A rather odd boat

I only ever see this boat on weekends, when I'm pushing Mum across the Selkirk Trestle. It's always anchored above the Trestle, on the Gorge, presumably because it doesn't work weekends. I assume it's a working boat. It might be just a cooler boat ... a cooler in the cabin, well stocked, a short punt off shore. A wee paddle and there you are, relaxing on board, bevvie in hand.

It looks a bit like one of those silver log jam boats that bob about like mad around the ferries when they're docked, to clear away the wayward logs, so's the ferry doesn't grind them up in their props. One guy drives, and the marksman hangs over the edge jabbing logs with a ten foot spike, getting them out the way. It's like ballet, it is. Rather violent, but, ballet all the same. They pitch and roll like crazy, and you swear they're going over with each thrust, but they never seem to. They just bob back up, and right over to the opposite extreme for the next direct hit!

But never mind that, back to the subject of my infatuation .... what on earth does this boat do? It's square, it's squat. Does it just push small floaty things from one spot to another? Perhaps it's a harbour taxi?

You can see the Captain's happy. I've a good mind to rent a paddle board next weekend. Paddle out and ask him what's going on. Fingers crossed he's not running guns across the border.