Photo by: Brian Kushner
GRAPE APE
Built in 1969, by the Bollinger Machine Shop Incorporated of Lockport, Louisiana (hull #68) as the W.K. Boyd for Leesville Tugs Incorporated of Leesville, Louisiana.
In 1969, the tug was acquired by the Steuart Transportation Company of Piney Point, Maryland. Where she was renamed as the Holly S.
In 1989, she was acquired by the Piney Point Transportation Company of Chesapeake, Virginia. Where the tug was renamed as the Triumph.
The tug was designed, and built, with a low profile to pass underneath bridges on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers in the Chesapeake Bay.
In 1997, the Piney Point Transportation Company was acquired by the Vane Brothers Company of Baltimore, Maryland. Where the tug was renamed as the Donna Kay.
Named for Donna K. Kuemmer, who was the Vane Brothers Company's Chief Administrative Officer.
In 2014, the tug was acquired by the Hays Tug and Launch Company of Wallingford, Pennsylvania. Where she was renamed as the Grape Ape. And, was outfitted with an upper wheelhouse.
Powered by two, Caterpillar D-398 diesel engines, with Caterpillar 3192 reduction gears. She is a twin screw towboat, rated at 1,800 horsepower.
Her electrical service is provided by two, 65kW, Marathon Magnaplus, generator sets. Driven by two, John Deere 4045 diesel engines. The tug's capacities are 20,000 gallons of fuel, and 500 gallons of lube oil.
(Jeff Schurr, Captain Larry Strohm)
- Vessel Name: GRAPE APE
- USCG Doc. No.: 521078
- Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
- IMO Number: 8987060
- Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
- Call Sign: WDN9144
- Hull Material: STEEL
- Hull Number: 68
- Ship Builder: BOLLINGER MACHINE SHOP
- Year Built: 1969
- Length: 71.5
- Hailing Port: PHILADELPHIA, PA.
- Hull Depth: 7.4
- Hull Breadth: 26
- Gross Tonnage: 162
- Net Tonnage: 110
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Previous Vessel Names:
W.K. Boyd, HOLLY S., TRIUMPH, DONNA KAY -
Previous Vessel Owners:
Leesville Tugs Inc., Steuart Transportation Co., Piney Point Transportation Inc., VANE LINE BUNKERING INC, D&L TUGBOAT COMPANY
