Pre-launching. The family of Capt. John Zolezzi, Jr., owner and skipper of the "Mary Antoinette" happily posed for a group portrait standing before the new tuna seiner on October 11, 1969. Mrs. Zolezzi, holding the traditional spray of red roses, was the ship's sponsor. The Zolezzis hailed from the San Diego area. The "Mary Antoinette" was built by local firm J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9449

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

Boat launching. The 160-foot all-aluminum ferry, the "Avalon," was successfully launched on October 25, 1969, by Martinolich Shipbuilding from their plant on the Port Industrial Waterway. The sleek vessel had a 27-foot beam and tipped the scale at 182 tons displacement. Four marine gas turbines powered the twin variable-pitch propellors. The "Avalon" was built for Holiday Services for use in shuttling passengers to Santa Catalina, about 26 miles from Los Angeles. She could carry up to 500 passengers with speeds of 25-28 knots. Built for more than $2,000,000, the "Avalon" would be delivered to the San Pedro area about two weeks after its launch date. Mrs. Robert Sprague, wife of one of the ship's owners, had christened the vessel with the traditional bottle of champagne. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 10-12-69, D-12; TNT 10-27-69, p. 6) tnt (A)-052A

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ferries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Boat launching. The YFB-87 is pictured on December 18, 1969, as she slid down the ways at Western Boat Building's new plant at 1720 Marine View Dr. on the Hylebos Waterway. The 165-foot double-ended car and passenger ferry was built for the Navy and would be towed to Hawaii in May of 1970. She was patterned after the Hiyu which now traveled between Point Defiance and Vashon Island. Photograph ordered by Western Boat Building Co.

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

Oceangoing tugs " Seneca" and "Sioux" were christened at Martinac Shipbuilding facilities on June 13, 1970. View of the "Seneca" in foreground with glimpse of the "Sioux" at left. Both tugs will be based in Seattle but will be utilized in hauling barges to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. The "Seneca" is already sea-worthy but the "Sioux" still needs outfitting. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 6-14-70, A-4)

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

Christening of tugboats. Mrs. Edith R. Bullock carries the traditional spray of red roses and a decorated bottle of champagne as she and other principal parties await the christening of the tugboat "Seneca" on June 13, 1970. Another tug, the "Sioux," would also be christened at Martinac Shipbuilding facilities the same day. Both oceangoing vessels were apparently based in Seattle but would haul barges to Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. Standing next to and behind the flowers of the sponsor, Mrs. Bullock, is J.S. Martinac of the shipbuilding firm. Other dignitaries are not identified. 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); Bullock, Edith R.; Martinac, J.S.;

Boatbuilder attaching wooden ribs to keel. This is possibly Tacoma Boat Building. Photograph ordered by West Coast Lumber Association. TPL-5546.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Champagne explodes as Mrs. William M. Allen, wife of the Boeing president, formally christens the hydrofoil PCH-1, High Point, on August 17, 1962, at Martinac Shipbuilding. Naval dignitaries look on while a small girl holds Mrs. Allen's bouquet of roses. The High Point was the first wave of Boeing hydrofoils. It was a 110-foot submarine chaser that used four propellers. Foils would create lift raising the hull of the aluminum structure out of the water. (www.boeing.com/history, TNT 7-31-62, A-1)

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

The Brynn Foss tugboat provides welcome assistance to the newly launched minesweeper MSI-14 on October 26, 1963. The ship was built by Tacoma Boat Building Co. and apparently launched at the Pacific Boat Yard. She was the second of a series of wooden-hulled, non-magnetic Navy minesweepers ordered from Tacoma Boat Building. The 110-foot craft carried a crew of 18. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co. (TNT 10-25-63, p. 28., TNT 10-27-63, A-8) TPL-9250

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

Preparations are being made for the launching of the 177-foot tuna seiner, the "City of Panama" on February 3, 1968. She would be sliding down the ways at Port Industrial Yard. Built by Tacoma Boatbuilding for Roland Virissimo of San Diego, the "City of Panama" was the second in the Blue Pacific class to be launched in two weeks, after "Bold Venture" on January 20th. The "City of Panama" was powered by a 2,075-horsepower electromotive diesel and could carry up to 925 tons of tuna. She would be used to fish in the waters near Puerto Rico. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9129

