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A team of salvage experts that included divers and even the Canadian Coast Guard rushed this week to the rescue of an iconic tugboat after the little vessel suddenly took on water and partially submerged at the Ontario Shipyard in Port Weller. Used to promote the maritime industry and water conservation, the little vessel won the hearts of Canadians as a replica of a famous TV storybook character.<\/p>\n
The tugboat named Theodore TOO<\/em> developed a loyal following so much so that Nova Scotia\u2019s premier weighed in on social media after the news of the vessel sinking. Built in 2000 in Nova Scotia, the 65-foot (20-meter) vessel is a replica of Theodore Tugboat the title character of an animated children\u2019s TV show that ran from 1993 to 2001. The show was aired by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States and appeared in more than 80 countries around the world.<\/p>\n The tugboat is iconic owing to its unique hull and wheelhouse which are made entirely of wood, with a fiberglass hat and smokestack. A replica of the character, it has a \u201cface\u201d on the wheelhouse, with large hydraulic eyes that however are no longer operational.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Theodore TOO back on an even keel on Friday\u00a0(Theodore TOO’s social media)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to alarm you, but I had a mishap yesterday and took on some water while floating alongside a dock in the Ontario Shipyard in Port Weller,\u201d they wrote on the official social media account of the tug on Wednesday. \u201cI am resting safely on my belly in the mud,\u201d they wrote, but a day later updated it to say, \u201cWow! After an eventful couple of days, I\u2019m so happy to let you know I\u2019m back afloat!\u201d<\/p>\n Blair McKeil, the owner of Theodore TOO<\/em> and head of the Canadian investment firm Breakwater Financial said that although the cause of the partial sinking has not been established, a team of salvors worked diligently and quickly to safely right the tugboat and refloat it with utmost care.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople across the country hold this little tugboat dear, and we will do everything possible to keep everyone informed of our progress. Rest assured, measures have been taken to mitigate any potential environmental impact,\u201d said McKeil.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/maritime-executive.com\/media\/images\/article\/Photos\/Vessels_Small\/Theodore-Too-bank-on-even-keel.jpg?ssl=1\")
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