Winifred (Mrs. Melvin M.) Larsen is proudly displaying the commemorative silver platter she received as sponsor at the launching of the AMS minesweeper #115 built by Tacoma Boat Building Company. The tray had an engraving of the vessel and an inscription telling of the occasion. Navy rules permitted a woman only one Navy vessel sponsorship. This was Winnie's second time "at bat", however, since she had been sponsor of and christened the tuna clipper Saratoga in 1951. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.B-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Larsen, Winifred;

Dignitaries gather for a group portriat prior to the launching of the AMS 115, a 144-foot minesweeper, at Tacoma Boat Building Company. Owners of Tacoma Boat, Arne Strom and Harold Dahl are seen near the right. The sponsor, Winifred (Mrs. Melvin M.) Larsen, secretary to Charles Bevis, Tacoma Boat's manager, is holding a bouquet of roses. Captain Chester J. Chastek, state director of the selective service addressed those attending the launching. Others on the program were Lt. Cmdr. S.E. Anderson, chaplain of the Sand Point Naval Air station, Arne Strom and Capt. Linton Herndon, Navy supervisor of shipbuilding in the Tacoma area. (TNT, 10/5/1952, p.B-3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Larsen, Winifred; Dahl, Haldor; Strom, Arne;

ca. 1955. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. The photograph is labelled 9-1-1955, but has a series number that belongs in 1956. Nestled between the 15th Street bridge and the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge on the City Waterway is Martinac shipbuilding. Four large vessels are docked at the company for work. To the right of 15th Street is the Union Pacific Freight Station; to the right of Union Pacific is West Coast Grocery. To the left of the railroad bridge is the J.D. English Steel Co. and behind them is the A.J. Johnson Co.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #97 in 1953. The last Naval minesweeper would be sliding off the ways at Tacoma Boatbuilding as the fifth one was launched. Mrs. Henry F. Agnew, wife of the Commandant of the Tacoma Naval Station, was sponsor (holding bouquet of roses), Nicola Tollefson, daughter of the Mayor Harold Tollefson, was flower girl and Capt. J.R. Topper was the speaker. Arne Strom, in suit, owner of the company, was the master of ceremonies. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. C-12)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Strom, Arne; Agnew, Henry F.--Family;

AMS #118 prepares to be launched on April 14, 1953. The minesweeper was built by Pacific Boat Building Co. Several boat building firms in Tacoma had received contracts to build minesweepers for the Navy, including Pacific Boat Building and J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. AMS #436, the USS Energy, had been launched just two months before by Martinac. The 118 was the third of the 144 foot minesweepers built locally. Mrs. Charles M. Bevis sponsored the AMS #118; Rear Admiral Arthur D. Ayrault, USN (Ret.) was the principal speaker. (TNT 4-15-53, p. 6)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Interiors of A.M.S. #113 (minesweeper) built at Tacoma Boat Building. Forward crew quarters, with bunks folded up. Space was at a premium on the 144 ft vessel and was utilized carefully, fitting as much into a small space as possible. The 113 was scheduled to be delivered in November to the French Navy as part of the mutual aid program. (TNT 10/25/1953, pg. B-3)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Crew quarters; Warships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Children perched high on a ladder get a good bird's eye view on May 15, 1953, of the launching of two vessels built by the Tacoma Boat Building Co. for the Navy. They, and the large group of spectators, listen intently to a guest speaker at the podium. The two 57-foot minesweepers, MSB-16 and MSB-17, were launched within minutes of each other. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Two 57-foot minesweepers are side-by-side shortly after being launched on May 15, 1953. Built by Tacoma Boat Building under a Navy contract, the vessels were launched minutes apart. The MSB-17 is accompanied by the tug, Drew Foss, while the MSB-16 is escorted by the Peter Foss. Tacoma Boat Building also was awarded contracts to build several 144-foot mindsweepers during the early 1950's. (TNT 5-17-53, B-7) TPL-9620

