Tugboats post-christening. On June 13, 1970, two tugboats were christened at Martinac Shipbuilding facilities. Both the "Seneca" (foreground) and "Sioux" (rear) are Seattle-based but will be used to haul barges to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska's oil fields. Color photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 6-14-70, A-4 - article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tugboats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Launching. The crowd at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Marine View Dr. facility has just watched the "Grand Rapids" slide gracefully down the ways on April 4, 1970. The ship was the 11th of 12 gunboats built under contract for the US Navy. House Minority Leader and future president Gerald R. Ford and family were on hand for the festivities as the vessel was named after the Fords' home town in Michigan.

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Gunboats--United States; Crowds--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching. View of the "Captain Vincent Gann" prior to her 8 p.m. launching on May 22, 1970. The 191-foot tuna seiner was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Plant #2 in the Port Industrial Yard. This would be the final launching at Plant #2 which had seen the production of nine fishing boats since 1966. All tuna boat construction in the future would be done at Tacoma Boatbuilding's new plant on the Hylebos Waterway. After her launching, the "Captain Vincent Gann" would be transported to the Hylebos location for outfitting and trials. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 5-22-70, D-7- article; TNT 5-24-70, B-11-article) TPL-9458

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching. People stop and stare at the "Captain Vincent Gann," a 191-foot tuna seiner, on her launch date of May 22, 1970, at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Port Industrial Yard plant. The fishing boat would be the last launching at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Plant #2 as all future tuna boats would be constructed and launched at the new Hylebos Waterway location. She would be launched by Mrs. Edmund Gann, wife of the ship's owner. Delivery was expected to her San Diego-area owners in July. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 5-22-70, D-7 - article; TNT 5-24-70, B-11 - article) TPL-9459

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching. The Tacoma Class Gunboat PG-100 (formerly PGM-100) was launched in ceremonies occurring at Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. at 4:45 p.m. on June 19, 1970. She would be commissioned the "USS Douglas" in February of 1971. The gunboat had a displacement of 250-ton and was 165-feet in length. She had a speed of 40k and was equipped with two gun mounts and two twin .50-cal machine guns. Only 6 1/2 years after she was commissioned, she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register. The "Douglas" was converted to a research vessel and renamed the R/V "Lauren." Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. (www.navsource.org/achives; TNT 6-19-70, p. 7 - article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching party. Posed before the patron gunboat PG-100 (formerly PGM-100) are the dignitaries involved in the launching ceremony on June 19, 1970. Clutching the traditional bouquet of beribboned red roses is Mrs. Willard F. Searle, Jr., of Alexandria, Virginia, the ship's sponsor who had the honor of christening the ship with a bottle of champagne. The "USS Douglas" was named after the city of Douglas, Arizona. Also in the photograph is believed to be Rear Adm. W.F. Petrovic, commander of the Puget Sound Naval Station. The gunboat was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., the last in a series of 12 aluminum gunboats built for the US Navy by that firm. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. (TNT 6-19-70, p. 7- article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Searle, Willard F.--Family; Roses--Tacoma;

John F. Kennedy. The 165-foot tuna seiner, "John F. Kennedy," was photographed on March 3, 1970, probably as she was undergoing sea trials in Puget Sound. The ship, built by Martinac Shipbuilding, had been launched on December 20, 1969. Upon completion of sea trials, she would be delivered to Star-Kis Foods on Terminal Island, California. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9455

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Ship trials. The tugboat "Sioux" chugs powerfully through the waves as she undergoes sea trials on June 29, 1970. Launched at Martinac Shipbuilding on June 13th along with sister tug, "Seneca," she would be used to haul barges to the oil fields of Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp.

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tugboats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Tuna clipper "John F. Kennedy." She was successfully launched in late December of 1969 by Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. Pictured above on March 3, 1970, in the waters of Puget Sound, the ship was probably undergoing sea trials. The 165-foot fishing vessel had a frozen fish capacity of 650-ton. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9456

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Sea trials. Ship trials were underway for the "Polaris," in May of 1970. She had been successfully launched at Martinac Shipbuilding's yard two months before. The 165-foot tuna seiner had a frozen fish capacity of 650-ton. Owned by Joseph and Edmund Gann of San Diego, the "Polaris" would be used for fishing in South America and Africa. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9457

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Aquarius. The fishing boat, "Aquarius," is pictured undergoing sea trials on February 20, 1971. She was built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. and launched on December 5, 1970. The 184-foot tuna seiner had a frozen fish capacity of 850-tons. She was owned by Joseph and Richard Madruga of San Diego. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9460

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Two Turner Towing trucks are parked on the company's lot in the 2600 block of Pacific Avenue in April of 1970. Both Kenworth trucks have the company logo, a dragon ("drag-in"), painted on the driver's door. One truck is familiarly dubbed "Little Audrey." Photograph ordered by Pacific Northwest Bell, Seattle, for use in a yellow pages ad.

Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980; Towing--Tacoma; Wreckers (Vehicles)--Tacoma; Turner Towing Co. (Tacoma);

Row of Western Furnaces trucks and delivery vans parked on Fox Island in late May of 1970. Mount Rainier and Sunset Beach/University Place across the water in background. According to a reader, Western Furnace would hold its annual company picnic at this location from the mid-1960s to 1992. Western Furnaces, Inc., was a long time Tacoma firm, established in 1912. Originally named Western Furnace & Foundry, it first manufactured cast iron "gravity feed" furnaces. Color photograph ordered by Western Furnaces, Inc. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Trucks--1970-1980; Western Furnaces, Inc. (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Fox Island (Wash.);

Ship trials. Color photograph of the fishing vessel, "Aquarius," undergoing sea trials on February 20, 1971. Waves churn as the big Martinac-built boat cuts briskly through the waters of Puget Sound. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9477

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Heavy duty machine at B&F Manufacturing, 11602 Pacific Hwy. S.W., Lakewood. It operates on an endless chain-track drive system and has two small blades. Photograph ordered by Travellers Insurance Co.

Tracklaying vehicles--Lakewood;

Milwaukee Road operations, Kent. The Milwaukee Road had opened their Kent Auto Marshaling area in late 1969. This is believed to be a view of a portion of the complex, including three buildings, and many parked cars and trucks. Photograph ordered by the Convoy Co., Portland.

Automobiles--Kent; Shipping--Kent;

An FH110 helicopter practices landing on a temporary helipad on January 19, 1971, at So. 19th & "J" Sts. The pad is marked with an enormous "H." St. Joseph's Medical Evaluation personnel may have been testing the feasibility of this temporary site. The church in the background is believed to be St. John Baptist Church. Photograph ordered by St. Joseph Hospital.

Helicopters--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Launching. If you think this fishing boat looks larger than normal, you are correct. This is the "Apollo;" at 258-feet long with a 44-foot beam, it was the world's largest tuna clipper in 1970. The $3,000,000 boat was under construction at Tacoma Boatbuilding for one year. Tacoma Boatbuilding had built 12 out of the 25 tuna boats built locally in the last eight years. The "Apollo" was launched on Saturday, October 24, 1970, at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Hylebos plant. She was the largest boat built by the firm and would remain in Tacoma until December of 1970 for final outfitting and acceptance trials. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. (TNT 10-23-70, p. 11- article; TNT 10-25-70, B-9) TPL-9528

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching. A beaming Mrs. Manuel Cintas, wife of one of the newly launched "Apollo" owners, poses with the traditional spray of beribboned red roses on October 24, 1970. She was the ship's sponsor and had the honor of christening the tuna clipper before the vessel slipped stern-first into the Hylebos Waterway. The "Apollo," built by Tacoma Boatbuilding, was the world's largest tuna boat in 1970. It took a year to construct the 258-foot vessel. The "Apollo" had a capacity of 2000 tons of frozen tuna, 600 tons more than her largest competitor. The "Charley the Tuna" cartoon sign on the viewing stand was there as an advertisement for Star-Kist, whose Puerto Rican cannery would accept the frozen tuna. The ship's owners were Ocean Blazers, Inc., of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 10-23-70, p. 11- article; TNT 10-25-70, B-9) TPL-9529

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Cintas, Manuel--Family; Roses--Tacoma;

Launching. The tuna clipper, "Aquarius," was launched in official ceremonies on Saturday, December 5, 1970, at Martinac Shipbuilding facilities. The above photograph, with decorative bunting, was taken before she slipped down the ways into the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The 184-foot tuna seiner was owned by brothers Joseph and Richard Madruga of San Diego. They operated a tuna fleet for Van Camp Sea Foods. The ship was powered by a 3600 hp diesel engine and had a frozen fish capacity of 850 tons. She had a 35-foot beam. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 12-7-70, p. 36 - article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The St. Joseph Medical Evaluation team prepares to board the waiting FH110 helicopter on January 19, 1971. A temporary helipad, marked with an enormous "H," has been laid on muddy ground. A white ambulance with hatch open is parked nearby. Photograph ordered by St. Joseph Hospital.

