Pictured as: the Bismarck Sea (Kirby Corporation) Photo by: Kyle Stubbs
GULF RULER
Built in 1976, by Main Iron Works Incorporated of Houma, Louisiana (hull #298) as the Miss Natalie for the Fonteneau and Smith Boat Company of Morgan City, Louisiana
In 1978, the Fonteneau and Smith Boat Company was acquired by Newpark Marine Services of The Woodlands, Texas. Where the tug was renamed as the Newpark Sundial.
In 1983, she was acquired by the Gulf Fleet Marine Incorporated of Houston, Texas. Where the tug was renamed as the Gulf Ruler.
In 1985, the Zapata Marine Service, Gulf Fleet Marine Incorporated, and Jackson Marine Services merged to form Zapata Gulf Marine Service Incorporated of Houston, Texas.
In 1992, Zapata Gulf Marine Incorporated merged with Tidewater Marine Incorporated of New Orleans, Louisiana. Where the tug retained her name.
In 2005, she was acquired by Captain Christopher Roehrig of the Roehrig Maritime Company of Staten Island, New York. Where she was renamed as the John H. Malik.
The tug was named for the Roehrig Maritime Company's first employee, John H. Malik. Who passed away in 2001. The company had an extensive renovation of the vessel performed. That included the addition of an upper wheel house.
In 2007, the Roehrig Maritime Company was acquired by the K-Sea Transportation Partnership Incorporated of East Brunswick, New Jersey. Where the tug was renamed as the Bismarck Sea.
In 2010, the tug was outfitted with a JAK-400 coupler system.
In 2011, the K-Sea Transportation Partnership Incorporated was acquired by the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas. Where the tug retained her name.
In 2018, she was scrapped. Powered by two, sixteen cylinder, EMD diesel engines. Turning two, Avondale, stainless steel, fixed pitch propellers. She was a twin screw tug, rated at 6,100 horsepower.
(Captain Eric Takakjian, Captain Christopher Roehrig, Bruce Fizell)
- Vessel Name: GULF RULER
- USCG Doc. No.: 0571812
- Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
- IMO Number: 07512052
- Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted, Registry
- Call Sign: WDE5016
- Hull Material: STEEL
- Hull Number: 298
- Ship Builder: MAIN IRON WORKS, INC.
- Year Built: 1976
- Length: 129.5
- Hull Depth: 19
- Hull Breadth: 38
- Gross Tonnage: 191
- Net Tonnage: 130
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Previous Vessel Names:
Miss Natalie, Newpark Sundial, GULF RULER, JOHN H. MALIK, BISMARCK SEA -
Previous Vessel Owners:
Fonteneau and Smith Boat Co., Newpark Marine Services, GGulf Fleet Marine Inc., Zapata Gulf Marine Service Inc., TT BOAT CORPORATION, TUG JOHN H MALIK LLC, K-SEA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP, K-SEA OPERATING LLC, KIRBY OFFSHORE MARINE OPERATING LLC, KIRBY OFFSHORE MARINE OPERATING LLC, KIRBY OFFSHORE MARINE OPERATING LLC, KIRBY OFFSHORE MARINE OPERATING LLC, KIRBY OFFSHORE MARINE OPERATING LLC
Pictured as: the Bismarck Sea (K-Sea Transportation Partnership Incorporated) Photo by: Mark Freeman
(Daniel Hormann)5.jpg)