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MAVERICK
Photo by: Birk Thomas

Built in 1968, by Southern Shipbuilding Incorporated of Slidell, Louisiana (hull # YTB 801) as the YTB-801 (Palatka) for the United States Navy.

A Natick class large harbor tug for the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down, on November 29th 1968. She was launched, on August 19th 1969. She was delivered to the United States Navy on November 25th, 1969.

The tug was placed in service as the YTB-801 (Palatka), where she was allocated to the 5th Naval District at Naval Station at Norfolk, Virginia. She was later reassigned to Naval Air Station Burmuda, where she was stationed until September of 1995, when NAS Burmuda was closed as a result of post cold war Naval cutbacks. The tug was returned to the 5th Naval District at Naval Station at Norfolk, Virginia.

It is unknown when she was placed out of service. She was struck from the Naval Register on April 4th, 1995. And the tug was transferred to the by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS).

In 2001, she was acquired by the Boston Towing and Transportation Company of East Boston, Massachusetts. A subsidiary of the Reinauer Transportation Companies of Staten Island, New York. Where the tug was renamed as the Maverick.

In 2011, she was acquired by Runner Marine Limited, a division of Capital Oil and Gas Industries limited of Lagos, Nigeria. Where the tug was renamed as the Alfa.

She was powered by a single, EMD 12-646-E2 diesel engine. With a Lufkin reduction gear, at a ratio of 6:1. Turning a single, stainless steel, fixed pitch propeller. She was a single screw tug, rated 2,200 horsepower.

Her electrical service was provided by one 60kW generator set. Driven by single, Detroit Diesel 6-71 diesel engine. And one, 60kW generator set, driven by a single, Detroit Diesel 4-71 diesel engine.

The towing gear consisted of a towing winch mounted on her stern. And, a hydraulic capstan mounted on her stern, with another hydraulic capstan mounted on her bow.
(NavSource Online)


  • Vessel Name: MAVERICK
  • USCG Doc. No.: 1127421
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • IMO Number: 8980816
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: YTB 801
  • Ship Builder: SOUTHERN SHIPBUILDING CORP LA
  • Year Built: 1968
  • Length: 106.8
  • Hull Depth: 14
  • Hull Breadth: 29
  • Gross Tonnage: 199
  • Net Tonnage: 135
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    YTB-801 (Palatka), Maverick
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    United States Navy, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS), Boston Towing and Transportation Co., Reinauer Transportation Companies LLC.