Helicopters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ambulances--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Sponsor at launching. The 184-foot fishing vessel, "Aquarius," was launched on December 5, 1970. She was built by Martinac Shipbuilding who had built the "Conquest" for the couple to the left, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Madruga, two years before. The other couple in the photograph is believed to be the Richard Madrugas, co-owners of the tuna seiner. The Madruga brothers operated a tuna fleet for Van Camp Sea Foods. The new ship carried a crew of 16 and had an 850-ton frozen fish capacity. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 12-7-70, p. 36 - article) TPL-9530

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Madruga, Joseph; Madruga, Joseph--Family;

Launching. The 225-foot tuna seiner, "A.K. Strom," was launched at 8:30 a.m. on March 20, 1971, at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities with Mrs. Floyd Burgi as the ship's sponsor. The ship is named after Tacoma Boatbuilding founder Arne K. Strom and was the first vessel named for the Strom family. Built at a total cost of over $2,000,000, she was the first of four identical boats expected to be completed this year by the shipyard. The "A.K. Strom" was capable of carying 1,425 tons of frozen tuna. After extensive ship trials, the seiner arrived in San Diego over Memorial Day weekend. Captained by David Rico and a crew of 16, she would fish for Star-Kist Foods, Inc. while based in Puerto Rico. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (Marine Digest - June 5, 1971; TNT 3-21-71, B-3; TNT 3-19-71, A-5-article ) TPL-9531

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching party. The 258-foot tuna boat, "Apollo," was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities on the Hylebos Waterway on Saturday, October 24, 1970. She was the world's largest tuna clipper and the largest boat built by Tacoma Boatbuilding. The launching drew an interested crowd, including feature speaker, Congressman Floyd Hicks. Posed dockside are members of the launching party, with Mrs. Manuel Cintas, holding bouquet of red roses, as the ship's sponsor. Owners of the "Apollo" are Ocean Blazers, Inc. of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Color photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 10-23-70, p. 11- article; TNT 10-25-70, B-9)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Cintas, Manuel--Family; Roses--Tacoma;

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. It took only 10 minutes to destroy 11 years of craftsmanship. Architect Silas E. Nelsen and his son, Silas Jr., spent 11 years building this cedar-hulled, teak finished sailing vessel in a shed behind the architect's office on Center St. Fire destroyed both the shed and the boat on April 4, 1970. The remains of the sailboat were sold to Wesley Robert Hatton for one dollar; Hatton then hauled the hulk to Bayshore Marina property on the Ruston Way waterfront. There she became an odd "landmark" with a "Bayshore Coffee Shop" sign hanging from her prow. The marina's new owner, Virgil Hohman, wanted to get rid of the charred boat but the owner's whereabouts were unknown. The building partially obscured by the boat is believed to be the Bayshore Boat Lockers which was located at 4013 Ruston Way. That address is now the location of the restaurant, Lobster Shop South, which was built in 1981. (TNT 11-8-74, B-7 article on boat)

Sailboats--Tacoma;

ca. 1971. Internal view of the "A.K. Strom." This is the engine room of the 225-foot steel tuna seiner, the "A.K. Strom," which had been launched on March 20, 1971. According to "Marine Digest," the main propulsion is a GE model 7 FDM16, 16 cylinder, 4-cycle non-reversing supercharged diesel. The "A.K. Strom" is the fastest vessel of her size in the U.S. fishing fleet as she has a loaded speed of over 15 knots. Photograph ordered by General Electric, Erie, PA. (Marine Digest, June 5, 1971) TPL-9537

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Engine rooms; Engines; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. Fishing boat, "A.K. Strom," perhaps undergoing sea trials in the late spring of 1971. After completion of trials, the giant 225-foot tuna seiner was destined for delivery to San Diego. The "A.K. Strom" was the first of four identical ships expected to be completed by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. Color photograph ordered by General Electric, Erie, PA.

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching. The sampan, "Anela," slides gracefully down the ways at Martinolich Shipbuilding on October 18, 1971. The 100 x 25-footer, a modern steel version of the traditional Hawaiian sampan fishing boat, would be used for tuna fishing by Jack Shinsato's Angel Fishing Co., Ltd. "Anela" is the Hawaiian version of Angel. This unique ship was the first ever of its kind built of steel. Instead of standard fishing racks, the "Anela" featured a low stern platform and side guards wide enough for men to stand on and handle nets. Her keel was specifically designed to protect the rudder and single screw from coral reef damage. The "Anela" was able to hold up to 100-tons of tuna in eight seawater-circulating fish wells. She would be powered by a 850-hp diesel engine. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 10-18-71, p. 9)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Sampans--Tacoma; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Launching. The tuna seiner, "Denise Marie," was successfully launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities on June 5, 1971. She was the second of four steel 225-foot seiners built by the firm; the first was named after the company founder, A.K. Strom. The "Denise Marie" would be ready for sea trials in July with delivery planned for July 30th to her San Diego owners. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 6-6-71, A-12) TPL-9532

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

A large crowd of shipbuilders, their families, and Navy officials numbering 300 and more attended the christening of the 100-ton prototype craft, the "SES-100A," on Saturday, July 24, 1971 at the Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities, 1840 Marine View Drive N.E. The surface effect ship (SES) could travel at twice the speed of then-current destroyers. Senator Warren G. Magnuson was the primary speaker at the event; he stated that the SES was "the first step in the evolution of multi-thousand-ton high speed ships of the future." Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. (TNT 7-14-71, A-1-article; TNT 7-25-71, A-19)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Ground-effect machines; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);