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

With a mighty swing, Jeanne Martin Soares christens the new "Blue Pacific" on March 29, 1967. The vessel was launched at Tacoma Boat Building. She was a 176-foot steel tuna seiner built for Capt. Roger Soares of San Diego who placed her in operation for White Star- Van Camp Seafoods. The "Blue Pacific" was the largest tuna fishing boat built from the keel up at the time. She was constructed in the Port Industrial Yard (the former Tacoma Naval Station) by Tacoma Boat Building. Moments after the christening, the "Blue Pacific" eased down the ways and came to a standstill before she finally floated free. Five Foss tugs assisted when the boat was hung up. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building. (TNT 3-12-67, A-23, TNT 3-29-67, A-1) TPL-9061 (Corrected identification provided by a reader)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Soares, Jeanne Martin;

Ship's sponsor. The U.S. Navy patrol gunboat, the "Tacoma," is ready for launching into Commencement Bay on April 13, 1968. Mrs. Arne Strom, the ship's sponsor, is holding a bouquet of longstem red roses. Her husband, standing next to her, is the chairman of the board of Tacoma Boat Building. Mrs. Strom would have the honor of christening the new vessel with the traditional bottle of champagne. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. (TNT 4-14-68, A-4)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Strom, Arne; Strom, Arne--Family;

Tacoma Boat Building launched MSC-277, a 145-foot minesweeper built for the Navy, on June 30, 1958, in Sitcum Waterway. During the early 1950's, Tacoma's shipbuilding companies had garnered several contracts to build vessels for the government. This wooden minesweeper, however, was the first to be formally launched in nearly two years by a Tacoma firm. Tacoma Boat Building was awarded a contract to build four minesweepers for the Navy at a cost of approximately $7 million. Since then, the firm had received contracts totaling $4.25 million for six more Navy craft. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. Guy Garland, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 6-27-58, A-1, TNT 6-29-58, B-2, TNT 7-1-58, A-6))

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Boat under construction. Tacoma Boat Building was under contract to build U.S. Navy aluminum gunboats in 1964. Four gunboats were under construction under two separate contracts. Tacoma Boat would win a $6,731,046 contract to build three more motor gunboats in January, 1965. The lightweight aluminum hulls on these patrol boats would permit operations in relatively shallow waters. They were designed to operate offensively on patrol blockades and surveillance missions. Constructed of aluminum, the boats would be 165 feet long with 25-foot beams and be equipped with 3" gun and 40 mm gun. View of Tacoma Boat Building employee in mid-October, 1964, working with long pieces of aluminum. Photograph ordered by Reynolds Metals Co., Los Angeles, for company's annual report. (TNT 1-15-65, A-1)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Aluminum;

The Brynn Foss tug gently guides the MSC-290 minesweeper, Gannet II, after its launching on May 26, 1960, at Tacoma Boat Building. It would be commissioned in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard a year later, on July 11, 1961, and eventually be sent to monitor the waters of Japan and Vietnam. The MSC-290 was the sixth of seven coastal mindsweepers built by Tacoma Boat Building under contract with the Navy. It was christened by Mrs. F.P. Luongo. (TNT 5-27-60, p. 3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The minesweeper MSC-298 was successfully launched at Tacoma Boat Building on the evening of September 14, 1962. The 145-foot minesweeper was the 26th of its kind built for the Navy by Tacoma Boat since 1951. The ship weighed 372 tons when fully outfitted and had a 27-foot beam. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. (TNT 9-15-62, p. 3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Broadside view of Boeing's PCH-1 hydrofoil, High Point, at Martinac Shipbuilding. The High Point was launched on August 17, 1962, in the presence of Boeing longtime president William M. Allen. Realizing that water and air present similar challenges in control, stability, electronics, hydraulics and propulsion, the Boeing Co. began to use many of the systems found in jet airplanes, adapted, for hydrofoils. The High Point was the first launched in 1962 at Martinac Shipbuilding in Tacoma; it slid into City Waterway during high tide. (www.boeing.com/history; TNT 8-18-62, A-1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hydroplanes--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Broadside view of Navy minesweeper MSC 299 at Tacoma Boat Building on January 26, 1963. Vessel was launched at 4:30 that afternoon; champagne honors by Mrs. James B. Burrow. The 140' non-magnetic minesweeper was the second of a series of four being built for the Navy by Tacoma Boat Building. (TNT 1-27-63, A-2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The 53' purse seiner, Haida Maid, was launched at Western Boat Building on June 20, 1963. It was owned by Hydaburg Co-op of Alaska. Hydaburg was a Haida Indian tribal association which operated under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. View of the Haida Maid as it prepares to slide, stern first, down the ways. (TNT 6-21-63, p. 19)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

