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YN-37 "KESHENA"
Pictured as: the Seneca (Zenith Tugboat) Photo by: Paul Smith

Built in 1939, by Gulfport Shipbuilding of Port Arthur, Texas (hull #131) as the General for the Card Towing Company of Norfolk, Virginia.

The Card Towing Company later renamed the tug as the Raymond Card.

On September 20th, 1940 the tug was acquired by the United States Navy. Where she was designated as the YN-37 (Keshena). She was allocated to the 10th Naval District at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

On April 4th, 1942 the tug was redesignated as the YNT-5 (Keshena). And on August 4th, 1945. She was redesignated as the YTM-731 (Keshena).

On August 28th, 1946 the tug was struck from the Naval Record. And on February 12th, 1947 she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission for sale.

In 1947, she was acquired by the McAllister Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York. Where the tug was renamed as the Mary L. McAllister.

In 1981, the tug was acquired by the Zenith Tugboat Company of Duluth, Minnesota. Where she was renamed as the Seneca.

She was later acquired by Billington Contracting Incorporated of Duluth, Minnesota. Where the tug retained her name.

In 2006, the tug sank on Lake Superior. She was powered by a single, EMD 12-527A, diesel electric engine. She was a single screw tug, rated 950 horsepower.
(NavSource Online)


  • Vessel Name: YN-37 "KESHENA"
  • USCG Doc. No.: 239098
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: 131
  • Ship Builder: Gulfport Shipbuilding Corporation
  • Year Built: 1939
  • Length: 88.7
  • Hailing Port: CHICAGO, IL.
  • Hull Depth: 9.0
  • Hull Breadth: 22.0
  • Gross Tonnage: 132
  • Net Tonnage: 49
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    General, Raymond Card, YN-37 (Keshena), YNT-5 (Keshena), YTM-731 (Keshena), Mary L. McAllister, SENECA
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    Card Towing Co., United States Navy, McAllister Bros. Towing Co., ZENITH TUGBOAT COMPANY INC, BILLINGTON CONTRACTING INC