/Chilkoot M O W T Cargo Ship 1,336 1947 Culiacan 1961, deleted 1971
44 190656 V.M.D.II VMD Barge 180 1946 Later Rivtow 6, now Fredbarber 4
45 France Borsai French Supply Council River Barge 535 1947  
46 France Cantenac French Supply Council River Barge 535 1947  
47-69 France   French Supply Council River Barges     Cancelled
47   Stewart White Pass & Yukon RR Barge 266 1948  
48 179634 Pelly White Pass & Yukon RR Barge 189 1948 Later Y.T.C. 105, now NT 550
49 156749 Teslin White Pass & Yukon RR Barge 195 1949 Later Y.T.C. 106, now NT 800
50 192065 McQuesten F. Mannix & Co. Cargo Ship 31 1949 Suspended
51   Carmacks F. Mannix & Co. Cargo Ship 31 1949  
52 192296 Lloyd-Jones BC Dept. of Public Works Ferry 277 1950 Later Vesuvius Queen, Eleupina 1998
53 na Comox (AMC 146) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 412 1954 To Turkey 1957 as Tirebolu, scrapped
54 193506 Black Bear Gulf of Georgia Towing Co. Tug 32 1950 Later Nanaimo Rebel, now Black Bear II
55 na Porte de la Reine (YMG/YNG 184) Royal Canadian Navy Gate Vessel 429 1952 Retired 1996, seized by Washington State in 2013, to be scrapped
56 327255 Fortune (AMC 151) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 412 1954 Sold 1969 as Greenpeace Two, now Edgewater Fortune
57   Campbell Dept. of Resources & Dvlpmt Ferry 46 1951  
58 na Terra Nova (DDE 259) Royal Canadian Navy Destroyer 2,366 1959 Laid up at CFB Halifax
59 na Miramichi (AMC 163) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 412 1957 Active
60   YSW 200 Royal Canadian Navy Lighter 112 1957 Later ferry S.S. Beaver
61 na Arctic Tern (PCS 784) Royal Canadian Navy Patrol Boat 66   Cancelled
62 na Herring Gull (PCS 785) Royal Canadian Navy Patrol Boat 66   Cancelled
63 na Kingfisher (PCS 786) Royal Canadian Navy Patrol Boat 66   Cancelled
64 na Sandpiper (PCS 787) Royal Canadian Navy Patrol Boat 66   Cancelled
65 197664 Barker Pontoon No. 1 B.C. Forest Products Barge 177 1954  
66 197845 Island Tug 45 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd.  Barge 468 1954 Now Seaspan 120
67 197862 Bridge Project # 152 B.C. Dept. of Highways Drydock   848 1954 Now B. P. 152
68 197853 Island Tug 46 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 502 1955 Now Seaspan 121
69 197854 Island Tug 47 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 502 1955 Later Bendickson No. 2, now FOH No. 1
70 na Unnamed Greater Victoria Water Board Float   1955  
71 331844 Arrow Park Ferry B.C. Dept of Highways Ferry Barge 120 1955 Now Arrowpark
72 198917 Yorke No. 10 F. M. Yorke & Sons Barge 257 1955  
73 197869 Island Tug 48 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 532 1955 Later Seaspan 302, now Nootka Sound
74 198826 Island Tug 49 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 532 1955 Later Seaspan 125, now Colleen Z
75 198987 Cloverleaf Barge B.C. Packers Ltd. Barge 1,060 1955 Now Kemano IV
76   550 B.C. Forest Products Workboat   1955 Closed
77   Marjory H. II Yellowknife Transportation Co. Tug 60 1956  
78 188348 Y.T.C. No. 107 Yellowknife Transportation Co Barge 293 1956 Now NT 650
79 198842 Mill Bay Coast Ferries Ltd., Victoria Ferry 175 1956 Now Buttle Shuttle
80 189297 Y.T.C. No. 108 Yellowknife Transportation Co Barge 461 1957 Now NT 750
81 na Unnamed Dept. of Transport Landing Craft   1957  
82 na Unnamed Dept. of Transport Landing Craft   1957  
83 311252 Essington II Dept. of Public Works Snagboat 451 1958 Active
84 311166 Arctic No. 1 Arctic Shipping Ltd. Barge 798 1958 Now A. S. No. 1
85 312273 Sidney B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 2,976 1960 Queen of Sidney 1963, now Bad Adventure
86 312077 Arctic No. 2 Arctic Shipping Ltd. Barge 798 1959 Now A. S. No. 2
87 na Saskatchewan (DDE 262) Royal Canadian Navy Destroyer 2,366 1963 Reefed off B.C. 1997
88 312285 Nitinat No. 1 Moore-Whittington Barge 30 1960 Active
89 804391 D.P.W. No. 264 Dept. of Public Works Barge 89 1960 Now B264
90 313996 Island Tug 70 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 631 1960 Later Seaspan 342, MBM 18, now Ralmax 1
91 313998 Island Tug 71 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 631 1960 Now Seaspan 343
92 314000 Island Tug 72 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 631 1960 Later S N 8, now ITB 8
93 314001 Island Tug 73 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 631 1960 Now Amix IV
94 314040 Queen of Victoria B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 3,541 1962 Queen of Ocoa 2000, Aan 2005, scrapped 2006
95 314837 Jacques Cartier B.C. Deeks-McBride Company Tug 70 1962 Now Westco Pioneer
96 314847 Crown Zellerbach Loader #2 Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd. Barge 267 1962 Now Pacific Fibre Barge No. 1
97   Westport Straits Marcus Barge Company Barge 1,527 1962 Sank 1968
98   Hunter Point Dept. of Fisheries Patrol 1,392 1963  
99 318669 Queen of Saanich B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 3,547 1963 Owen Belle 2008, scrapped 2012
