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CELTIC
Pictured as: the Russell 10 (Russell Bros.) Photo by: Robert Mattsson

Built in 1958, by Jakobson Shipyard of Oyster Bay, New York (hull #383) as the tug Russel 10 for the Russell Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York.

In 1961, the tug was acquired by the McAllister Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York. Where initially she retained her name. However in 1963, she was renamed as the Judith McAllister.

In 1978, the tug was acquired by the Eklof Marine Corporation of Staten Island, New York. Where she was renamed as the Celtic.

On November 17th, 1984 she was towing the 145(ft) by 45(ft) barge Cape Race via Long Island Sound from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Port Newark New Jersey.

When the Celtic failed to answer radio calls, and did not arrive on schedule the Coast Guard was contacted. The Coast Guard located the Celtic under an oil slick in 70(ft) of water. She was 1.5 miles south of Sheffield Island. The position of the sunken tug is marked by buoy "WR-28" at Sheffield Island near Norwalk, Connecticut.

The bodies of her five crew members were retrieved by police divers. It is speculated that the tug was pulled down when the barge sank. The sinking barge then pulled the Celtic down with her. The wreck remains intact and upright with barge still attached by her hawser. She was a single screw tug rated at 1,600 horsepower.


  • Vessel Name: CELTIC
  • USCG Doc. No.: 277003
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted
  • Call Sign: WK4351
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: 383
  • Ship Builder: JAKOBSON SHIPYARD, INC.
  • Year Built: 1958
  • Length: 84.8
  • Hailing Port: NEW YORK, NY.
  • Hull Depth: 9.6
  • Hull Breadth: 24
  • Gross Tonnage: 146
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    Russel 10, Judith McAllister, Celtic
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    Russell Brothers Towing Co. (Newtown Creek Towing Co.), McAllister Bros. Towing Co., Eklof Marine Corporation, Island Park Towing Corp.