You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Gramma Lee T Moran’ tag.
A decade ago, the split-hulled trailing suction hopper dredger Atchafalaya was in the sixth boro. These days in 2023 the 1980 vessel in the St. Johns River of the Alligator and Sunshine State. I don’t believe it actually worked in the sixth boro.
The west side walkway made for a lot of photography on my part in spring 2013, like Asian King here making the turn at Bergen Point with assist from Gramma Lee T Moran. The 1998 RORO today goes by Liberty King and is located between Hokkaido and Honshu. Gramma Lee is working in san Juan these days.
Evening Tide is currently in chrysalis state in Brooklyn.
Pretty World had to be “dead-ship assisted” into port 10 years ago. The assist tugs (l to r) are Margaret Moran (I think), Marion Moran, and Gramma Lee. The 2007 tanker now goes by a much more prosaic Central and is in port off Ivory Coast. Marion Moran is now Dann Marine’s Topaz Coast.
Click here for the latest in the French frigate Aquitaine.
No comment needed on this tale of two cities.
Maersk Ohio is currently in Norfolk.
The US-flagged Maersk ship is assigned on the northern Europe run.
Superior Service is now Genesis Vision, currently in Lake Charles LA.
The 1971 Fred Johannsen, usually mostly up the Hudson, came down in April 2013 to do-si-do back upriver with Taurus, now Hay’s Joker.
Ellen McAllister is still Ellen McAllister. But from this angle, a proto-drone view from the Bayonne Bridge, she appears more rotund than I usually imagine.
Marion Moran focuses on giving the 1996 HanJin San Francisco an extra amount of shove to round Bergen Point. I believe 4024 teu container ship has been scrapped.
And finally, North Sea is now Sause’s Kokua, now working around Maui.
All photos, any errors, WVD, who loves these opportunities to look back at all the changes that have transpired.
Since I’m currently riding the long rails, including this one, I’ve queued up a few posts. More on the rails soon.
But let’s go back a decade and a month in this case, and see some happenings in the sixth boro in 2013. Diane B was already around, and here she was taking advantage of the high tide to make her way with a light John Blanche downstream from the head of navigation on the Hutchinson River to the East River tidal strait.
Americas Spirit came in with assistance from Barbara McAllister and McAllister Sisters. Barbara is now Patsy K, and sisters is still Sisters. Spirit is still Spirit.
Marquette’s Miss Emily made a run through the KVK, likely in connection with some dredge work.
Vernon G was already Mary Gellatly then. Now she’s a very busy Mackenzie Rose.
Catherine Turecamo retrieves a docking pilot. Catherine is now on the Lakes as John Marshall.
Harry McNeal moves Clyde along by the hip. Work was just months away from the old version of the Bayonne bridge. Both boats I believe are still in the boro.
Lincoln Sea was the biggest regular in the boro, and still occasionally comes through.
Gramma Lee T. Moran still worked here, and I’d not yet met her namesake.
You know it, of course, this photo is about the Mini Cooper, not the RORO that delivered it here.
Mixed traffic worked here, as it still true.
A very rusty Horizon Trader- a 1973 cargo ship now long scrapped-–passed through the port with its 2325 teu capacity.
Back then an occasional tanker with this type of Cyrillic writing could be seen.
And around this time I started to use the tag “collaboration.” This photo comes from Capt. Fred Kosnac on an “excessively windy” day.
All photos here, as attributed. Thanks to Fred for the photo above.
Let’s go back a decade. Then MSC Emma was on the west coast of Bayonne leaving town; now she’s on the west coast of Central America, leaving Lazaro Cardenas for Panama.
Above she was assisted by Gramma Lee T [now in Norfolk] and Margaret and setting up for the turn from Newark Bay into the KVK; here we had almost gotten ahead of the trio of vessels.
A strange trio was in the sky
over the sixth boro. The piggyback rider is still in town, albeit likely to never fly again. More here.
Meanwhile, over in the Arthur Kill, a boring machine was placing charges in holes below the bottom of the waterway and connecting them to the stringy orange signal cord to blast when the time was right for them all to detonate at the same millisecond. That day I touched some hefty but perfectly safe explosives, inert until the right signal is applied, which sounds like some folks I know.
More on “kraken” the bottom here.
Back then, I was spending a lot of early mornings near Howland Hook waiting for my work to begin, and I caught a Double Skin 37 moving bunkers
and maneuvered by Coral Coast. Was that mechanical dredge Captain A. J. Fournier in the distance above?
The Joker was then a more sedate Taurus, before joining the hilariously-named over at Hays.