The crew of the newly launched Haida Maid survey calm waters on June 20, 1963. The Haida Maid was a 53' purse seiner built by Western Boat Building for the Hydaburg Co-op, a Haida Indian tribal association which operated under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Mary Petrich, daughter of Western Boat Building vice-president James Petrich, christened the boat earlier that day. (TNT 6-21-63, p. 19)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Launching of military vessel MSI-14 on Saturday, October 26, 1963. Ship was built by Tacoma Boat Building and waits to be launched at Pacific Boat Yard, 759 Port of Tacoma Road. She was the second of series of wooden-hulled, non-magnetic minesweepers ordered by the Navy. Tacoma Boat Building would also build four other larger minesweepers. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. Mark C. Jewett of Washington D.C. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building. (TNT 10-25-63, p. 28, TNT 10-27-63, A-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Boat launching. The bow of the 165-foot tuna seiner, the "Anne M," looms over the guest speaker at her launching ceremonies on June 14, 1969. The "Anne M" is the sixth in a series built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. She has a 2800 h.p. diesel main engine and expects to exceed 14 knots. Carrying a crew of 14, she will be captained by Frank Souza of San Diego. Capt. Souza has been master and owner of several other tuna vessels including the "Mary S," "Southern Pacific," and "Antoinette B." The new seiner will be fishing out of Astoria, Oregon, for Bumble Bee Seafoods, a division of Castle and Cooke. Expected delivery to her new owners is late August of 1969. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 6-16-69, p. 29) TPL-9405

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Spectators--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Boat launching. With a mighty swing, Mrs. John S. McGowan christens the new fishing boat named in her honor, the "Anne M," with the traditional bottle of champagne during evening ceremonies on June 14, 1969. The 165-foot tuna seiner was the sixth in a series of fishing vessels built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. Mrs. McGowan is the wife of the president of Bumble Bee Seafoods. The "Anne M" will fish in Astoria waters for Bumble Bee. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. (TNT 6-16-69, p. 29) TPL-9402

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; McGowan, John S.--Family; McGowan, Anne; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Boat launching. Mrs. Robert Sprague of Los Angeles performs the customary duties of ship sponsor as she christens the new all-aluminum ferry, "Avalon," at Martinolich Shipbuilding, on the Port Industrial Waterway, on October 25, 1969. Mrs. Sprague was the wife of one of the ship's owners. The "Avalon" was the largest all-aluminum passenger ferry ever built and would be delivered to Holiday Services in San Pedro, California, two weeks after launching. The ferry, with a 27-foot beam, could carry up to 500 people at once. She would be used to shuttle passengers to Santa Catalina, some 26 miles from Los Angeles. With a maximum speed of 28 knots, the "Avalon" would replace outdated and too expensive steamships. Martinolich built a big new shipshed, with height of 40-feet, to house the ferry while under construction. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 11-20-68, p. 1; TNT 10-12-69, D-12; TNT 10-27-69, p. 6)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ferries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sprague, Robert--Family;

Boat launching. The Hawaii-bound ferry, YFB-87, was successfully launched at Western Boat Building's new facilities on the Hylebos Waterway on December 18, 1969. The 165-foot car and passenger ferry had a 38 car/500 passenger capacity. Built for the U.S. Navy, she would be towed to Hawaii in May of 1970, for use traveling to and from Ford Island to Pearl Harbor. Photograph ordered by Western Boat Building Co. (TNT 12-19-69, A-3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ferries; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

