Vancouver company partly responsible for freeing massive freight blocking Suez Canal

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The ship that blocked one of the globe’s most important shipping routes has been moved, thanks in part to a Vancouver tugboat design company.

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Six of the tugboats used to push the MV Ever Given free on Monday, were made by Robert Allan Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

CEO, Mike Fitzpatrick says the business has been building tugboats in the Lower Mainland for over 91 years.

“We’re just a little firm doing what we do.”

Fitzpatrick says the company had been family-owned in Vancouver for three generations, before becoming owned by management.

“Really we have become widely known around the world as the leading designer of tugboats.”

Now, he hopes the international attention will mean the Suez Canal will use more of the company’s tugboats.