She was designed by naval architect John Stephen for the City of Toronto Works Department.

[1] Ned Hanlan was retired in 1967 and remained moored in Toronto Harbour until 1971, when she was moved for a static display next to the Toronto Maritime Museum housed in the old Stanley Barracks' Officers' Quarters at Exhibition Place.

In June 2012, the tugboat was moved to a new home on Hanlan's Point on the Toronto Islands.

[1] Ned Hanlan is in reasonably[clarification needed] good shape, with little rust, and a slight dent in her port gunwale just fore of the wheelhouse.

[citation needed] Another tug in Toronto operates as Ned Hanlan.