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Quick . . . what do you know about this white lionine tugboat? Answer follows.
We’re still being quick here? What can you tell me about this model of Dianne E. in a display case on the lower level of a barge of Pier 66? I know nothing about the model, but I stopped by at Pier 66 Wednesday for the first time in way too long. Any interest in meeting gathering there one of these warm days?
And speaking of piers, I made my first stop at Pier 76 ever Wednesday as well. It seems I’ve not been out here in a really long time.
Harvey looked resplendent alongside the seating . . ..
The NYS Canal system opens officially today, and that means Sparky might be a looper headed up there traveling north and then west to get back to Florida. I’m just speculating.
Anne Moore is busy. Hey, NPS, I’d like to talk with you about this vessel.
Media Boat 5 is always out, always doing and seeing interesting sights.
RCC Africa is a RORO I’ve not seen before. Here are Autoliner routes.
Pacific Basin‘s Sharp Island left town light.
Rolf Williams was returning to base after delivering lube solutions.
And that brings us back to this tugboat . . . the former J. George Betz.
All photos, WVD, who suggests you too gallivant around the original boro, the sixth boro, some warm day soon.
Thanks for sending photos along. Capt. Jack Aubrey sent this along from Baltimore. He says, “The ship name and the assembled team almost looks set up. L to R: Eric, Timothy and Bridget McAllister.”
It really does. I’ll bet Pretty Team could travel all the English-speaking ports of the world and highlight all the great and pretty teams. At the moment, she’s still looking to pose with more teams in Baltimore.
Given the cold weather today, Tim Powell sent along these next photos from near Ottawa IL, midpoint on the Illinois River between Chicago and Peoria. Tim writes: “Once again I had the opportunity to serve my beloved transportation industry. On 01/05/2022 we delivered a load to the towboat MV Brian Napack. B&M Midstream is a full service family owned company. It was a chilly 10 degrees on the Illinois River in Ottawa Ill, with a 20 to 30 mph wind.”
When they receive an order, B&M Midstream goes to the nearest boat ramp, launches the boat,
comes in alongside,
transfers the supplies,
and then hauls the supply boat back onto the trailer. I guess the windows would clear once it warmed up, but the internet tells me it’s about that same temperature in that part of the Illinois River today.
And finally, Capt. Tony A caught Susan Rose –ex-Evening Breeze–the other days, and a bit later,
he caught J. George Betz in mid-paint transformation to Betz the Centerline boat. Watch for the lion to go on the stack.
Many thanks to Tony, Tim, and Jack for sharing these photos. I’ll keep my eyes open for more Pretty ships. Here‘s another one.
Name that tug? She’s 91.5′ x 26.8′ and used to be called Traveller. Answer follows.
Part of a defacto ghost fleet around the sixth boro, it’s J. George Betz, and mostly invisible beyond, Rhea I. Bouchard. J. George is longer, stronger, and newer.
Also in the dry dock a week or so back, it’s Emily Ann. My favorite story of this tug dates from a time she was called Cabo Rojo.
Lincoln Sea was featured in my second ever tugster post, back in November 2006. In the background, that looks to be Mount St. Elias.
I usually see Captain D alongside a DUP barge, but behold, in good light, she’s light. That’s my acronym, DUP.
Ditto . . . Robert Burton.
Ruth M. Reinauer was just a year old when it appeared here in 2009. Ruth is 112.9′ x 35′.
Ellen McAllister . . . what more can I add to what I’ve written already about this former USN YTB. I know three of her dozen or so siblings, ex-USN YTBs, include Robert E., Timothy, and Stacy.
Miriam and Doris Moran follow along a ship, ready to put their force where needed when needed.
More fleetmates to Captain D and Robert Burton above, it’s Paula Atwell and Pathfinder . . . all unusually light.
And finally . . . that tug in the top photo . . it’s Marie J. Turecamo.
All photos, WVD.
When the temperatures drop and days are short, tug and barges units in the NE get busier than in summer.
RTC 42 here gets pushed by Franklin Reinauer, as Gracie–-above–waits at the dock with RTC 109.
A bit later, J. George Betz moves her barge B. No. 210 toward the east.
Navigator appears from the east with her barge.
Barney moves Georgia toward a Bayonne dock, with assistance from Mary.
And Curtis comes in with RTC 81 for more product.
All photos by Will Van Dorp, currently in the state of Georgia, but a few days back when I took these, needed some of that fuel to stay warm. Here from 2007 was my first post by this name.