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

Drew Foss (2nd from L) is joined by his mother and father, Agnes and Henry Foss and Anthony J. Martinolich (farthest L) during the launching of the towboat Claudia Foss on February 24, 1968, at Martinolich Shipbuilding's Taylor Way yard. The 80-foot vessel was built for Foss Launch & Tug and had a 25-foot beam. It was the first of two towboats being built for Foss; the second, another 80-foot vessel, was scheduled for a May launching. The Fosses kept the tradition of naming their boats after members of the family; the Claudia Foss was named for the daughter-in-law of Barbara Foss Campbell, Wedell Foss' daughter. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding. (TNT 2-25-68, A-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Foss, Agnes S.; Foss, Drew; Martinolich, Anthony J.

Civilians and military personnel gathered for the launching of the USS Tacoma, the fourth vessel to bear the city's name, on April 13, 1968. The 165-foot aluminum-hulled boat was the eighth in a series of twelve patrol gunboats built for the Navy by Tacoma Boat Building. It would probably be deployed off the coast of Vietnam. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co.

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

The stern of the USS Tacoma. The USS Tacoma was successfully launched, bow-first, into the waters of Commencement Bay on April 13, 1968. The PG-92 was the eighth in a series of twelve Asheville Class patrol gunboats being built by Tacoma Boat Building for the U.S. Navy. The sleek boat was powered by two 750-horsepower diesels for normal cruising conditions and turbine for high speeds in excess of 40 knots. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 4-14-68, A-4)

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

Broadside view of the Eastern Pacific as it tests the waters of Commencement Bay in early August, 1965. The tuna clipper was built by Martinac Shipbuilding. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding. TPL-9058

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boats--Tacoma;

The "Pacific Pearl" was docked at Tacoma Boatbuilding on May 20, 1965. She was a new shellfish processing plant that had been converted from a 175-foot Coast Guard tender, the M.V. Hemlock. The floating cannery was to leave its berth in Tacoma and head toward Alaska. Photograph ordered by Northwest Advertising Co., Seattle. (TNT 5-23-65, A-15)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing industry--Washington; Canneries--Washington;

A man surveys the peaceful waterway as he stands aboard the "Pacific Pearl," a floating cannery, on May 20, 1965. The shellfish processing plant, out of Seattle, is docked at Tacoma Boatbuilding. The cannery was formerly a 175-foot Coast Guard tender, the M.V. Hemlock, before being rebuilt. Sutterlin & Wendt, Inc., packers of northwest seafoods under the Pacific Pearl label, would be moving their cannery from Tacoma to Alaska. Photograph ordered by Northwest Advertising Co., Seattle. (TNT 5-23-65, A-15)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing industry--Washington; Canneries--Washington;

The "Alpha Helix" commenced its trial runs on February 19, 1966. Martinac Shipbuilding built the 133-foot research vessel for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, as a floating experimental biology laboratory. It had a 31-foot beam and displacement of 512 tons, carried a crew of 12 and could berth a scientific party of ten. The $2,225,000 floating lab was skippered by Capt. James Faughn.The "Alpha Helix" made news on the day of its launching, June 29, 1964, when she broke away from fastenings on the Martinac ways and launched itself. She was spared damage when boom men alertly kept her from smashing into broken pilings. In 1980, the vessel was sold to the University of Alaska's Institute of Marine Science. Photograph ordered by J.M.Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. ( TNT 2-20-66, A-15; scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/archives/siohstry/alphahelix-hist.html; sea.edu/SEA2000/NewsUpdates2000/ShipyardNews/MartinacShipbuilding.htm)