100 318673 Queen of Esquimalt B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 3,547 1963 Princess Jacqueline 2008, scrapped 2011
101   Queen of Alaska Alaska Cruise Lines Passenger 3,000 1963  
102 318676 Island Tug 82 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd. Barge 720 1963 Later P.R.B. No. 1, closed 2004
103 320033 Island Tug 83 Island Tug & Barge Co. Ltd Barge 720 1963 Now Seaspan 372
  320051 500 B.C. Forest Products       Suspended 2008
104 320068 Queen of Nanaimo B C Ferry Authority Ferry 3,545 1964 Active
105 322953 Queen of New Westminster B C Ferry Authority Ferry 3,544 1964 Active
106 320041 Undersea Garden Saltaire Products Barge 280 1963 Active
107 322969 Comox Queen B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 651 1965 Now Tenaka
108 322410 Straits No. 107 Straits Marine Ltd. Barge 790 1964 Active
109 322419 Straits No. 108 Straits Marine Ltd. Barge 790 1964 Now Gypsy Mechanic
110 320033 Island Tug 84 Island Tug & Barge Ltd. Barge 720 1964 Now Seaspan 373
111 322943 Island Tug 85 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 720 1964 Now Seaspan 374
112 322950 Island Tug 86 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 720 1964 Later Seaspan 375, now Miller 502
113 322952 Island Tug 87 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 720 1964 Later Seaspan 376, now Calypso 11
114 322954 Island Tug 88 Island Tug & Barge Ltd  Barge 720 1964 Now Seaspan 377
115 322957 Island Tug 110 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1964 Now Seaspan 430
116 322959 Island Tug 111 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1964 Now Seaspan 431
117 322962 Island Tug 112 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1964 Later Seaspan 432, now VPD 432
118 320346 Evco No. 2 Ocean Cement Ltd. Barge 1,110 1964 Active
119 323243 Straits No. 109 Straits Towing Barge 790 1964 Now WCT 109
120 323232 Straits No. 150 Straits Towing Barge 790 1965 Active
121 na   Straits Towing Barge 790   Cancelled
122 na   Straits Towing Barge 790   Cancelled
123 322960 Island Tug 106 Island Tug & Barge Ltd. Barge 1,336 1964 Now Seaspan 902
  322971 Susie III         Suspended
124 323870 Queen of Prince Rupert B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 5,864 1966 Victoria Princess 1980, now Queen of Prince Rupert 1980
125 322978 Queen of Burnaby B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 3,542 1965 Royal Victorian 1994, Princess Marguerite III 1997, Queen of Burnaby 2000
126 320351 Evco No. 14 Ocean Cement Ltd Barge 1,581 1965 Active
127 323251 Straits No. 151 Straits Towing Barge 790 1965 Active
128 323330 Plymouth Lafarge Cement Company Barge 1,926 1965 Suspended
129 323841 Powell River Queen B.C. Ferry Authority Ferry 1,125 1965 Active
130 323848 Mayne Queen B C Ferry Authority Ferry 1,125 1965 Active
131 323854 Bowen Queen B C Ferry Authority Ferry 1,125 1965 Active
132 323296 Rivtow 104 Rivtow Marine Ltd Barge 823 1965 Active
133 323834 Island Tug 113 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1965 Now Seaspan 433
134 323839 Island Tug 114 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1965 Now Seaspan 434
135 323843 Island Tug 115 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1965 Later Seaspan 435, now VPD 435
136 Liberia Sedco 135-F Sedco Inc. Drill Rig 8,676 1967 Now a water facility in Brazil
137 325657 Straits No. 152 Straits Towing Ltd Barge 790 1965 Later Pacific Western No. 1, now Ledcor No. 1
138 325670 Straits No. 153 Straits Towing Ltd Barge 790 1965 Active
139 325682 Straits No. 154 Straits Towing Ltd Barge 790 1965 Later Catherwood Transporter No. 4, now More Chips No. 1
140 323855 V.M.D. 140 VMD Co. Barge 791 1965 Later G. of G. 470, now Seaspan 164
141 323856 V.M.D. 141 VMD Co. Barge 794 1965 Later Seaspan 420, now FRPD 6
142 323857 V.M.D. 142 VMD Co. Barge 794 1966 Later G. of G. 392, now Seaspan 421
143 323859 Island Tug 89 McAllister Towing Co. Ltd Barge 721 1966 Now Seaspan 378
144 323862 Island Tug 90 McAllister Towing Co. Ltd Barge 721 1966 Now Seaspan 379
145 328327 Doris Yorke F M Yorke & Sons Ltd.    Ferry 2,612 1968 Now Seaspan Doris 1974
146 327936 Rivtow 51 Harken Towing Co. Barge 577 1967 Active
147 327937 Rivtow 52 Harken Towing Co. Barge 577 1967 Now Odyssey 102
148 327938 Rivtow 53 Harken Towing Co. Barge 577 1967 Active
149 328282 Island Tug 122 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1967 Now Seaspan 442
150 328291 Island Tug 123 Island Tug & Barge Ltd Barge 823 1967 Now Seaspan 443
151   Unnamed Greater Victoria Water Board Float   1967  

 

These shipbuilding pages are part of an ongoing project; new material and data is added regularly.

Back to Shipbuilding History main page.

 



Naval Marine ArchiveThe Canadian Collection
205 Main Street, Picton, Ontario, K0K2T0, Canada
Telephone: 1 613 476 1177
E-mail: for comments, queries and suggestions.



Copyright © 2024
Naval Marine Archive
The Canadian Collection

Revised: 1 March 2023