No . . . Joan Turecamo has not been re-cast as a government boat, but what about that small craft off her port?
Yup . . Coast Guard, maybe off a larger USCG vessel in port. A cold weather drill?
Here’s–in front of Ellis Island–a rare convergerce of . . . a Newark fireboat, an enclosed USCG RIB, and a USACE survey vessel named Moritz.
But here’s the real treat , USCGC Gallatin aka WHEC-721.
The cutter is named for the founder of NYU!! A brace of Jayhawks played/drilled in the skies over the sixth boro today.
Note the dusting of snow from Athena post-Sandy.
Gallatin measures 378′ loa x 43′ . . . ie, 8.8:1 . . . skinny and fast.
I’m not sure what’s being transferred here, but it’s a welcome return for me of Shelby Rose, the bright blue and yellow tug.
Since it’s been so long since I’ve seen Shelby Rose–certainly NOT a government boat- here’s another shot.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp.
Unrelated question: both yesterday and todayI saw folks wearing Smit apparel working in lower Manhattan. Anyone know who brought Smit into the “unwatering” and cleanup?
tugster: a waterblog 
6 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 9, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Harold E. Tartell
It’s Veteran’s Day Weekend, & having served in the U.S. Coast Guard, & seeing USCGC GALLATIN WHEC-721 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Gallatin_(WHEC-721) arriving in New York 45 years ago on her maiden voyage was very fitting. The second of eight HAMILTON class 378 Foot High Endurance Cutters, USCGC DALLAS WHEC-716 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Dallas_(WHEC-716) arrived in New York in the Spring of 1967, and was based at Governors Island. I was stationed aboard USCGC MACKINAC WHEC-371 at the time, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Mackinac_(WAVP-371), http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/43/4313.htm which was based at St. George, Staten Island, NY. Eventually in 1968, the Coast Guard gradually moved all vessels from Base St. George to Governors Island. GALLATIN was the second 378 to arrive in New York in December, 1968, followed by USCGC MORGENTHAU WHEC-722 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Morgenthau_(WHEC-722) in 1969. All served tours of duty in Vietnam. I left MACKINAC in May of 1967 for Coast Guard Training Center Groton, Ct. Shortly after, DALLAS left New York for Vietnam. I returned to New York in October, 1967, and was transferred to USCGC MANITOU WYTM-60 http://www.76fsa.org/cgta/manitou.htm in November. In December, USCGC MACKINAC was decommissioned, and we assisted USCGC TAMAROA WMEC-166 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Tamaroa_(WMEC-166) in getting her underway as a “dead ship” from Base St. George to be towed out to sea by TAMAROA and sunk for target practice. This was a very sad day for me assisting a ship that I was formerly stationed on, and was destined for doom.
What was once new (MACKINAC 1943) got old, I’m getting old when I look back at these memories which were also once new (DALLAS, GALLATIN, & MORGENTHAU) and are now also old. Three of these ships have been sold already foreign. USCG HAMILTON WHEC-715 (first of this class) was sold to the Philippine Navy http://www.mikeinmanila.com/2011/05/15/philippines-us-coast-guard-cutter-hamilton-now-in-philippine-navy/, & has been renamed GREGORIO DEL PILAR, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRP_Gregorio_del_Pilar_(PF-15). USCGC DALLAS WHEC-716 was also sold to the Philippine Navy, & renamed RAMON A. ALCARAZ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRP_Ramon_Alcaraz_(PF-16), http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/259514/pinoyabroad/news/us-coast-guard-ship-turned-over-to-phl-navy, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120523/PC16/120529691/cutter-dallas-turned-over-to-philippine-military. USCGC CHASE WHEC-718 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Chase_(WHEC-718) was sold to the Nigerian Navy, & renamed NNS THUNDER http://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/nigerian-navy-acquire-the-warship-uscgc-chase/, http://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/nns-thunder-f90-how-the-philippines-navy-have-upgunned-her-sister-sister-ship-brp-gregorio-del-pilarpf-15-max-montero-a-filipino-beegeagles-blogger/
Five more of these cutters are soon due to be decommissioned and phased out. It is very possible that they may end up in Nigeria or the Philippines. Time will soon tell.
In photo # 9, it appears that the Tug SHELBY ROSE has a small bunker barge alongside the GALLATIN. I see a small hose up, and it’s possible that GALLATIN is replenishing bunkers either Diesel fuel or Jet A for her gas turbines.
November 10, 2012 at 7:24 am
Klyde
>”Unrelated question:” “folks wearing Smit apparel working in lower Manhattan. Anyone know who brought Smit into the “unwatering” and cleanup?”<
http://www.donjon-smit.com/
I do not have a real answer. The above relationship might be a possible start.
November 10, 2012 at 10:02 am
tugster
thanks, klyde. there has been a large cluster of donjon equipment at the bulkhead at the battery directly over the brooklyn/battery tunnel. that may be the answer.
November 10, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Ken
About a second sooner and that helo pic would’ve been really cool
November 10, 2012 at 6:49 pm
tugster
i tried . . . with a rapid-fire camera, i could have done it.
November 11, 2012 at 10:27 am
HT
Wil, back in the early 90’s Bob (Henry) took the Shelby and ran…there was a article in the advance. I think it was titled A Mans love for his Tugboat, Anyway Bob was going through a divorce at that time with Dorothy and did not want to give her the boat…so he took it. He was a sweep boat operator at the Fresh kills (Yacht club).