Put Tasman Sea into the picture too. Is the Tasmanian still laid up in Louisiana?
And it was a great April 2012 day I caught the seldom-seen Patty Nolan
moving a houseboat into the sixth boro. Patty seems to be preparing for a comeback.
And the 1972 2325 teu Horizon Navigator, here with Samantha Miller alongside, was still working. Is the 1972 container ship still intact?
And let’s wind this up with Ellen and Maurania III returning to base after a job. Ellen is still in the sixth boro, and Maurania III is in the Delaware.
All photos, WVD, April 2012.
Entirely unrelated, check out these Smithsonian photo winners.
Does equipment ever change in the sixth boro? Of course.
Thornton Bros, the 1958 Matton Shipyard product, was scrapped in 2014.
The 1971 Maria J is now Nicholas Vinik.
USACE Hudson, the sweetest Corps boat I’ve ever seen, got transformed into a fish house in 2019. Advance Victoria, 2006, is now Kition M, anchored in the Persian/Arabian Gulf.
The 2002 Labrador Sea is now Vane’s Brooklyn.
The 1944 Gage Paul inadvertently became a very deep fish house in 2015.
The 2002 Gramma Lee T is now in Norfolk.
Does the US Navy still have airships? If ever I have the chance to ride in one of these, I’ll take it in a heartbeat!
Bruce A brought in the 1970 Crowley Mars and
Michael J brought in the 1975 Crowley Pioneer; both Crowley’s were shipped off to Africa later in 2012. The 1971 Michael J. was scrapped late in 2021. Christine was working for Reinauer.
The massive 1970 Penn No. 6 is now the massive Vinik No. 6.
The 1972 Catherine Turecamo is now on the Great Lakes as John Marshall.
Do you still want to tell me nothing ever changes in the sixth boro?
All photos taken by WVD during the first SIX days of 2012.
Why does time pass so quickly?! As if it were just a few years ago, I recall this Wilmington NC stop on the road trip return from family in Georgia. I was surprised by the amount of traffic in this Cape Fear River port, like Margaret McAllister here passing Corpus Christi with Petrochem Supplier. Margaret McAllister is one of McAllister’s ex-USN Natick-class tugs, in Margaret‘s case previously known as Tonkawa (YTB-786)
Kathryne E. McAllister (the 1980 one) followed the Margaret to sail a tanker.
Kathryne E. is currently laid up, but Moran’s Cape Henry (That’s a popular name for tugboats; I know of at least two others, one Kirby and one Vane.) below is still working, although currently in the Caribbean.
The first few days of January 2012 were as mild as those in 2022. Here Ellen S. Bouchard heads west in the KVK pushing B. No. 282. Ellen S. now wears Centerline’s lion logo.
Iron Mike might still wear Wittich Brothers black, blue and white, although I’ve not seen her out in the boro in a while.
Atlantic Salvor passes in front of a quite changed Manhattan skyline, as seen from St. George.
Gramma Lee T. Moran has departed the sixth boro for Baltimore. Southern Spirit is an active crude tanker but she goes by Celsius Esbjerg, currently departing the Bohai Sea for the Yellow Sea.
A light Mckinley Sea heads west in the Kills. She’s currently painted in Kirby colors, but laid up in Louisiana. Beyond her, Laura K Moran–now based in Savannah–assists tanker Mount Hope.
Marion Moran is out of the Moran fleet, and is likely wearing Dann Ocean livery, although I can’t confirm that.
The 1983 Sand Master was always a favorite of mine; she was sold into the southern Caribbean, but she may be scrapped by now.
Capt. Fred Bouchard was sold to a southern California construction company.
And we hold it up here, midmonth, with a vessel type I’ve not seen in a while . . . a livestock ship, Shorthorn Express, which had come into the Upper Bay for services, not to transfer cargo. The 1998 Luxembourg-flagged Shorthorn Express is active, currently traveling between Israel and Portugal. I used to see these regularly coming into the Kuwaiti port of Shuwaikh. I also recall a horrendous sinking of a livestock ship heading for China back in 2020.
All photos, WVD, in January 2012.
Ten years ago, the lower Manhattan skyline looked quite different. A vessel bringing orange juice from the southern hemisphere was also a smaller one; the 1985 Orange Blossom last sailed into Alang six and a half years ago, and if you don’t know what that means, click on the Alang link. As it turns out, I may have caught photos of her last voyage inbound Port Newark here. Orange Blossom 2 completes her most recent voyage today, arriving in Santos BR–read this link for some superlatives–after departing the sixth boro on November 13.
