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KARL E. LUEDTKE
Photo by: Sam Draye

Built in 1928, by the Leathem D. Smith Dock Company of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (hull #255) as the Jeka for the T.L. Durocher Company of DeTour, Michigan.

The T.L. Durocher Company later renamed the tug as the Betty D.

In 1932, the tug was acquired by the the Edward E. Gillen Towing Company of Mequon, Michigan. Where she was renamed as the Killarney.

In 1935, she was acquired by the Luedtke Engineering Company of Frankfort, Michigan. Where the tug was renamed as the Karl E. Luedtke.

In 2023, the Luedtke Engineering ceased operations. And the tug was "laid up" at Frankfort, Michigan.

She is a single screw tug, rated at 300 horsepower.


  • Vessel Name: KARL E. LUEDTKE
  • USCG Doc. No.: 230194
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted
  • Call Sign: WZH3507
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: 255
  • Ship Builder: Leathem D. Smith Dock Co.
  • Year Built: 1928
  • Length: 55
  • Hailing Port: LUDINGTON, MI.
  • Hull Depth: 6
  • Hull Breadth: 15
  • Gross Tonnage: 32
  • Net Tonnage: 13
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    Jeka, Betty D., Killarney
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    T.L. Durocher Co., Edward E. Gillen Co.