More than hundred years of service and three years at the bottom of the Sassafras River in Kent County have aged the steam tugboat Baltimore and left the massive structure in need of a little makeover.
A team of iron workers and painters at General Ship Repair?s dry dock, along with the help of the Maryland Historical Trust, are swiftly restoring the tug for its centennial celebration beginning in September.
Kenneth Mullins, a painter with General Ship Repair, said the crew joined together because, “It?s a historic tug and you don?t see many of these anymore.”
Built in 1906 by the Skinner Shipbuilding Company, the tug served as the Baltimore city?s ambassador. The mayor used the tug to inspect the Inner Harbor. The tug greeted all visiting vessels, broke up ice, and even helped with police work, according to Project Manger Stephen Heaver.
The tug was retired in 1963 and was donated to the Baltimore Museum of Industry in December of 1981 after spending three years under water due to a leak.
“The Baltimore is the only hand-fired, coal-burning tugboat in the Western hemisphere,” Heaver said.”It was fully functional for tours in October 2001 but the hull became too weak.”
The Coast Guard inspected the boat Friday. “We had to make sure it [was] safe to go in the water and be boarded by visitors,” said Paul Aiken with the Coast Guard, but several repairs are necessary before the tug will be ready.
Heaver said about $300,000 went into the boat to get it to where it is today, but the crew still has to replace eroding hull plates, weakened frames and rub rails. The main deck will also be restored and a fresh coat of paint applied.
Heaver said the Baltimore and Chesapeake Steamboat Company is trying to raise an estimated $2 million for complete restoration to make the tug fully functional again.
“The job?s not done,” Heaver said. “We still need volunteers; this is a community effort.”
The 100th anniversary of the Baltimore joins the Port of Baltimore?s 300th anniversary festivities, including highlights like a tugboat parade on October 22 with riveting demonstrations, ship modelers and a dinner auction for tugboat artwork.
Heaver hopes the events will remind people of the tug?s historical significance since it hasn?t made an appearance at the Inner Harbor in over three years. “We just need people to know the potential of this vessel, and we can make her the city?s ambassador again.”
Steam Tug Baltimore?s 100th Anniversary Events
»September 10: Working Waterfront Celebration
»September 24: Street Beat Festival
»October 7 and 8: Fells Point Fun Festival
»October 2-22: Steam Tug Baltimore?s 100th Birthday Party
»December 2: 19th Annual Lighted Boat Parade
