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HERCULES (1953)
Photo from: the Captain Thomas Balcom collection

Built in 1953, by RTC Shipbuilding Incorporated of Camden, New Jersey (hull #216) as the Roy B. White for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company of Baltimore, Maryland.

Named for the president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company.

In 1976, the tug was chartered by the New York Dock Railway Company of New York, New York. Where she retained her name.

In 1977, the tug was renamed as the New York.

In 1978 the tug was renamed as the Roy B. White.

In 1981, she was acquired by the Boston Fuel Transportation Company of East Boston, Massachusetts (a subsidiary of the Reinauer Transportation Company of Staten Island, New York.) Where the tug was renamed as the Hercules.

In 2001, the tug was phased out of active service. And she was "laid up" at Boston Towing and Transportation's yard in East Boston, Massachusetts.

In 2003, she was acquired by Plaza Enterprises Limited of Lagos, Nigeria. Where the tug retained her name. Her current, and or, final disposition is unknown.

She was powered by a single, Fairbanks-Morse 38D-8 1/8 diesel engine. The tug was single screw, rated at 1,600 horsepower.
(Paul Strubeck, Jordan Spreader)


  • Vessel Name: HERCULES (1953)
  • USCG Doc. No.: 265167
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
  • Call Sign: WYZ8597
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: 216
  • Ship Builder: RTC SHIPBUILDING
  • Year Built: 1953
  • Length: 104.2
  • Hull Depth: 13
  • Hull Breadth: 26.1
  • Gross Tonnage: 238
  • Net Tonnage: 161
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    Roy B. White, Hercules
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    B. & O. Railroad Co., New York Dock Railway Co., Boston Fuel Transportation Co.