I wonder who Laura K Moran is. I hope she knows what a formidable vessel carries her name around the sixth boro. The first two fotos come compliments of Stuart Pate, who took them last December from Norwegian Gem.
That’s one very clean and organized deck. This overhead shot clearly shows the hawser winch that Les identified a few days back. Now I need to go back to fotos of Laura K from a year ago to see if that winch was already there, and I just missed it somehow.
Here Laura K heads past Shooter’s over toward the Arthur Kill.
Laura K ending an assist into IMTT, and another where
she escorts in CMA CGM Florida. A little background on CMA CGM Florida: launched in 2008, it’s 965′ loa by 105′ abeam, 5078 teu. And . . . on CMA CGM, the company: Walmart named it “ocean carrier of the year” for 2008-9. Remember that next time you see a Walmart trailer on the highway or the ubiquitous retail outlets all over this country.
Below is a short video showing CMA CGM Florida westbound in KVK with Laura K tailing. The video opens with the sound and image of Hornbeck’s Spartan Service passing.
Fotos other than Stuart’s by Will Van Dorp. Click on an image to make it bigger.
tugster: a waterblog 
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August 5, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Allen Baker
“Laura K. Moran” is named for the late Laura Keyes.
Laura passed back in 2005 from cancer. She was in Moran’s New York crewing office and the wife of Moran VP Peter Keyes.
As a side note, almost all of the Moran newbuilds are not being named for Moran family members these days. In fact, there is only one Moran remaining on the board of the world famous towing company, Mr. Edmond J. (Ned) Moran.
Newbuilds today are named for members of the Tregurtha & Barker families and family members of senior Moran management.
Allen Baker
Baltimore
August 5, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Les Sonnenmark
According to the February 2009 issue of “Towline”, the Moran in-house publication, “The LAURA K. MORAN is named after Laura J. Keyes, Mr. Keyes late wife, who was a beloved personnel manager at Moran Towing and Transportation.” Peter Keyes is a Moran vice-president. There seem to be two schools of thought on naming tugboats. Give them heroic names–I sailed on Crowley’s INVADER, HUNTER and SEA VICTORY–or name them for family member, like LAURA K or TURECAMO GIRLS. I prefer the latter. Many tugboat companies are still family-run; when you sail on a boat with a family name you take more pride in the job she does, in her appearance, and in her reputation.
May 24, 2010 at 7:09 am
Laura K. Moran at Kill Van Kull « The Newtown Pentacle
[…] Washburn & Doughty Associates, is 92 feet, 184 GT, and was launched in 2008. Our buddy at tugster did a nice portrait of the Laura K., and this ship was the last command before retirement of legendary Tug Captain John […]
December 11, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Lindsay
Thank you for posting the pictures. I am the daughter of Laura Keyes and had the honor of christining the boat. I havent seen it since so thank you for the pictures.
December 11, 2010 at 4:03 pm
tugster
hi lindsay, thanks for writing. laura k is always at work it seems. would you be willing to share a picture or two of the christening? if so, i’ll add your pictures to a post with pictures of laura k shifting ships around the harbor.
June 16, 2013 at 12:48 am
Billy
I’m Laura’s son Billy, just found this site which is awesome. I will see if we can track down some photos from the launching in Maine to add. I seem to hear nothing but good things about the tug and its operations which feels great. I’d like to meet the crew sometime and thank them as well. Appreciate the photos and comments.
June 16, 2013 at 6:39 am
tugster
billy–thanks much for reading the blog and commenting. i’d love to see the fotos of the launch. and it’s not that i have any clout, but i’m sure the crew would love to meet you. cheers.
October 13, 2013 at 12:18 pm
trivial impression | The Newtown Pentacle
[…] Washburn & Doughty Associates, is 92 feet, 184 GT, and was launched in 2008. Our buddy at tugster did a nice portrait of the Laura K., and this ship was the last command before retirement of legendary Tug Captain John […]