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HELEN McALLISTER (1900)
Photo by: South Street Seaport Museum

Built in 1900, by the New York Burlee Drydock Company of Staten Island, New York as the Admiral Dewey for the Berwind White Coal Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1955, when the coal market slowed she was sold to an operator in Charleston, South Carolina. Where she was renamed as the Georgetown.

In 1989, she was acquired by the McAllister Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York. Where the tug was renamed as the Helen McAllister.

In 1992, the tug was retired from active service and was "laid up."

In 2000, McAllister Towing and Transportation donated the Helen McAllister to the South Street Seaport Museum in Manhattan, New York.

In 2012, the tug was returned to McAllister Towing and Transportation of New York, New York. Where she was "laid up" at McAllister Towing and Transportation's yard at Mariner's Harbor in Staten Island, New York.

In 2021, the tug was scrapped at Staten Island, New York.

Originally powered by a single, triple expansion, compound steam engine rated at 900 horsepower, with working pressure of 150 Pounds Per Square Inch. The tug was repowered after World War II, with a single 1930's Fairbanks Morse diesel engine that was rated at 1,900 horsepower.
( Will Van Dorp )


  • Vessel Name: HELEN McALLISTER (1900)
  • USCG Doc. No.: 107522
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Ship Builder: NEW YORK BURLEE DRYDOCK COMPANY
  • Year Built: 1900
  • Length: 95.7
  • Hailing Port: CHARLESTON, SC.
  • Hull Depth: 11.5
  • Hull Breadth: 21
  • Gross Tonnage: 152
  • Net Tonnage: 103
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    Admiral Dewey, Georgetown
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    Berwind White Coal Co., McAllister Towing and Transportation Co., South Street Seaport Museum