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

View of USS Crockett. The USS Crockett was one of 17 gunboats in the Asheville class. Tacoma Boatbuilding had a government contract to build seven of these patrol gunboats, each costing 2.5 million dollars. The Crockett was the third to be launched. Nearly 165 feet in length, the Crockett could accelerate from 0 to 40 knots in 60 seconds. The aluminum ship had approximately 230 tons displacement weight and was powered by a gas turbine. It was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding on June 4, 1966, with christening honors performed by Mrs. Charles Horjes of Tacoma. After service in South Vietnam, it would be transferred to the Naval Reserve Force in 1975 and decommissioned in 1976. (TNT 2-6-66, A-16; TNT 6-5-66, D-15; www.navsource.org/archives/12/11088.htm; www.hobbybarn.com/Dumas-pages/USS-Crocket-1218.htm)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

USS Crockett (PG-88) prior to launching. The Asheville Class gunboat was launched at Tacoma Boat Building on June 4, 1966. Powered by a gas turbine, the speedy ship would be commissioned on June 24, 1967, and stationed in South Vietnam where she would be used for coastal patrol, blockade reconnaissance and to give support. The nearly 165-foot gunboat would hold a complement of 4 officers and 33 enlisted men. Tacoma Boat Building had won a government contract to build seven of these Asheville Class vessels. (TNT 2-6-66, A-16, www.navsource.org/archives/12/11088.htm; www.hobbybarn.com/Dumas-pages/USS-Crocket-1218.htm)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gunboats--United States; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Launching sponsor. Miss Tacoma of 1969, Terri Louise Bale, raises her wrapped bottle of champagne prior to christening the Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp.'s new tugboat, the "Betsy L," on Saturday, December 21, 1968. The tugboat was built for Knappton Towing Co. of Portland. Miss Bale, age 19 and a Tacoma Community College freshman, was crowned Miss Tacoma on November 30, 1968 at the Fellowship Hall. A self-taught pianist, she won the talent contest. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Bale. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 12-1-68, p. 1, TNT 12-2-68, p. 6, TNT 12-22-68, C-19)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bale, Terri Louise; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Launching party. Clutching the traditional bouquet of long stem red roses is Mary (Mrs. John) Silveira who was the sponsor of the tuna seiner, "Cheryl Marie," which was launched at 7:45 a.m. on December 7, 1968. Next to her is Mary (Mrs. Joe) Silveira who was her attendant. Both women are warmly dressed against the winter cold in knee-length coats with fur trim. Color photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. TPL-9219

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Silveira, John--Family; Silveira, Mary; Silveira, Joe--Family; Roses--Tacoma;

Participants in the June 23, 1972, keel laying at Martinolich Shipbuilding pause to admire ceremonial offerings. Fruit and flower sprays were among the items blessed. A fishing boat was being constructed for the Honolulu Fishing Corporation by Martinolich. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding.

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

Blessings are being offered on June 23, 1972, for the successful construction of a Long Line fishing vessel being built at Martinolich Shipbuilding for the Honolulu Fishing Corporation and David Abeshima. The boat was expected to be completed on February 1, 1973. The individual conducting the ceremony is believed to be a Shinto priest in traditional (nearly white) robes. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding.

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

Launching party. Mary (Mrs. Arthur) Ferreira holds a bouquet of long stem red roses and cradles a bottle of champagne prior to the launching of the tuna seiner, "M/V Atlantis," on Saturday evening, August 12, 1972. She would have the honor of christening the new fishing boat. Standing alongside Mrs. Ferreira is her husband, the captain and participating owner of the "Atlantis," and another family member, possibly a daughter. The 237-foot boat tuna seiner was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding at a cost of $3,000,000. Color photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 8-14-72, p. 27 -article)

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

Boat launching. Participants in the official launching of the "Sea Royal" posed for a group portrait on November 11, 1972, with the large 225-foot tuna seiner looming behind them. The fishing boat, built for Vivian Ann Fisheries Corporation, was launched from Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities on the Hylebos Waterway. Denise Andrade, wearing a white fur hat and red coat, was the ship's sponsor. She is the daughter of Captain Manuel Andrade of San Diego, president of the owning firm. Color photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 11-7-72, p. 24 -article; TNT 11-11-72, B-6 -article)

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

Copy of customer print. Two men are in the process of laying the superstructure onto the hull of this vessel in this undated photograph. This is perhaps a fishing boat. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding.

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

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 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);