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ATF-172 "APACHE"
Pictured as the: T-ATF-172 (Apache) (United States Navy) Photo by: Birk Thomas

Built in 1981, by the Marinette Marine Corporation of Marinette, Wisconsin (hull #ATF 172) as the ATF-172 (Apache) for the United States Navy.

Her keel was laid on March 22nd, 1979, she was launched on March 28th, 1981. And the tug was delivered to the United States Navy on July 23rd, 1981. Where she was allocated to Military Sealift Command and designed the T-ATF-172 (USNS Apache).

On August 26, 2022, she was phased out of active service and placed in reserve status at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Powered by two, twenty cylinder, EMD 20-645F7B diesel engines. Turning two, stainless steel, controllable, reversible pitch propellers, mounted in kort nozzles. With a single, 300 horsepower bow thruster. She was a twin screw towing vessel rated at 7,200 horsepower.

Her electrical service was provided by three, 400kW generator sets. Driven by four DD 8v-71 diesel engines. The tug's capacities were 206,714 gallons of fuel oil, 6,100 gallons of lube oil, 5,800 gallons of potable water, 6,000 gallons of drinking water.

The towing equipment consisted of a single drum, SMATCO66 DTS-200, towing winch, with a level wind. Outfitted with 2,500(ft) of 2.5(in) towing wire. With a Lake Shore traction winch, outfitted with 15(in) towing hawser. A direct drive capstan, as well as two sets of hydraulic towing pins. And two electro hydraulic mooring winches.
(NavSource Online)


  • Vessel Name: ATF-172 "APACHE"
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • IMO Number: 8832693
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted Registry
  • Call Sign: NIGP
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: ATF 172
  • Ship Builder: Marinette Marine Corp.
  • Year Built: 1981
  • Length: 226
  • Hailing Port: NORFOLK, VA.
  • Hull Depth: 15
  • Hull Breadth: 42
  • Gross Tonnage: 1387
  • Net Tonnage: 296
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    ATF-172 (Apache)
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    United States Navy