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 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 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;

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);

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;

Boat launching. View of Tacoma Boatbuilding plant on the Hylebos Waterway on November 11, 1972, when the fishing boat "Sea Royal" was launched. The "Sea Royal" was another of the large 225-foot class of tuna seiners produced by Tacoma Boatbuilding. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. TPL-9758

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

The "Sea Royal." The "Sea Royal," which was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities on the Hylebos Waterway, was capable of traveling better than 15 knots. It could hold a crew of 17. The large 225-foot tuna seiner was built for Capt. Manuel Andrade of San Diego, president of Vivian Ann Fisheries Corporation. His daughter Denise was the ship's sponsor. Sea trials would be conducted in December and delivery to the ship's owner anticipated before January 1, 1973. Color photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 11-7-72, p. 24 -article; TNT 11-12-72, B-6)

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

The 181-foot tuna seiner, "Jilor," was successfully launched on February 8, 1975, at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities. She was the first of three steel hulled fishing boats destined for Senegal. The launching attracted several dignitaries including the ambassador to the United States from Senegal, Andre Coulbary and wife Saffia, and Congressman Floyd Hicks. The "Jilor" had a 22-man crew and could hold 800 tons of frozen fish. Photograph ordered by the United States Information Agency, Washington D.C. TPL-9885

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

Wearing traditional Senegalese clothing were Andre Coulbary and his wife Saffia as they pose in front of the newly launched fishing vessel, "Jilor," on February 8, 1975. Mr. Coulbary was the ambassador to the United States from Senegal who flew in from Washington D.C. for launching ceremonies at Tacoma Boatbuilding. The 181-foot fishing vessel was the first of three tuna seiners destined for Senegal at a total price tag of $12 million dollars. The steel hulled seiner was believed to be the first major American built fishing boat to be delivered new to a country outside the Americas. Named after a small fishing village southwest of Dakar, she could carry a crew of 22 and had a 14-tank, 800-ton frozen fish capacity. Traveling at a top speed of 15 knots, the "Jilor" would set sail for Senegal in the spring. A crowd of about 500 people braved the slight snow/sleet to watch the launching. The two men flanking the ambassador and his wife were not identified. (TNT 2-6-75, A-3 -article; TNT 2-9-75, D-6 -article) TPL-9475

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Coulbary, Andre; Coulbary, Saffia; Ambassadors--Senegal;

"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);

Side-and-rear view of the "SES-100A," a revolutionary 100-ton prototype craft produced in conjunction with Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Aerojet-General Corporation of California, and the U.S. Navy. The ship was christened by Mrs. Warren G. Magnuson in ceremonies occurring on July 24, 1971, at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities. According to the Christening Ceremony Program, the high-speed Surface Effect Ship (SES) was to be tested to provide data for design of multi-thousand ton SES of the future. It was built from several modern materials, principally of a welded aluminum alloy, so that it would have longevity at sea. Ship construction and outfitting was done by Tacoma Boatbuilding. Photograph ordered by Reynolds Metal, Portland. ("Christening Ceremony Program")

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

Launching. Champagne spurts as with a mighty swing, Mrs. Frank Gargas (sp) officially christens the new tuna seiner, the "Voyager," on February 12, 1972. The 237-foot fishing boat was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding and launched that Saturday afternoon at the company's Hylebos Waterway plant. Once outfitting and sea trials were completed in March, the ship would be turned over to her owners, Voyager, Inc., of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 2-14-72, p. 18 - article) TPL-9754

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

Launching. The 237-foot tuna seiner, "Voyager," was successfully launched on Saturday afternoon, February 12, 1972, on the ways at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Hylebos Waterway facility. The ship is owned by Voyager, Inc., of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She will be delivered to her owners after undergoing sea trials in March. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. (TNT 2-14-72, p. 18) TPL-9756

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

Launching. Mrs. Frank Gargas (sp), wife of the "Voyager's" captain, poses in front of the 237-foot fishing boat on February 12, 1972. The tuna seiner was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding for Voyager, Inc., of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mrs. Gargas was the ship's sponsor and would have the pleasant duty of christening the ship with the bottle of champagne she is holding. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 2-14-72, p. 18 -article) TPL-9755

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

Boat launching. Holding the traditional bouquet of red roses and cradling a bottle of champagne is Denise Andrade, daughter of Captain Manuel Andrade of San Diego. Denise was the official sponsor undertaking christening duties of the new tuna seiner, "Sea Royal," which was launched at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Hylebos location on November 11, 1972. With the young sponsor are members of her family. At 9:00 a.m., Denise would take a two-handed swing and officially launch the 225-foot fishing boat. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 11-7-72, p. 24- article; TNT 11-12-72, B-6 -article) TPL-9757

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

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. 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. The "M/V Atlantis" was successfully launched on Saturday evening, August 12, 1972, at Tacoma Boatbuilding. The ship, with a 41-foot beam, was owned by M/V Atlantis Corporation of California. She had a frozen fish capacity of 1500 tons. Captaining the ship will be Arthur Ferreira whose wife served as the ship's sponsor; this would be the third Tacoma Boatbuilding vessel that Captain Ferreira has owned jointly with Edmund Gann. The $3,000,000 fishing boat would leave to San Diego in mid-December after completion of four sea trials. Color photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 8-14-72, p. 27 -article; TNT 12-15-72, B-7 -article on ship trials)

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

Launching. This is the "Maia H" tugboat that was officially launched on Saturday, March 24, 1973, at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities. According to a News Tribune article, she was the first tug launched in Tacoma in many years. She had actually had an "instant dumping" two months ago. Maia Halvorsen, daughter of owner Boyer Halvorsen of Bainbridge Island, was the ship's sponsor. The "Maia H" will haul a fast freight barge between Seattle and Ketchikan, Alaska. (TNT 3-25-73, A-22)

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tugboats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (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 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. The "Jacqueline Marie" was officially launched on Saturday, October 30, 1971, at Tacoma Boatbuilding facilities. The tuna seiner, 225-feet in length and the fourth in the Strom class of ships, was christened by Mrs. Peter Giacalone, wife of the ship's captain. The ship bears her name. Following ship trials in mid-December, the "Jacqueline Marie" would be delivered to her owners, ETA Fishing Co., Inc. of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 10-31-71, B-1) TPL-9753

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

Boat launching. Saturday, December 20, 1969, saw two major boat launchings in Tacoma. Mrs. W.F. Petrovic, wife of the commander of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, was the sponsor at the launching of the USS Benicia at Tacoma Boatbuilding's new plant on the Hylebos Waterway. She is standing with her family in pre-launching ceremonies. The 165-foot all-aluminum patrol gunboat was the first to be launched from one of the plant's 350-foot double ways. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 12-21-69, A-4)

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

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);