This vessel has an interesting history, and I've posted it for all our Canadian friends to see what McCleary's Spirit looked like before her conversion in 2001.

Built 1970 as the barge Nieuwport, she was renamed Seacat in 1978. In 1984 she was renamed Gato da Mar and converted to a floating fish farm at SIREN Shipyard, Le Havre. She arrived Falmouth, 26:03:1997 and was laid up at Tolverne, nr. Lamouth Creek, where the present photograph was taken.

In 1999 she was renamed Le Vent and on 15:09:1999 moved to County Wharf and thence to Dry Dock #2 Falmouth on 03:10:1999. On 06:10:1999 she left Falmouth under tow of the tug Ocean Wrestler, and arrived Canada, 15:11:1999

There she underwent a $15m conversion to a 6,554 gt tank barge and in 2001 emerged as McCleary's Spirit operated by McKeil Marine Ltd.

photo : 02:01:1998