Historic Landmark News

Preservation efforts are underway to renovate an 85-year old vessel known as “America’s Fireboat”.Designed by noted naval architect William Francis Gibbs and built in 1938 at United Shipyards on Staten Island, the vessel Fire Fighter would go on to serve a long and storied career before being decommissioned and eventually transferred to The Fireboat Fire Fighter Museum in 2013.The iconic fireboat is undergoing extensive renovations to return the vessel to her original glory, the museum announced this week. Escorted by the U.S.

A historic Great Lakes car and passenger ferry will be sidelined the rest of the season due to damages it suffered in July. Lake Michigan Carferry said Tuesday that the SS Badger's daily crossings between Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Wis., have been suspended indefinitely.“We have made the difficult, and unfortunately unavoidable, decision to suspend our daily crossings for the remainder of the season,” said Mark W. Barker, president of Ohio-based Interlake Maritime Services, parent company of the Lake Michigan Carferry.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking the public's help in determining the future of the world's first nuclear-powered merchant ship.The NS Savannah was built by New York Shipbuilding Corp. and launched in 1959 as part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace Program to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The ship was removed from service in 1971 and the reactor was defueled. Registered as a National Historic Landmark since 1991, the ship is currently part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) in retention status.

Interlake Holding Company announced today the purchase of the assets of Pere Marquette Shipping Company and Lake Michigan Car Ferry Company in an acquisition that includes two working Great Lakes vessels, the articulated tug-barge Undaunted-Pere Marquette 41 and the historic passenger-and-car ferry S.S. Badger.The acquisition signals the creation of a new business entity, Interlake Maritime Services, which will manage the new businesses along with The Interlake Steamship Company…

The world’s first nuclear-powered ship is making its way back to Baltimore flowing a repair stay in Philadelphia.On Thursday, the N.S. Savannah began its journey back from drydocking in preparation for decommissioning.Having spent the last few months at Northeast Ship Repair undergoing general inspection, repairs and structural modifications, the ship will be back at home at the Canton Marine Terminal by Friday.While the last nuclear fuel was removed from the ship more nearly 50 years ago…

As the IMO 2020 Global Sulfur Cap draws nearer, confusion among shipowners remains. To help inform, experts from Total Lubmarine and Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) are embarked on a global conference tour, with the next event coming soon to New York City on board the USS Intrepid, which now serves as a museum and a coveted event space.Following a series of successful events in Europe during March, Total Lubmarine and Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) will be visiting industry professionals in the U.S.

One year ago, we reported on vacation river cruising, presenting an industry mostly on the optimistic side of growth and expansion for 2018. This year’s review is more geographically limited – to the Mississippi River, heartland cruises centered among New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis and St. Paul – but with links important for a lot of smaller cities in between.Big picture:This industry is strong, at least among its two major players: American Cruise Lines and the American Queen Steamboat Company. Both have extensive and varied schedules for 2019.

A federal FASTLANE grant has been approved for S.S. Badger Ports & Harbor project impacting Manitowoc, Wis. and Ludington, Mich. A primer on how things get done. This is a story about two communities on the shores of Lake Michigan and the unique car ferry that connects them. The SS Badger provides a nautical “highway” across one of our nation’s major waterways, carrying passengers, oversized loads and trucks of nearly every kind. Essentially, the ferry provides a vital lifeline of commerce, tourism and economic growth between the cities of Manitowoc, Wis. and Ludington, Mich.

Bay Ship and Yacht Co. has announced it has once again been honored with the contract to perform maintenance on the historic sailing ship Balclutha. This is the third time the reputable ship yard has been chosen to perform much-needed detailed maintenance on the 131-year-old ship. A three-mast, steel-hulled square-rigged sailing ship, the Balclutha is one of the last of her kind. “The Balclutha is truly a gem of American history. It is a rare day that you are able to see one of these grand old ladies high and dry in dock,” said Richard Maguire, Business Development Manager, Bay Ship & Yacht.

Rudy Teichman, a legend in the U.S. marine salvage industry, founded T&T in 1957, now one of the world’s largest international salvage companies. In a sense, Rudy was larger than life and one who was often referred to as a “force of nature.” He was an entrepreneur, inventor, salvor, deep sea diver, airplane pilot, licensed mariner, restaurateur, musician, philanthropist, mechanic, machinist, politician, and husband, father and grandfather. And, in spite all of his accomplishments, he was more importantly a man of character, hard work and integrity, in a time when your word was your contract.

On Veteran’s Day this year, T&T Subsea divers worked to help save the Battleship Texas, the over 100-year-old U.S. naval vessel and historic landmark ship of Texas launched in 1912 that fought in both World Wars. T&T Subsea, the Teichman Group’s dedicated commercial diving company, was founded by U.S. Army veteran and salvage industry legend Rudy Teichman. Today, the T&T Subsea team consists of U.S. military veterans and divers from the U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard with over 60-years combined military service. T&T Subsea was hand-selected by the State of Texas to salvage, repair and maintain the historic battleship and…

Vane Brothers is hailing the newest addition to its fleet: the Fort McHenry, a state-of-the-art, 3,000-horsepower tugboat named in honor of the historic landmark that can be seen from the company’s Baltimore, Maryland, headquarters. Designed by Frank Basile, P.E., of Entech Designs, LLC, the Fort McHenry is the most recent of 12 “Sassafras Class” tugboats delivered to Vane since 2008 by Chesapeake Shipbuilding of Salisbury, Maryland. Measuring 94 feet long and 32 feet wide with a hull depth of 13 feet…

The U.S. Postal Service has previewed a new stamp highlighting California’s San Francisco Maritime Historical Park with a photograph of an iconic three-masted sailing ship. The stamp is the 14th of 16 new Forever Stamps to be revealed over a three-week period to celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. The stamp image is a portion of a photograph by Tim Campbell, showing the square-rigger Balclutha. Just visible to the right of the deep waterman/salmon packet sailing vessel is the 1907 steam tugboat Hercules.

