Comments on: Allie B’s Epic 2

By: richardspilman

richardspilman — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:36:42 +0000

I am at least glad that the crane has found meaningful employment, even if it is in Romania. Tragic that an iron worker was killed dismantling it, last August.

I have vivid memories of going on sea-trials on one of the last LNG ships built by GD-Quincy. Getting it out through the railroad bridge was a wonder to behold. Tugs on each end threaded the huge ship like a thread through a needle with what seemed like inches to spare on each side, then made a quick turn to avoid hitting the power company dock. Quite a maneuver.

The shipyard in those days was an example of everything that was right and wrong with US shipbuilding. It was a mix of high tech and the hopelessly antiquated, run by managers with a distinctly defense contractor mentality. At least Takis Veliotis, the GD executive vice president and yard manager, was entertaining. He skipped off to Greece with millions in vendor kickbacks while accusing senior GD executives of far worse. Interesting times, indeed.

Rick
http://www.oldsaltblog.com

By: towmasters

towmasters — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:39:53 +0000

Yes, of course. Having made many trips into Boston Harbor, including the Fore River for the Quincy (Quin-zee) and E. Braintree terminals, it was a seemingly permanent landmark for me too. Alas, poor Goliath! I knew him, Tugster…
Are you aware of the other famous Goliath, of Titanic fame? Read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_and_Goliath_(Cranes)

In any case, as everyone surely knows, Boston Harbor is just a two-bit floozy compared to the refined and radiant charms of our statuesque Lady Liberty and the 6th boro!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:11:44 +0000

History indeed. And isn’t part of what we love about adventurer-scribes that they have ways of weaving those interesting histories into the present instead of letting them recede into some distant or forgotten past?

By: tugster

tugster — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:53:32 +0000

thanks, towmasters. your comment begs a response. elizabeth once lived in quincy, and we almost made a costly mistake in buying a boat in that same city. and for a decade and a half the waters between bostonlight to portlandhead were my playground and teacher. all of that prepared me to recognize the sixth boro for what it was. more seriously, goliath was the landmark i sought out any time i was in the quincy area, and now it’s gone, a quite profound change, eh. allie b’s trip conjures up some thrilling universal stories for me, so i figured seeing goliath move out and over the horizon was certainly a worthy way to spend a day. met some interesting folks up there.

By: towmasters

towmasters — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:51:44 +0000

Ah hah! It seems our 6th boro Tugster is two-timing us, falling right into the waiting arms of another not-unfamiliar harbor. Might there be some history here?

By: Mage Bailey

Mage Bailey — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:48:32 +0000

That is so sad. I cheer every time our one remaining shipyard gets a job.