Heritage

heritage

It started with a bedtime story that Andrew Cochran, the creator of Theodore Tugboat, told his son. A story about the boats in the big harbour and how they interacted with everyone. Later, these bedtime stories became the inspiration and basis for the original television series, Theodore Tugboat. Theodore became so popular, a life-size replica was built, naming him Theodore TOO.

Theodore TOO was built at Snyder’s Shipyard in Dayspring, Nova Scotia and launched on April 19th, 2000, while his official birthday (certificate day) is May 5th, 2000. After sea trials out of Lunenburg, the vessel made its first port call to Halifax on May 6th, 2000. The ocean-going boat made a 50-city tour down the eastern seaboard to Tampa Bay and back again through the Great Lakes to Chicago.

For most of its time touring the eastern seaboard and Great Lakes, Theodore TOO had a full-time three-person crew. Theodore TOO became the Ambassador of the U.S. National Safe Boating Council and mascot to the U.S. Coast Guard, participating in several tall ship events.

The New Journey

Theodore TOO was purchased from Cochran Entertainment by a Halifax tour boat company, Murphy’s on the Water. On July 16, 2020, Ambassatours announced plans to sell Theodore TOO.

In March 2021, Theodore TOO started a new a new career taking on a more active role as a champion for Canada’s marine industry to help build awareness of all the diverse and inclusive employment opportunities, on and off the water. Theodore TOO will travel the Great Lakes and elsewhere to promote the Maritime Industry on land and sea.