Foundation Franklin
Encyclopedia
The SS Foundation Franklin was a sea-going salvage tug
built for the Royal Navy
in 1918 but most famous for many daring salvage
operations and rescues while operated by Foundation Maritime between 1930-1949.
, Scotland
, in 1918. She was designed to move capital warships, and operate in rough weather.
The ship was commissioned in the spring of 1919, but the ending of World War I
ended the need for the HMS Frisky. She was used to tow warships to Scapa Flow
until being laid up. In 1924, the ship was sold and performed towing work on the Rhine River and in the Baltic Sea
. The Frisky was later purchased by a German project intending to tow barges across the Atlantic Ocean
to Argentina and renamed SS Gustavo Ipland, but the project was destined to fall through. The former HMS Frisky then was laid up until 1930.
The ship was purchased in January, 1930 at Hamburg, Germany by Foundation Maritime representative Captain James Sutherland at Hamburg, Germany. Brought to Southampton for further refit and inspection, she was registered under the Red Ensign
and given the name Foundation Franklin. Brought to Foundation Maritime headquarters in Montreal
, Canada
in 1931, the tug was further refitted by Halifax Shipyards for Atlantic salvage service.
After a few salvage jobs based along the Saint Lawrence River
, Foundation Franklin established a homeport at Halifax, Nova Scotia
for the rest of her career.
One of the most successful and hard-working vessels of her type, Foundation Franklin carried out many remarkable rescue and salvage exploits. She continued to operate in the salvage
role until 1948, when, during the tow of the vessel Arosa a hurricane damaged the ship beyond economical repair. Her many rescues and salvage triumphs were celebrated in Farley Mowat
's book The Grey Seas Under
.
Her bell, bearing her original Royal Navy name "Frisky", was saved from the scrapyard and used at the Foundation Wharf to summon crews to successor rescue tugs when vessels were in distress. The bell has continued to reside at offices beside the company's wharf through successive ownership changes. Today it is owned by Svitzer Canada Limited which continues to operate tugs from Franklin's old wharf. A plaque beside the wharf on the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
commemorates her many rescues. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
preserved Franklin's bridge and engine room clocks as well as several models and the tug's heavy salvage tackle. Foundation Franklin was the centrepiece of a special tug exhibit which opened at the Museum in 2009 displaying many pieces of her original equipment and her original bell on loan from Svitzer Canada.
Salvage tug
A salvage tug is a specialized type of tugboat which is used to rescue or marine salvage ships which are in distress or in danger of sinking, or which have already sunk or run aground....
built for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1918 but most famous for many daring salvage
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship...
operations and rescues while operated by Foundation Maritime between 1930-1949.
History
Foundation Franklin was built as HMS Frisky, a Racia type tug, by John Lewis and Sons Shipbuilding at AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1918. She was designed to move capital warships, and operate in rough weather.
The ship was commissioned in the spring of 1919, but the ending of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ended the need for the HMS Frisky. She was used to tow warships to Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
until being laid up. In 1924, the ship was sold and performed towing work on the Rhine River and in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. The Frisky was later purchased by a German project intending to tow barges across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to Argentina and renamed SS Gustavo Ipland, but the project was destined to fall through. The former HMS Frisky then was laid up until 1930.
The ship was purchased in January, 1930 at Hamburg, Germany by Foundation Maritime representative Captain James Sutherland at Hamburg, Germany. Brought to Southampton for further refit and inspection, she was registered under the Red Ensign
Red Ensign
The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such...
and given the name Foundation Franklin. Brought to Foundation Maritime headquarters in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1931, the tug was further refitted by Halifax Shipyards for Atlantic salvage service.
After a few salvage jobs based along the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
, Foundation Franklin established a homeport at Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
for the rest of her career.
One of the most successful and hard-working vessels of her type, Foundation Franklin carried out many remarkable rescue and salvage exploits. She continued to operate in the salvage
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship...
role until 1948, when, during the tow of the vessel Arosa a hurricane damaged the ship beyond economical repair. Her many rescues and salvage triumphs were celebrated in Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
's book The Grey Seas Under
The Grey Seas Under
The Grey Seas Under is a non-fiction book by well-known Canadian author Farley Mowat about the Atlantic Salvage Tug Foundation Franklin, operated by the firm Foundation Maritime in Canada's Maritime provinces from 1930 to 1948....
.
Her bell, bearing her original Royal Navy name "Frisky", was saved from the scrapyard and used at the Foundation Wharf to summon crews to successor rescue tugs when vessels were in distress. The bell has continued to reside at offices beside the company's wharf through successive ownership changes. Today it is owned by Svitzer Canada Limited which continues to operate tugs from Franklin's old wharf. A plaque beside the wharf on the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
Halifax Boardwalk
The Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk is located on the Halifax Harbour waterfront in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.The Halifax boardwalk is open to the public 24 hours a day...
commemorates her many rescues. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a Canadian maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection of over 30,000 artifacts...
preserved Franklin's bridge and engine room clocks as well as several models and the tug's heavy salvage tackle. Foundation Franklin was the centrepiece of a special tug exhibit which opened at the Museum in 2009 displaying many pieces of her original equipment and her original bell on loan from Svitzer Canada.
Masters of
Foundation Franklin- 1930 - Captain James Sutherland.
- 1930-1932 -unknown
- 1932 - Captain Lewis.
- 1932-1934 - Captain Reginald Featherstone (and others). Featherstone was Salvage Master
- 1934-1940 - Captain Irwin Power. (Power was later Master of Foundation Aranmore)
- 1940(temp.)- Captain Benjamin Pope
- 1940 - Captain John Pynn.
- 1940-1941 - Captain Cecil Ormiston.
- 1941-1947 - Captain Harry M. Brushett.
- 1947-1948 - Captain John Lahey.