Photo by: Birk Thomas

Built in 2008, by Derektor Shipyards of Connecticut Incorporated of Bridgeport, Connecticut (hull # 86040) as the Independence for the Boston Towing and Transportation Compny of Boston, Massachusetts (a subsidiary of the Reinauer Transportation Companies of Staten Island, New York.)

Designed by Naval Architect Robert Allan of Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a RaStar class tug, with a sponson type variation on the original RaStar design.

The tug was designed to fulfill the Boston Towing and Transportation Company's contract with Neptune LNG Company. An affiliate of the Suez LNG North America Company. And, was based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

In 2011, the Boston Towing and Transportation Company was reabsorbed by the Reinauer Transportation Companies of Staten Island, New York. Where the tug retained her name.

In 2012, the contract was ended. And the tug assumed escort duties in, and around Buzzard's Bay as well as, the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts.

Powered by two, Tier II compliant, sixteen cylinder, MTU 16V4000M61 diesel engines. Turning two, Rolls Royce CCP-255 z-drives, outfitted with two, controllable pitch, propellers. The z-drives on the Independence where the first application of this type for Rolls Royce in the United States. The controllable pitch drives optimize bollard pull, fuel efficiency, and vessel speed. For a rated 5,400 horsepower.

The tug's electrical service is provided by two, 99kW, John Deere generator sets. Her capacities are 65,000 gallons of fuel, 1,750 gallons of lube oil, 10,800 gallons of water, and 88,000 gallons of ballast.

The towing gear consists of a Markey electric, winch, mounted on her bow. Outfitted with 750(ft) of 10(in) plasma, rendering line. And, a JonRie Intertech, hydraulic towing winch, mounted on her stern. Outfitted with 2,500(ft) of 2.25(in) towing wire.

The tug also features radiantly heated decks, bow bulwark caps. The tug is capable of self loading up to three containers for cargo operations. Using an Effer, hydraulic deck crane. With a Safe Working Load of 10 tons at range of 25(ft).

Her FiFi class One fire pump,s are driven off the main engines. This design was intended to conserve weight, and cost. By eliminating the fire pump engines found on other FiFi class One vessels. The fire pump feeds her two, Inmar/FFS/Nyjus, fire monitors. With a 425 (ft) cannon range, rated at 10,500 Gallons Per Minute.

Photo by: Birk Thomas

Photo by: Birk Thomas

Photo by: Birk Thomas

Photo by: Birk Thomas

Photo by: Paul Kinnaly