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RUSSEL B. MURRAY
Pictured as: the Russel B. Murray (Express Marine) Photo by: Jim Merello

Built in 1952, by RTC Shipbuilding of Camden, New Jersey (hull #209) as the Shamokin for the Reading Railroad Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1991, the tug was acquired by the Tucker Towing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Where she was renamed as the Russell B. Murray.

Named for Russel B. Murray. President of operations, whom had retired. He was described as a mentor and one of the finest people his coworkers had ever worked for. He is also a Delaware River docking pilot and has handled many ships and tugboats.

In 1997, the tug was acquired by Express Marine of Camden, New Jersey where she retained her name.

She is a single screw tug powered by a single Faribanks Morse 38D-8 diesel engine for a rated 1,600 horsepower.

In late 2010, the tug was placed in "lay up" at Express Marine's facility at Petty Island near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the Delaware River. However, in 2014 she was acquired the Blaha Towing of Suffolk, Virginia. Where she was renamed as the Alfred Walker.
(Paul Strubeck, Bernard Martin, Wayne Huebschman)


  • Vessel Name: RUSSEL B. MURRAY
  • USCG Doc. No.: 0263382
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • IMO Number: 05321693
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
  • Call Sign: WE3077
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: 209
  • Ship Builder: RTC SHIPBUILDING
  • Year Built: 1952
  • Length: 104.2
  • Hailing Port: NORFOLK, VA.
  • Hull Depth: 12.8
  • Hull Breadth: 26.1
  • Gross Tonnage: 188
  • Net Tonnage: 128
  • Owner:
    BLAHA TOWING COMPANY LLC
    3524 ARTHUR DRIVE
    SUFFOLK, VA 23438
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    Shamokin, RUSSEL B. MURRAY, RUSSEL B. MURRAY
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    Reading Railroad, Tucker Towing, EXPRESS MARINE INC, EXPRESS MARINE INC