Built in 1897, by the Neafie and Levy, Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (hull #885) as the DeWitt C. Ivins for the Moran Towing Company of New York, New York.
On March 25th 1898, the tug was acquired by the United States Navy. And on April 2nd, 1898 the tug was commissioned as the Nezinscot. The tug operated out of Key West, Florida. Serving in the North Atlantic Fleet during the Spanish American War.
In 1901, the tug operated out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Operating between ports in New York, Massachusetts and Maine.
On August 11th 1909, the tug was steaming from Portsmouth, New Hampshire en route to Boston, Massachusetts. Carrying a cargo of chains, anchors, and search light equipment for the USS Missouri. She capsized, and sank when a deck load shifted on the barge due to heavy seas off Cape Ann.
The tug lies in 300(ft) of water off of Rockport, Massachusetts, eight nautical miles from Straitsmouth Island Light. She was a single screw tug, steam powered tug.
(North Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Captain Eric Takakjian)