I’d thought 1976 Barents Sea was a goner, a reef candidate, when I caught this photo of her running after a long hiatus, but she was thoroughly rehabbed and lives on as Atlantic Enterprise.
The 1970 Evening Tide below was nearly 40 years into her career with Bouchard; she’s now a Stasinos boat but her superstructure still painted in this brilliant red.
Laura K Moran–launched 2008– was among the top horsepower assist tugs in the harbor then. She currently works in Savannah.
The 1981 McKinley Sea is currently laid up, carrying Kirby livery.
Ice Base and I had a misunderstanding; upon first seeing her and lacking at that time a smart phone with AIS, I read her name as something different that I can no longer un-see. She’s currently in the port of Quintero CL, 50 miles north of Valparaiso, with the less ambiguous name of Cabo San Vicente.
Back in those days I often took advantage of the walkway along the west side of the Bayonne Bridge, something I’ve not done with the new walkway. Note the absolutely ship-shape Gramma Lee T Moran as seen from above assisting
NYK Romulus with Margaret Moran standing by. Margaret is still in our fair boro, Gramma Lee is in Baltimore, and NYK Romulus is currently in Southampton UK.
The 1973 Amy Moran has been sold out of the fleet, and was last in the Jacksonville FL area wearing Stasinos tan and green as John Joseph.
And tomorrow I’ll post a part B of December 2011 retrospective, building on the odd orange vessel shown below.
All photos from December 2011, WVD, who’s astonished by the amount of change in a decade.
The bridge photo at the end of part A was of Kristin Poling, right after she’d been taken out of service. In her long life from 1934 until 2011, she carried the nameplates of Poughkeepsie Socony, Mobil New York, and Captain Sam, before taking on her last name.
Here’s a shot from the bow, and
here from near the stern looking forward along the catwalk.
This is one of my all-time favorite photos. I wonder where this Coastie is today.
A decade ago, Maurania III worked in the harbor, here alongside the venerable Chemical Pioneer and
here muscling Suez Canal Bridge around Bergen Point.
APL Coral was scrapped in 2017, I believe. Anyone know what those bolts of green fabric are? By their location, I’d guess an anti-piracy measure. Nicole Leigh continues to work.
DEP’s Newtown Creek was in her last days; currently she’s a dive destination in Pompano Beach, FL known as Lady Luck.
Lygra (1979) went to Alang in 2018, after carrying that name as well as Centro America, Nornews Service, and Transfjord.
Does anyone know where Captain Zeke has gone to? I don’t. If I ever did, I’ve forgotten.
Catherine Turecamo assists SN Azzurra away from a dock. The tanker seems still to be working as Augusta; she’s also carried the names Blue Dolphin and Stena Commander. In 2014, Catherine T. went to fresh water and, the last I knew, became a Chicago area based John Marshall.
If you click on no links in this post except this one, you will be pleased; it’s the legendary 1937 commuter yacht Aphrodite. HERE is the link. Those all-caps are intentional.
Note the raked forward portion of Maersk Murotsu, getting an assist from Kimberly Turecamo. The tanker is currently known as Ardmore Seafarer, which I have seen but not photographed in the boro. It’s impossible to keep up . . . hang on to that thought until the end of the post.
And let’s close out with some busy photos, here Barbara McAllister moves a barge, East Coast follows light, and Gramma Lee T Moran assists a tanker. Barbara is now Patsy K.
And finally, the waters here are churned up by James Turecamo, Resolute, and Laura K Moran, as well as a few tankers off to the left.
All photos, WVD, who’s astonished how much changes if not daily or monthly but surely by decade.
And about that thought I asked you hang onto: I’m considering taking a break, a sabbatical, or as Chapter 17 of Moby Dick explains . . . a ramadan, a term used with respect. I say this as a solicitation of advice.
Here we go again . . . the start of another month means we jump back to that month 10 years earlier. Crystal Cutler was quite new, here pushing Patricia E. Poling. Manhattan had a different skyline at that time.
I was heartbroken when I learned that USACE’s 1963 Hudson got reefed just over a year ago. With her lines, she’s now supposed to house marine life, 10 fathoms or more down, and not quite 3 miles off Fire Island. I doubt those fish and invertebrates appreciate those lines.
The 1980 OSG Independence has been a victim of 2020; the 131′ x 37′ 5600 hp tug was scrapped earlier this year.
A gallivant to Narragansett Bay revealed this vessel in the used vehicle trade, then running between Providence and Cape Verde, I believe. Danalith, a 1976 build, is said to be called Mouhssine, flying the flag of Tanzania.
Also in Narragansett Bay, over by the Jamestown bridge, was a Belford NJ boat, Coastline Kidd. I’ve not found any info about this boat.
