Post-launching. The "Grand Rapids" rests alongside Tacoma Boatbuilding's Marine View Dr. facilities after a successful launching on April 4, 1970. The gunboat was named for the hometown of House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford; Mr. Ford and his family were in attendance at the launching ceremonies. The PG 98 would be commissioned on September 5, 1970. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding.

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

Another view of refrigerated fish barge, previously shown in D158402, image 3. It appears still under construction at the Arcweld plant in Marysville in early May of 1970. Photograph ordered by U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, PA.

Barges--Marysville; Boat & ship industry--Marysville;

Floating refrigeration facility - fish barge- at Arcweld plant in Marysville, Washington. Barge appears to be placed on a pier. Photograph was taken on May 7, 1970, for U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, PA.

Barges--Marysville; Boat & ship industry--Marysville;

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);

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);

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.;

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;

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. The 184-foot steel tuna seiner, "Trinidad," was launched at 5:30 a.m. on February 27, 1971, from the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding yard on the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The $2,100,000 fishing boat was christened by Mrs. William A. Magellan, wife of the owner/skipper. Scheduled delivery to her San Diego owner was expected in mid-May of 1971. The vessel, capable of holding 850-ton of frozen fish, was used to fish for Star-Kist Foods. The 36-foot wide "Trinidad" was air conditioned and held a crew of 16. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 2-28-71, A-21- article) TPL-9461

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

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;

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;

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. 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);

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. 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. 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);

Keel laying ceremonies. This is the view overlooking the keel of the new steel sampan being built for Angel Fishing Co., Ltd., by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corporation. The ship, later christened the "Anela," was built on a specially designed shallow-draft square keel to protect the rudder and single screw from potential damage of sharp coral reefs. The keel was placed in the cradle in which the ship will be built. It ran in the middle of the ship, from her bow to stern, and formed the spine of the ship. The keel was laid on June 19, 1971 and launching scheduled for November 25th. Upon completion, the ship would be delivered to her owners for fishing out of Honolulu. However, work on the sampan progressed so rapidly that the launching was actually accomplished ahead of time on October 18, 1971, with members of the Shinsato family present. See D160872, images 2 & A for launching photographs. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 10-18-71, p. 9- article and photo of launching)

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

Keel laying ceremonies. In lieu of smashing a bottle of champagne, Japanese sake is gently poured over the keel of a new steel sampan being built at Martinolich Shipbuilding facilities on Alexander Ave. The family of Jack Shinsato, Honolulu owners, do the honors on June 19, 1971. The sampan will be 100-feet X 25-feet and when completed in December, will be used for fishing in Hawaiian waters. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp.

Sampans--Tacoma; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Shinsato, Jack--Family;

Keel laying ceremonies. On June 19, 1971, the keel was laid at Martinolich Shipbuilding for a 100-foot X 25-foot sampan. The sampan is being built for Jack Shinsato and Angel Fishing Co., Ltd. A representative of the Shinsato family is pictured above applying a ceremonial welding to the keel. The man standing on the step above him has not been positively identified but may be a member of the Martinolich family. According to the sign on display before the keel, the sampan was scheduled for launching on November 25, 1971 and completed on December 10th. The fishing boat was actually launched a month ahead of time, on October 18, 1971, at Martinolich's Blair Waterway plant. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp.

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

ca. 1971. Engine room of tuna seiner, "A.K. Strom." The steel 225-foot fishing boat was driven by a 3,100 hp diesel engine. She could carry a maximum of 1400 tons of tuna at 16 knots. The General Electric main propulsion engine was the first G.E. diesel ever used in a marine installation. The "A.K. Strom" was launched on March 20, 1971 at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities. She would be delivered to her owners in San Diego over Memorial Day weekend. Photograph ordered by General Electric, Erie, PA. (Marine Digest, June 5, 1971; TNT 3-19-71, A-5 article) TPL-9536

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

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);

"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);