Early development of what is now Tidewater Canada can be traced back to 1958 with cable-laying operations in the B.C.'s Gulf Islands under the direction of Captain Fred Lewis.

After Peter Shields purchased the business assets of Coal Island Ltd. from his father-in-law Captain Lewis in 1962, he renamed it Shields Navigation Ltd. in 1965 and in 1970 merged with Vancouver Tug Boat Co. Island Tug and Barge Ltd Seaspan International Ltd. is formed. 

During the late 1970s, oil businesses sought to increase control of their transportation requirements, with several companies construction their own oil tankers to be managed by third parties such as Shields Navigation. During this time, Shields built and acquired barges, deck barges, and a log barge.

By 1990, Shields Navigation was transporting a sizeable amount of the materials on the West Coast. Soon Shields created a new company, Island Tug and Barge (ITB), to be the primary entity for owning and managing the oil transportation fleet, and his son, Bob Shields, takes the helm at Shields Navigation. 

In 1993, Coal Island Ltd. purchased the name Island Tug and Barge Ltd. from Seaspan and restarts the company. ITB builds the first double-hulled barge in Western Canada, the ITB Vancouver.

After Island Tug and Barge Ltd. is merged with Shields Navigation, International Tug and Barge Ltd., Seatow and Standard Towing under the name Island Tug and Barge Ltd. in 2000, ITB received the Legacy Award for Oil Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response. Also, in 2001, ITB was issued an International Safety Management (ISM) Document of Compliance of Lloyds Register. 

In 2005, ITB becomes the first Canadian tug and barge company to be awarded the Exceptional Compliance Program Award (ECOPRO) from the Washington State Department of Ecology for excellence in marine safety and environmental stewardship. Additionally, ITB makes its first delivery to Canadian Arctic with Articulated Tug and Barge Island Trader.

The Twins (two identical oil barges named ITB Resolution and ITB Reliant) were commissioned in 2006 and delivered in 2007. 

ITB begins to expand the submarine and cable-laying business.

ITB Marine Group (composed of ITB Subsea, ITB Fuels, and Island Tug And Barge) is created to manage diversity of regions of operation.

Tidewater Canada, Inc. acquires ITB Marine Group and announces Adrian Samuel as new President.

ITB introduces their new custom-built, state-of-the-art articulating tug, the Island Raider. The coastal tug was built onsite at ITB's Annacis Island facility along the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. The Island Raider was paired with the ITB Resolution to transport bulk, refined fuel on the Canadian and US West Coast.

ITB presented the second of two new coastal articulated tug barges, Island Regent. The Island Regent is paired with the refined fuel tank barge, ITB Reliant, to provide safe and efficient marine transportation.

The names "Island Tug and Barge", "ITB Subsea", and "ITB Marine Group" were retired and, as such, Island Tug and Barge formally became "Tidewater Transportation Canada, Inc." and ITB Subsea became "Tidewater Subsea Ltd." Our company now refers to itself as "Tidewater Canada" and our commitment to continue to operate best in class with the highest attention to safety and quality will remain the forefront of our brand integrity.

Tidewater Canada expanded its fleet with the addition of two new tugs, TWC Artemis and TWC Endurance. These state-of-the-art vessels are equipped to enhance Tidewater Canada's capabilities in providing efficient and reliable maritime support services.

Tidewater undergoes a change in ownership, with Ullico Inc. acquiring a controlling interest in the company. This acquisition reflects Ullico's commitment to diversification and positions Tidewater to capitalize on the growth opportunities within the maritime industry.