Craig Eric Reinauer is now Albert, now squiring Margaret all over the Great Lakes.
Gramma Lee T Moran, whose namesake is the same as a Great Lakes ore boat, currently works in Baltimore harbor.
2010’s Yeoman Brook is today’s Caroline Oldendorff. These name changes confuse me. Caroline Oldendorff is currently in Amsterdam, having sailed in from Jintang, China.
This is not the best photo, but this was T/V Kings Pointer from 1992 until 2012. Here’s a link for more info on her life, but basically, from launch in 1983 until 1992, she was T-AGOS-2 aka USNS Contender. Currently she’s T/V General Rudder, named for General James E. Rudder. The USMMA has a new vessel designated as T/V Kings Pointer.
And finally, late December found me in the charming port of Charleston, where I caught pilot boat Fort Moultrie, waiting for a ship. Is Fort Moultrie still at work?
All photos, 10 years ago, WVD, who sometimes thinks it must be much longer ago than that.
Eric McAllister assisted Cielo di Roma, now Baki Akar and Turkish-flagged, out of her IMTT berth.
Mako, in the dawnlight, which I see through an urban window these days, waits alongside her barge.
Bow Riad meets Genesis Victory and
sails west. She was Huron Service until some point in 2013.
I recall I got this photo as Atlantic Salvor was returning from the Caribbean, although I can’t remember where in the Caribbean.
James Turecamo was doing ship assist down here just five years ago. Here, James rotates Fidias along with Gramma Lee T Moran.
Charles A . . . and I honestly can’t recall where that was, given the background.
Here’s two
of an interestingly marked Jane McAllister, likely headed downeast somewhere.
And let’s end with three of
Simone, more here,
whom I hadn’t seen before and haven’t since. As of very shortly, she’s on her way to Guantanamo.
All photos taken in April 2015 by WVD. Stay healthy, keep your distance, and avoid expelled missiles with corona warheads.
Coastline Girls and many other names including Gage Paul Thornton and ST-497, the 1944-build now sleeps deep in Davy Jones locker, and was not an intentional reefing.
It’s been a while since I last saw Mcallister Sisters, shown here passing the Esopus Meadows light. If I’m not mistaken, she’s currently based in Baltimore.
Ten years ago, this boat had already been painted blue over orange, but she still carried the June K name board.
Socrates, classic lines and a classic name, has since gone off to Nigeria, riding over in mid-2012 on a heavy lift ship called Swan.
Urger on blocks in Lyons . . . one would have thought then that she’d run forever. These days she’s back on blocks at the eastern end of the Canal.
And February 2010 was the time of prime iceboating, and that’s Bonnie of frogma.
James Turecamo, with its wheelhouse down as I rarely saw it, works these days upriver as far north as Albany. Photo by Allen Baker.
Brandywine and Odin these days spend most of their time on Gulf of Mexico waters.
Gramma Lee T Moran straining here as she pulled the tanker off the dock. She now works in Baltimore.
In the foreground, East Coast departs the Kills; I can’t say I recall seeing her recently,but AIS says she’s currently northbound north of the GW. In the distance and approaching, June K, now Sarah Ann, and she regularly works in the sixth boro.
All photos, except Allen’s, WVD, from February 2010.
I have to share back story about getting that top photo. I was on foot on Richmond Terrace walking east toward Jersey Street when I saw the Coastline tug and Hughes barge. I didn’t recognize the profile and realized I could get the photo ONLY if I ran. At the same time, I noticed an NYPD car had pulled over another car, and you know, it’s never a good idea to run for no apparent reason when the police are nearby. But . . . you understand my dilemma: walk and miss the shot, or run and maybe attract the curiosity of the police officer. I ran, got the shot, and sure enough, the police called me over and wanted to know what I was doing. Since I knew I’d done nothing wrong except appear suspicious, I gave him my business card and launched full tilt into my “new yorkers are so lucky because they are witness to so much marine business traffic, and why didn’t he too have a camera and join me watching and taking photos of the variety of vessels . . . .” You can imagine the stare I got. My enthusiasm failed to move him. No handcuffs, no taser, not even a ticket, but an impassive gaze from a weary officer of the law possibly wondering if I’d escaped from an institution or a time warp. He wrote up a report and left me with this advice: don’t run when you see a police officer nearby. “Yessir,” I said, thinking . . . well sure, but I’d likely do it again if I again noticed something unusual transiting the waterway. Since then, though, I’ve not had any further encounters with the LEOs, at least not on the banks of the sixth boro.
tugster: a waterblog 
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