Press Releases

Tugboats Available to the Public in Adopt-A-Ship Program

(October 1, 2007) The Northeastern Maritime Historical Foundation has recently announced the availability of four more historical tugboats from its collection of museum vessels. The tugs are now offered to the public on long-term charters as part of the Foundation’s “Adopt-A-Ship Program”. The program began three years ago as a tool for acquiring historic vessels which are still in service and to insure the on-going use of the vessels in the Foundation’s fleet which are still suited for commercial service.

Through the Adopt-A-Ship Program, an organization or individual may submit a proposal to the Foundation, basically asking for permission to take one of the Foundation’s museum vessels for their own personal or commercial use. The charters could be anywhere from a 1-year to a 10-year renewable term and involve either a monthly “rent” or more often, a NO-money deal, but rather trade for restoration services.

One example of a successful Adopt-A-Ship charter through the program is a large steel tugboat the Foundation owns. Several years ago, they were approached by a tugboat company who wanted to take the tug on charter to use, commercially, for a period of seven years. The terms of the charter involve a lease for $1.00 per year and trade for restoration and repair services, per a list agreed upon by both parties. The tug is now back in commercial service, performing beautifully. The operator gets a strong tug “cheap” and the Foundation will get their boat back in better condition than they gave it. And in any case… the general rule with boats is, “Use ‘em or Lose ‘em!” which is very true. The tug just sitting on display would rapidly become “no good”, whereas this same tug out on charter is only prolonging the vessel’s life. A “Win / Win” situation for both parties!

The Foundation has recently allocated four of their historic tugboats for the Adopt-A-Ship Program. The fleet includes: the tugboats ISLAY (Kahlenberg B-3 engine, 1892, 60-footer), MOUNT McKAY (Kahlenberg C-6 engine, 1908, 82-footer), SPIRIT OF ALGOMA (triple expansion steam engine, date of build unknown, 27-foot tug/launch), and the 40-foot gill-net fish-tug JANE (Caterpillar D318 engine, 1929). Each of the vessels is in need of minor to average repairs and upgrades. Recent surveys with all repair recommendations exist for each vessel. The vessels are all located on Lake Michigan with the exception of the tug McKAY which is at the Foundation’s restoration yard in Superior, WI. In the case of these four vessels, the three tugs are not likely fit for commercial service but would make excellent hobby tugs. However, the fish-tug is perfectly able to be operated commercially and still includes all it’s fishing gear including a net lifter, run by a PTO off the main engine.

The Foundation’s Board normally takes two weeks to approve or disapprove the applications. Applicants are judged on their personal ability to “own” a vessel of its particular size, their past experience in wood or steel work, mechanics, diesel or steam abilities, location, financial stability, and overall plan for use of vessel and plans for restoration work prior to returning vessel to the museum. The greater the detail, the better chance of plan approval. Most all costs involved in repairing, maintaining and operating the vessel, are tax deductible as monetary contributions to the Foundation.

Here’s your chance to “own” an historic tugboat or workboat with NO money upfront and in most cases, NO monthly payments and the vessel is yours for either a short-term or long-term charter… whatever you prefer! A perfect opportunity for those with the knowledge, experience and the ambition to restore and operate for fun or for commercial work, a full-size functional tugboat, with practically no money out of pocket!

Applications can be directed to Franz von Riedel by USPS mail to: Northeastern Maritime Historical Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 16687, Duluth, MN 55816-0687.

Follow the website www.NortheasternMaritime.org links to "The Fleet" for full details and photos on the above mentioned vessels!

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