J. George Betz and Morton Bouchard Jr. raft up on the floating dock.
Helen Laraway pushes toward the east.
JRT passes Weddell Sea on the way home after completion of another job.
Daisy Mae moves a deeply loaded scow westbound. I’m not certain but believe the product is road salt.
Discovery Coast heads over toward the Kills.
A light Elk River makes for the next job.
Emily Ann tows astern passing the collection of boxes in the Global Terminal.
And Majorie B. passes Pacific Sky while she steams back to the McAllister yard.
And one more, Ellen S, Pearl Coast, and Evening Light . . round out this installment.
All photos by Will Van Dorp, whose sense of this decade’s end is growing more palpable, offers this photo of Michigan Service and a whole lotta dredgin’ from the last two weeks of 2009.
Excuse the branches and tendrils reaching out over this dense pack of tugboats: five Bouchard boats plus a Harley behind Denise and a Genesis on the drydock.
Crystal Cutler here in profile is heading for the Kills; this photo prompts me to wonder how this wheelhouse “window” configuration has worked out.
Stephen B assists Fells Point leaving IMTT with Double Skin 302.
Marie J Turecamo heads east on the KVK.
I can’t recall now whether this is my first time to see Vane’s New York, here with Double Skin 53.
Seeley moves a scow eastbound.
Mount St. Elias goes west here.
And finally . . . J. George Betz heads east, possibly to pick up a barge.
All photos and interpretation by Will Van Dorp, who is solely responsible for content . . .
Let’s start here as a quiz. Name that tug? Answer follows. The blurriness is a clue to the vintage . . . of the photo. More oldies at the end of this post.
Here’s an unusual treatment of name boards. Can anyone clarify why the 6140 hp J. George Betz is the only Bouchard boat wit this treatment?
I suspected it was Betz when I noticed her here, but had to look more closely to verify. I believe this is the first time for me to label–if not see–the B. No. 235 barge.
Gulf Venture . . .I’ve not often seen this 5150 hp boat light. Question: Does Gulf Venture currently work for John Stone?
Ernest Campbell departs MOTBY here, her mast perfectly shown against the Putin monument . . . he did come here for the dedication.
Gabby L. Miller . . she’s not been on the blog in a while. This 660 hp tug gives the right push at the right time in the right place sometimes.
The 2000 hp Eric R. Thornton dates from 1960, making her the oldest tug in this post except
More oldies. This is Marion, although I have no information on where and when it was built. Marion was one of two tugs operated by Disston and June Marine Construction, previously called Burcroft Marine Construction Company. Their other tug was Constructor. Marion sank in Weedsport, although I can’t find that date.
This tug may still be afloat.
It’s Morania No. 8 pushing Morania No. 170 barge. Has anyone seen her in Port-au-Prince Haiti? I wonder if this was a company slogan or something displayed more widely. I’ve never heard it.
The mystery tug, believe it or not, is Buffalo, somewhere in the Erie Canal. Click here for a few good photos of Buffalo taken by Tim Hetrick back in 2014. Maybe someone can put a date of the photo by taking into account the color.
All photos except Buffalo by Will Van Dorp. All the oldies here are by Steve Wunder.
You might conclude that in this city I do nothing except sit on the riverbank, but the better conclusion is that Nola river traffic volume is phenomenal. So here’s a sampling of another–say–two hours total traffic, beginning with a vessel that would look entirely at home in NYC’s sixth boro . . . it’s J. George Betz.
Next something you’ll not see except in the inland big river, O. H. Ingram, 185′ loa x 54′ 9200 hp and triple screw, pushing
at least eight barges heading into a turn with at least two oncoming tows:
Joe B. Wyatt, 170′ loa x 45′ 6120 hp twin screw, pushing 18 barges and Mr. Pete with a single, but they all squeeze around the turn.
The range of vessels is interesting, considering the likes of Lil Susan S
and Josephine Anne of Bisso Offshore, with Wise One in the distance.
Natalie S . . . and
Blessed Trinity . . . and
and Natures Way Commander . . .
Moose . . and
CSS Savannah . . . and less than two hours have elapsed and I haven’t included all the traffic!
and let me conclude with a photo taken the previous afternoon, another that would NOT look out of place in NYC’s waters, Greg Turecamo.
More soon. All photos by Will Van Dorp.
tugster: a waterblog 
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