Really Random Tugs 44

First, from Kyle Stubbs, three Vane tugs  (Elizabeth Anne, Hudson, and Delaware alongside DoubleSkin 501) which would not be that unusual on this blog, except he took the photo in Seattle over by Terminal 5.  Click here for previous photos from Kyle.

Leaping south to the Mexican port of Manzanillo–north of Lazaro Cardenas–it’s VB Yucatan, in between  CMM Jarocho. and CMM Maguey. 

Not a tugboat, but also in Manzanillo .  . it’s Elizabeth Oldendorff, a gearless differently-geared sister of Alice.

In the center of the photo below, I’m unable to identify this Grupo TMM tug. 

Heading up the Hudson River, here’s an oldie-but-goodie, Ronald J. Dahlke.  Photo was taken about a month ago by Willard Bridgham in Waterford.  Anyone know where she’s gone to now?  She’s a sister of Urger and built in 1903!!

And it is that season, as this photo of Cornell by Paul Strubeck reminds us.

Thanks to Kyle, Maraki, Willard, and Paul for use of these photos.

Johnston Brothers Boats

Johnston Brothers of Ferrysburg, MI,  built Urger in 1901.  The boat below–Ronald J. Dahlke, was built two years later as Bonita.  A few days ago, the two boats passed each other in Lyons . . . or to be more accurate, we passed the ex-Bonita.

I posted pics of this blue tug last year here . . . scroll through.   Unconfirmed report is that the boat is about to enter a new chapter in its life, after being the tool of someone with truth issues, as explained in the story here.

What I find even more remarkable is that an even older Johnston Brothers boat–Sea Bird–is still active.    Anyone know others?

Really Random Tugs 16

Here was RRT15.

All the fotos in this post come from my sister, who is currently making her way south along the Jersey shore heading into retirement aka Bahamas for Christmas.  In mid-August, they departed Muskegon, near where they took this foto of Samuel de Champlain in June 2011.   SDC was built in 1976 and is loa 142.’

She passed Demolen–older sister of Ellen McAllister– several times, once on August 26, 2013.

She took the next three fotos on August 28, 2013.  Mike Donlon is 53′ and christened in Philly in 1999.

J-Krab, 25′ built in 2010.

Wilfred M. Cohen is a 1948 Newport News-built railroad tug now flying the Canadian flag.   Click here to see lots of fotos of her on tugboathunter.   Also, here’s a great Great Lakes search site.

The next day in the vicinity of Detroit, she ran into this huge unit.  ITB Presque Isle, launched 1972, loa 148′ with a 31′ draft . . . uses 14,840 hp to move a 978′ barge by the same name.

Here’s St Mary’s Cement II pushed by Sea Eagle II, 1979 launched at Modern Marine Power although also Candian-flagged, I think.

That’s the Detroit skyline in the distance.

On September 6, she passed Invincible, 94′ loa and 1979-built in Fort George, FL.

She also passed this unidentified unit.  Anyone help?

Last one for now, on September 16, already in the western end of the Erie Canal, she ran into this vessel.  Guess her age?

Dahlke was built in Ferrysburg, MI in 1903!!   That puts her only two years younger than Urger, built there as well.  Here’s quite the Ferrysburg historic vessel page.

Ah . . . the Great Lakes . . .  Anyone interested in a summer project to cruise from the sixth boro to Duluth and back and forth to catch more of these eclectic vessels?

And if you’re interested in following my sister, click here.