 On 26 August 1994, Palatka casts off for the last time from her former homeport at NAS Burmuda to start her three-day journey to her new homeport at Norfolk, VA. The final departure of Palatka was part of a reduction in services associated with the September 1995 base closure of NAS Bermuda.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Awarded | 2 May 1968 |
| Builder | Southern Shipbuilding Corp, Slidell, Louisiana |
| Laid down | 29 November 1968 |
| Launched | 19 August 1969 |
| Acquired | 25 November 1969 |
| Stricken | 4 April 1995 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8980816 |
| Fate | Sold into commercial service as Maverick, 16 July 2001 |
| Notes | Sources: NVR, DANFS |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Natick-class large harbor tug |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 109 ft (33 m) |
| Beam | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Draft | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Speed | 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h) |
| Complement | 12 |
| Armament | None |
| Notes | Sources: NVR, DANFS |
Palatka (YTB-801) was a United States Navy Natick-class large harbor tug named for Palatka, Florida.[1]
Construction
The contract for Palatka was awarded 2 May 1968. She was laid down 29 November 1968 at Slidell, Louisiana, by Southern Shipbuilding Corp and launched 19 August 1969.
Operational history
Delivered 7 November 1969, Palatka was assigned to the 5th Naval District. She was later assigned to Naval Air Station Bermuda where she served until 1995.[2] A Large Harbor Tug, she was specially configured to berth and dock nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. She was also equipped to provide emergency rescue and other services.
Stricken from the Navy List 4 April 1995, ex-Palatka was sold 16 July 2001, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) to Boston Towing for $437,335 and renamed Maverick. Ex-Palatka was sold to Runner Marine Limited of Lagos, Nigeria in 2011 and renamed Alfa.[2]
References
- ^ "Palatka (YTB-801)". Retrieved 2011-11-08.
- ^ a b "Maverick".
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Photo gallery of Palatka (YTB-801) at NavSource Naval History
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This page was last edited on 6 July 2023, at 16:48