When the 172-year old tall ship Charles W. Morgan sets out on its historic 38th voyage on June 14, it will benefit from safety enhancements that were unheard of at the time of its construction – including a pair of Xantrex Freedom SW 24V - 3000W/75A inverter/chargers that deliver a full 6,000 watts of continuous electrical power. Built in 1841, the Charles W. Morgan is the last of an American whaling fleet that once numbered more than 2,700 vessels. Over an 80-year whaling career, it embarked on 37 voyages, most lasting three years or more. Retired in 1921, the ship was used as a set for two Hollywood films (Down to the Sea in Ships, starring a young Clara Bow, and Java Head, with Ralph Richardson and Anna Mae Wong).

Plans to commence a $1.1 million project to repair and renovate structures at Boston Light in order to honor the 300-year service and iconic value of Boston Light to the Coast Guard’s maritime heritage have been announced. The project, outlined during a public presentation by lighthouse keeper Sally Snowman, is intended to preserve the structural integrity of the lighthouse tower and surrounding buildings and assists in preparing for the light station’s upcoming tricentennial celebrations in 2016. The ongoing refurbishment plan includes an underground storage tank remediation, a new exterior coating to the lighthouse, new cedar roofs on all structures, new windows in the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, and painting of all structures.

USS Slater's Log Book entry for May 1, 1944 states, "Moored starboard side to Lee Terminal, Tampa, Florida. Captain R.B. Daggett, USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Tampa, representing the Commandant, Seventh Naval District, placed the ship in commission pursuant to orders from the Chief of Naval Operations. Lieutenant Commander Marcel J. It seems to be a very quiet beginning to a 70-year journey that has taken USS Slater around the world and to her home in Albany, New York. That journey has included convoy duty in the North Atlantic…

Historic Schooner AdventuressEverett, Wash. - National Historic  Landmark, the schooner Adventuress, will make its annual sail to visit the Port of Everett Marina April 26 - 29. The 133-foot, two-masted wooden ship will tie up at the Port of Everett’s South Guest Dock 1 near Anthony’s Homeport restaurant. Ship crews will offer free dockside tours aboard the vessel on Sunday, April 27 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. A public sail is available for purchase following the tours from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. The ship tours and public sail are designed for all ages and offer a great educational opportunity.

NOAA’s Marine Debris Program provided $967,000 through its Restoration Center to support locally driven, community-based marine debris prevention and removal projects. Eleven groups across the country received funding to remove derelict fishing nets, litter, lumber, tires and other harmful marine debris from shorelines and coastal waters. “Marine debris plagues coastlines all over the country, and these communities have the expertise and motivation to address it,” said Nancy Wallace, Marine Debris Program director.

New York Supreme Court Judge dismisses legal complaint against owners of Presidential Yacht 'Sequoia'. The Supreme Court of the State of New York has dismissed a frivolous legal complaint against FE Partners, LLC, that alleged it tried to improperly wrest control of the former Presidential Yacht, the U.S.S. Sequoia. The Hon. Charles E. Ramos ruled that a complaint filed by the owner of the U.S.S. The judge's order came the day after FE Partners filed its response in the case,…

The Federal Emergency Management Agency awards state of Texas $1.4-million for repairs to 'Elissa' damaged in hurricane Ike. Wave action and storm surge generated by Ike damaged the structural integrity of Elissa’s hull, weakening it to a point where significant rehabilitation efforts are necessary. The funding will cover the services needed for the repair work so that the vessel can continue its role as the official tall ship of Texas. “The Elissa is a National Historic Landmark and should be treated as such,” said FEMA Region 6 acting administrator Tony Robinson.

Albany  – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior is set to designate the USS Slater, one of the remaining World War II naval ships and only destroyer escort afloat in the United States, as a National Historic Landmark. Since last year, Senator Gillibrand has urged Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Ken Salazar and the National Park System (NPS) Advisory Board Landmarks Committee to designate the site as a National Historic Landmark. “This is great news,” said Gillibrand. “Berthed in the Hudson River, the USS Slater is the only World War II-era destroyer escort afloat in the United States. In her letter to U.S.

On April 28, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar approved the Cape Wind renewable energy project on federal submerged lands in Nantucket Sound, but will require the developer of the $1b wind farm to agree to additional binding measures to minimize the potential adverse impacts of construction and operation of the facility. “After careful consideration of all the concerns expressed during the lengthy review and consultation process and thorough analyses of the many factors involved, I find that the public benefits weigh in favor of approving the Cape Wind project at the Horseshoe Shoal location,” Salazar said in an announcement at the State House in Boston. The Cape Wind project would be the first wind farm on the U.S.

A volunteer friendraiser/fundraiser was held aboard the John J. Harvey to celebrate the SS Columbia’s 106th birthday. The SS Columbia is a National Historic Landmark and is the oldest surviving excursion steamer in the . Recruiting volunteers for SS Columbia and John J. Harvey celebrated successes and are raising awareness of a New York Historic Landmark in need of funding and restoration. It is the first of several National Maritime Day celebrations on May 22. At completion of its restoration, the SS Columbia will become a catalyst for eco-tourism on the Hudson River, connecting towns within the to their histories and providing opportunities for economic growth.