The year is in its last hours, and these vessels saw their last hours in this year as well. Of course, this is a subjective list, made up of mostly photos I’ve taken over the years of sixth boro and Great Lakes vessels. This list is not definitive. If you know of others, you might add them in the comments section.
Many photos of Helen McAllister have appeared here over the years, but time caught up with the 1900 Helen, who began and ended her life on Staten Island. I caught her doing her last dance –a tango or a waltz– here.
More than 10 years of silence passed between the photo above at the McAllister NY yard and the one below in Tottenville. Eagle-eyed Tony A. caught her stripped of her identification and ready for the scrapping jaws last month.
The 1907 Pegasus saw her end this year as well. I spent many hours on Pegasus, and regretfully, sometimes the scrappers’ jaws are the most humane end for boats.
The 1970 Joanne Reinauer III also saw its end. I learned a lot about the modifications made to tugboat from her and from photos of her tranformations supplied by readers. My photo below is from 2009.
The 1972 Viking also saw a series of modifications. You might think a powerful machine like this . . . like these . . . would never wear out, but like you and me, they do. I believe it was 2021 that she was scrapped, but it may have been earlier. The photo below is from the September 5, 2010 tugboat race.
The Great Lakes shed some vessels also. Mississagi began work in 1943. I took the photo in Lake St. Clair in August 2016. She was towed to a Sault Ste. Marie scrapyard in October 2021.
Manistee dates from the same year and has the same dimensions–620′ x 60′– as Mississagi. This photo I took in Toledo, where she had been laid up for some time. More on Manistee here.
Ojibway, a 1952 bulker, is currently underway in the Saint Lawrence River, bound for Port Cartier with a load of grain. After that, she’ll lay up awaiting an uncertain future. For what it’s worth, she came off the ways the year I was born.
And on a sad note, the 1975 St. Clair was relatively new for a Great Lakes bulk carrier, but a devastating fire during winter layup in February 2019 condemned her; she arrived at the scrapyard in Port Colborne just a few weeks ago. Photo here is credited to Corey Hammond.
Thanks to Tony and Corey for their photos; all others, WVD, who wishes you all a healthy and happy 2022 and the fulfillment of all your goals.
And unrelated to this post but entirely germane to this day of reflection/new goal setting before a new year, check out Ellen Magellan’s expeditions. That’s not her real name but it’s so clever I wish I’d come up with it.
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December 31, 2021 at 1:11 pm
Les Sonnenmark
Now you’ve got me bummed out. So, on a positive note, can we raise a glass to toast the continued health of old-timers like SS Badger which made it through to 2022?
December 31, 2021 at 2:41 pm
tugster
I raise that glass. It’s a great idea. Badger and Lee Tregurtha and Alpena should be celebrated. Among US tugboats, I’m wondering which ones might be the oldest in commercial use. It would likely be a tugboat on the Great Lakes and in the Great Lakes fleet . . . they have over a dozen tugboats over a century old, and those deserve more than a celebratory glass . . . Happy and healthy 2022 to you, Les.
December 31, 2021 at 4:47 pm
eastriver
Good post, Will. Happy New Year!
January 1, 2022 at 1:00 am
George Schneider
I was just told that the steam container / roro ship MATSONIA was towed away this month for scrapping in Brownsville. She’s the last survivor of Sun Shipbuilding’s flat-deck Ro/Ro designs (sometimes called “Aircraft Carriers”). 10 were built, including the EL FARO whose loss made the news. Matson converted their two into combination container ships, and converted some containerships into partial roro’s, since customers didn’t want their vehicle cargo to wait for long periods. Three modified units of the class, built for Waterman Steamship Co, still serve as prepositioning ships for the Navy.
Also going for scrap this year in Brownsville was another Matson steam ship, LIHUE. She was a container ship, but was made out of a LASH type barge carrier, originally the THOMAS E CUFFE for Pacific Far East Line. Two companies still operate LASH / container conversions, and several also remain as barge carriers for the governnment’s Ready Reserve Force. 22 LASH ships were built in U. S. shipyards over a period of 10 years.
January 1, 2022 at 1:13 am
George Schneider
Oh, and if I have it right, the tug VIKING was scrapped in 2019 at Brownsville.
January 1, 2022 at 7:35 am
tugster
I think you’re right about Viking getting scrapped prior to 2021, but my perception was skewed by the fact that i saw a photo of the bottom of the hull with the engines only just recently. And that’s right about Matsonia and Lihue. Happy 2022, George.
January 2, 2022 at 11:02 pm
George Schneider
Here’s one more up your alley: SALVOR (ex ESTHER MORAN, 292910) of 1963, was scrapped this fall at Port Maitland, Ontario.
January 3, 2022 at 8:12 am
tugster
Thx for adding that, George. It seems I have photos of Salvor with Lambert Spirit transiting the Welland canal, and I’ve never posted them. Time to remedy my omission.