Tug St. Michael

Tug St. Michael Wreck, Malta

The St. Michael is a Canadian “TANAC” type tugboat, one of 265 built by the Central Bridge Co. in Trenton, Ontario for the British Ministry of War Transport. These small but powerful diesel tugs were deployed across the globe, including the Far East, Malta, Gibraltar, and African ports, to serve the Royal Navy and British Army. Powered by engines such as Fairbanks Morse and Vivian, they measured 19.5 meters in length with a beam of 4.91 meters and a draft of 2.35 meters when fully loaded.

During the Second World War, each TANAC tug sailed from Ontario to New York (via the Erie Canal) or to Chicago and down the Mississippi, before being shipped overseas. The St. Michael was scuttled together with Tug 10 on 16 May 1998 at Żonqor Point, Marsaskala, creating an artificial reef that is now a popular diving site.