The YFB-87, built for the U.S. Navy, was the first vessel launched from Western Boat Building's new shipbuilding plant at 1720 Marine View Dr. N.E. on the Hylebos Waterway. The 165-foot ferry, christened by Mary Petrich, slid down the ways on December 18, 1969. This ferry was not built to operate in Washington waters but instead was towed to Hawaii where she was used for the Pearl Harbor - Ford Island runs. She was completed in May, 1970 and christened "Moko Holo Hele" which means "Ship that goes back and forth". YFB-87 is no longer in service between Pearl Harbor and Ford Island. She went out of service when the Admiral Bernard "Chick" Clarey Bridge opened in April, 1998. (Photograph ordered by Western Boat Building Co.) (TNT 12-19-69, A-3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ferries; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Boat launching. Mary Petrich, daughter of Western Boat Building vice-president James Petrich, christens the new Pearl-Harbor bound YFB-87 ferry on December 18, 1969. The traditional bottle of champagne has exploded upon impact. The YFB-87 ferry was the first vessel launched at Western Boat's new shipbuilding plant on the Hylebos Waterway. Photograph ordered by Western Boat Building Co. (TNT 12-19-69, A-3)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ferries; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Petrich, Mary;

View of PG-96, the USS Benicia, on launch date of December 20, 1969. The Benicia, the second US Navy ship to bear the name and named after the city of Benicia, California, was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding's new plant on the Hylebos on December 20, 1969. The 165-foot gunboat had a 24-foot beam and could reach speeds of 40k. She would be commissioned on April 20, 1970 and decommissioned on October 2, 1971. After service in the South Korean navy, the ship was struck from the Naval Register on August 30, 1996, decommissioned and scrapped. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 12-21-69, A-4; www.navsource.org/archives)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Post-launch view of the USS Benicia. The all-aluminum patrol gunboat was successfully launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding's new shipyard on the Hylebos on December 20, 1969. She had been christened by Mrs. W.F. Petrovic, the wife of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's commander. Tacoma's shipbuilders were very busy during the 1960's with orders from the US Navy as well as from individuals, particularly those seeking big fishing vessels. Both Western Boat Building and Tacoma Boatbuilding would operate from new, larger plants on the Hylebos in 1969. (TNT 12-21-69, A-4)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Boat launching. With a mighty swing, Mrs. W.F. Petrovic christened the new patrol gunboat, the USS Benicia, at Tacoma Boatbuilding's new $3,000,000 shipyard on the Hylebos Waterway on December 20, 1969. Mrs. Petrovic was the wife of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's commander. The 165-foot vessel, PG-96, was made entirely of aluminum. The Benicia was the 10th of 12 165-foot gunboats being built for the Navy by Tacoma Boatbuilding. She would be commissioned in April of 1970. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 4-20-69, B-19; TNT 12-21-69, A-4)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Petrovic, W.F.--Family;

Launching. Champagne explodes as Mrs. Joseph A. Gann, wife of the ship's co-owner, officially christens the tuna seiner, "Polaris," on March 7, 1970. The 165-foot fishing boat was one of three ships built for Joseph and Edmund Gann of San Diego by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. The sister ship of the "John F. Kennedy" would be handed over to her owners in May and would join the Gann fleet operating near South America and Africa. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 3-8-70, C-23 - article) TPL-9452

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

Launching party. Posed before the 165-foot tuna seiner, the "Polaris," are members of the launching party on March 7, 1970. The fishing vessel was built for the Gann brothers of San Diego by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. It was the 9th seiner built of that size by Martinac and one of three built for Joseph and Edmund Gann by the company. Mrs. Joseph A. Gann, clutching the traditional spray of red roses, was the ship's sponsor. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. (TNT 3-8-70, C-23- article) TPL-9454

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