I did a post about a scrapping before . . in early 2007 here. Warning: Disturbing images follow. This post focuses on a tug built in Matton Shipyard,
one of four tugboats that were originally christened John E. Matton, not the one below.
It could get confusing, but vessels were launched as John E. Matton in 1939 (which seems to be this one and still afloat as Atlantic 7 although I’ve not found a photo), in 1945, in 1958, and in 1964.
Below are photos of the 1958 John E. Matton. The first one is from 2007, when it was known as Thornton Bros.
It changed names–and colors–after 2007, and that’s confusing too,
but by 2012 it again was Thornton Bros.
But earlier this year, time had run out, and I got some pics as it awaited the scrapper.
The following photos–taken while I was up on the canal–come compliments of Gerard Thornton, to whom I am grateful.
As I look at these, I’m eager to get into canal related archives to see what photos exist of the area around the Matton yard in the 1940s and 1950s.
And might there be photos of steel sheet and rod transported by canal from the Great Lakes steel plants to the Matton yard?
Again, thanks to Gerard Thornton for the last four photos. All others by Will Van Dorp.
By the way, the John E. Matton (1964) became one of the vessels named Helen J. Turecamo and sank in 1988. Does anyone know details about that sinking beyond 1988 and that it happened near Norfolk and involved a submarine? I get nothing from googling.
tugster: a waterblog 
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November 29, 2014 at 8:50 pm
sfdi1947
Will, I am unsure, I worked a Christmas Relief on James Turecamo in ‘O2 out of the SIU Board in Philadelphia. I recall something about a sister ship in the winter of ’88 losing a battle with a stone/concrete mole in Camden, but I don’t remember a date, a wiper and a mate lost their lives when a loaded Del Monte fruit jar, pushed by the flood, jammed them inboard between the VC2-S-AP1 and the mole, crushing the frames, sinking them in less than a minute.
November 29, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Dave Boone
You may be thinking of the sinking of the REEDY POINT on 12 Apr 1999 at Del Monte’s pier in Camden, NJ. No loss of life, just a good old tug gone forever.
November 29, 2014 at 10:04 pm
mageb
I’m so sorry.
December 3, 2014 at 10:17 am
Ken
I hate seeing ships get scrapped but that is better than a ship rusting away in some port waiting for better days. It seems that so many of my favorite lakers have been scrapped in the past year or so. Another one is still sailing but it knows its fate.
December 3, 2014 at 10:18 am
Ken
Speaking of which… can you see the scrap tow of the American Valor as it passes upper New York?
February 8, 2018 at 10:51 pm
Bill
I have information on that sinking. I was on that sub. And, I have pictures.
February 9, 2018 at 9:04 am
tugster
Bill- You say “sub,” but maybe that’s an autocorrect for “tug.” ?? If you have photos and are willing to share, write me at parrotlect@gmail.com