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;

Large pieces of machinery manufactured by Star Iron & Steel. Cylindrical in shape, possibly a drum of some sort. Photographed on April 9, 1970. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel, Tacoma.

Machinery; Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. A familiar landmark in Tacoma was the imposing smokestack at the ASARCO smelter. It rose over 500 feet at the smelter located near Point Defiance. The smokestack, dubbed the tallest in the world at the time of its 1917 construction, would be demolished on January 17, 1993.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Smokestacks--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. View of ASARCO smelter ca. 1971. Once the tallest smokestack in the world, it was demolished in January of 1993, some eight years after the plant closed due to environmental and economic reasons. TPL-5856

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Smokestacks--Tacoma; Chimneys--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 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);

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;

Star Iron & Steel operations. A Star Iron & Steel employee in overalls and gloves is shown operating an unidentified machine at the company plant in March of 1971. Star Iron & Steel was a longtime Tacoma firm with origins in the 1920s. Cranes, hoists and special machinery made up 70% of Star Iron & Steel's annual volume. The company also specialized in fabricated steel and aluminum. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

Workers are preparing to move a floating bulkhead in early February of 1971 from its construction site at 326 Alexander Ave. to the Port of Tacoma waterfront. It appears that rubber segments are being laid to help with traction. The bulkhead was manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. It would be towed by tugboat down the coast and up the Columbia River to a dam on the Snake River. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

ca. 1971. Crane operations - customer negatives. Planks placed on a tilted board may have come from the boxcar nearby. Photographs requested by Star Iron & Steel Co., major crane manufacturer. Crane units visible were under construction by Star Iron & Steel; cranes, hoists and special machinery made up 70% of the company's annual volume. The company also specialized in fabricated steel and aluminum. See D159837, image 13, for progress photograph of crane. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Preparations are being made to transport a floating concrete bulkhead from Star Iron & Steel Co.'s plant at 326 Alexander Ave. in early February of 1971. The 25-foot high bulkhead appears to be placed on beams equipped with wheels. It would be hauled to the Port of Tacoma and then towed by tug to the Snake River for use on the Little Goose Lock & Dam. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

Star Iron & Steel Co. employees. Employees of Star Iron & Steel Co. pose happily on September 28, 1970, in front of company headquarters at 326 Alexander Ave. These men were the crew responsible for the building of the 100-ton floating cranes for the U.S. Navy. Star Iron & Steel was under contract to build several of these massive cranes for the government. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

Star Iron & Steel Co. operations. An unidentified Star Iron & Steel worker alertly keeps his eyes on the machine before him in this March, 1971, photograph. Star Iron & Steel had a backlog of unfilled contracts totaling $14,500,000, most scheduled for completion in 1971. The plant would have been bustling as there had been a 500% increase in sales over the last five years. Employment had tripled at the plant to handle the multitude of orders. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 12-13-70, C-21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Machinery;

The bulkhead has completed its move from Star Iron & Steel's Alexander Ave. location to the Port of Tacoma's waterfront. This February 4, 1971, photograph shows the floating bulkhead in place. Four days later, Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin moving the 114-ton, $165,000 bulkhead to the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. There the concrete bulkhead with watertight compartments would be used in maintenance and repair work. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21 - article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma;

A worker makes one final check before the heavy-duty Northwest Hauling Co. truck departs from Star Iron & Steel's tideflats location on February 3, 1971, with a floating bulkhead in tow. After a stop at the Port of Tacoma, the bulkhead would be towed by tug to its final destination at the Little Goose Lock & Dam on the Snake River. Although Star Iron & Steel was perhaps best known for its manufacture of cranes and hoists, it also accepted other contracts; this $165,000 contract was from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Closer view of floating bulkhead on February 4, 1971. Previous photographs of the bulkhead and its move from Star Iron & Steel's tideflats location to waterfront are in D159838, images 6, 12, 14, and 17. Workers are shown monitoring water spurting from the bulkhead. The bulkhead, 25-feet tall, was ordered by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for usage on the Snake River near the Tri-Cities. Star Marine Industries, a subsidiary of Star Iron & Steel, would begin transporting the 114-ton bulkhead on February 8, 1971 by tugboat from the Port of Tacoma. The $165,000 bulkhead was designed and built by Star Iron & Steel. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co. (TNT 2-6-71, p. 21- article)

Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Retaining walls--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);

Launching. The "Denise Marie," giant 225-foot steel tuna seiner, slipped gracefully down the ways into Hylebos Waterway on Saturday evening, June 5, 1971. She was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding and had a frozen tuna capacity of about 1,400 tons. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 6-6-71, A-12 - article) TPL-9533

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

Launching. The 225-foot steel tuna seiner, "Eileen M," slipped down the ways at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities on the Hylebos on the evening of August 21, 1971. She was the third of the "Strom" class of giant tuna boats to be launched. Mrs. Fred McDonell, wife of the ship's captain, performed the sponsor's duties of christening the ship. The "Eileen M" had a frozen fish capacity of 1,425 tons in 22 wells and contained deluxe quarters for a crew of 16 in her aluminum deckhouse. Final delivery to her owners was expected to be in early October of 1971 after conclusion of sea trials. The "Eileen M" would be used for fishing in Puerto Rican waters. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (Marine Digest, September 4, 1971, p. 32, TNT 8-23-71, p. 29 -article) TPL-9535

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

Launching. Mrs. Joseph Silveira of San Diego, sister-in-law of the captain, was the sponsor of the new tuna seiner, the "Denise Marie," which was successfully launched on June 5, 1971. Built by Tacoma Boatbuilding and powered by a General Electric locomotive type diesel, the big 225-foot fishing boat would have a frozen fish capacity of nearly 1,400 tons. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (Marine Digest, June 5, 1971, p. 34) TPL-9534

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

Launching party. The "Anela," a 100 x 25-foot steel tuna fishing sampan was launched at Martinolich Shipbuilding facilities on the Blair (formerly Port Industrial) Waterway at high tide in the early morning hours of October 18, 1971. Posed before the ship is the official launching party, including Martinolich president, Anthony Martinolich. Miss Rosemary Shinsato, daughter of owner Jack Shinsato, was the ship's sponsor; she was assisted by her mother, Mrs. Masae Shinsato. Both women are holding large bouquets of long stemmed roses. As a nod to the Hawaiian origins of the owners, fresh flower leis are being worn by everyone in the group. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding. (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); Shinsato, Rosemary; Shinsato, Masae; Martinolich, Anthony J.; Roses--Tacoma;

"SES-100A" experimental craft. The 100-ton surface effect ship (SES) was christened on July 24, 1971, at Tacoma Boatbuilding Co.'s facility on the Hylebos. A joint project of Tacoma Boatbuilding and California's Aerojet-General Corporation, the ship rides on a cushion of air at speeds far surpassing the swiftest of destroyers. Propulsion is provided by high capacity waterjets driven by gas turbine engines adapted to marine use. Mrs. Warren G. Magnuson performed the sponsor's duty of christening the craft with the traditional bottle of champagne; her husband, senator from Washington, was the principal speaker. View of the SES-100A along with empty reviewing stand. (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);