New Star

Credit: Kyle Stubbs via http://www.shipspotting.com

New Star

The Ship:

• IMO: 7307392
• Owner: Arctic Vessel Management
• Flag: USA
• Call Sign: WBC8289
• Length: 57.6 meters
• Beam: 11.3 meters
• Tonnage: 1,115 GT
• Year of Build: 1942
• Builder: Marietta Manufacturing, Point Pleasant, WV, USA
• Name History: COLONEL HORACE F. SPURGIN (MP 14) (1944-49), USS ACM-13 (1949-55), USS MMA-12 (1955), MIANTONOMAH (1955-60), NAUTILUS (1960-90), ALEUTIAN MIST (1990-91)

The Story:

Though today this old ship sits as one of several making up a breakwater at a marina in Tacoma, Washington, suffering through a rather mundane end to her life, she possesses a long and interesting life story.

From Joe Radigan via http://www.navsource.org

Sixty six years ago, she was delivered to the United States Army as a vessel tasked with the rather dangerous task of planting mines, a service which she performed for the Army until 1949, when she was transferred over to the US Navy as an auxiliary minelayer. She continued with the job actively for five years, then served another half-decade as a naval reserve vessel before being decommissioned in 1960.

This is where her history becomes a little confusing. According to official Navy records, she was sold for scrap in 1961, where her story should end. However, if that were to be true, why would she be sitting at a marina registered as a fishing vessel?

Instead, it appears she was converted into a tuna seiner operating out of San Pedro, California.

From PRESD via http://www.presd.org

This phase of her life continued up into the eighties when she was evidently sold into the Alaskan fish processing industry, which I can assume would result in her name change to New Star, and her eventual residency in the Pacific Northwest. Beyond the fact that she is at Tyee Marina, and appears to be partially scrapped, I have no clues as to her recent history.

All I can confirm is that she has a very impressive story, and it’s a pity she is left to an unflattering end as a breakwater.