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BIG BOY
Photo by: Allan Baker

Built in 1939, at Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia (hull #YTM-140) as the YTM-140 (Wahtah) for the United States Navy.

A Woban class harbor tug. Her keel was laid down on August 28th, 1939 at the Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia. And, the hull was launched on December 14th, 1939.

In 1940, she was placed into service at the Washington Navy Yard as the YT-140 (Wahtah).

In 1944, the tug was redesignated as a district harbor tug large YTB-140 (Wahtah).

In 1962, she was redesginated as a district harbor tug medium, YTM-140 (Wahtah).

In 1974, she was placed out of service and was struck from the Naval Register. Where she was sold by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for commercial operation.

In 1974, the tug was acquired by the Hays Tug and Launch Company of Wallingford, Pennsylvania. Where the tug was renamed as the Big Boy.

In 2008, the tug sank at the Hays Tug and Launch Company's dock at Girard Point in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although she was raised, the tug was declared a constructive total loss and was scrapped.

She was a single screw tug, rated at 1,200 horsepower.
(NavSource Online)


  • Vessel Name: BIG BOY
  • USCG Doc. No.: 565591
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: YTM-140
  • Ship Builder: NAVAL SHIPYARD, PTSMTH, VA
  • Year Built: 1938
  • Length: 93.6
  • Hull Depth: 13.9
  • Hull Breadth: 25
  • Gross Tonnage: 195
  • Net Tonnage: 133
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    YTM-140 (Wahtah), YTB-140 (Wahtah), YT-140 (Wahtah), BIG BOY
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    United States Navy, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS), D & L TUGBOAT COMPANY