Ellena Hicks – Colleen McAllister
1967-Present
Tugboat
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1967
Builder: Gulfport Shipbuilding Corp., Gulfport, TX
Hull #685
Registry: US 509646
IMO #7338872
Laid Down: —
Launch Date: 1967
Commissioned: April 1967
Paired Barges:
- Thelma Collins [1967-2003]
Construction
Colleen McAllister was constructed in 1967 as the tugboat Ellena Hicks by Gulfport Shipbuilding of Port Arthur, TX. She was originally constructed for Gulfcoast Transit Co., a subsidiary of the Tampa Electric Co. Ellena Hicks was delivered to her owners in late April 1967, being paired with the barge Thelma Collins. The pair began their typical trade of hauling coal from Gulf ports for delivery to power plants in the Tampa region.
General Stats
Length Overall [Tug]: 124′
Breadth: 31’06”
Depth: 19′
Draft: 13’08”
Vessel Type: Tugboat
Propellers: 2
Rudders: 2
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: General Motors Electro-Motive Division, Chicago, IL
Engine Model: 12-645-E5
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 4300 BHP
History
Lineage
Ellena Hicks – 1967-2003
Owner: Gulfcoast Transit Co., Tampa, FL [Tampa Electric]
Operator: Gulfcoast Transit
Flag: United States
Home Port: Tampa, FL
Katie G. McAllister – 2003-2016
Owner: McAllister Towing and Transportation Co., New York, NY
Operator: McAllister Towing and Transportation
Flag: United States
Home Port: Wilmington, DE
Katie G. McAllister – 2016-Present
Owner: Port City Marine Services, Muskegon, MI [Sand Products Corp.]
Operator: Port City Marine Services
Flag: United States
Home Port: Wilmington, DE
Her Story
Colleen McAllister was constructed in 1967 by Gulfport Shipbuilding Corp. of Gulfport, Texas, as Hull #685. She was built as the Ellena Hicks for Gulfcoast Transit, a subsidiary of Tampa Electric Co. She was delivered to her new owners on April 28, 1967, and paired with the barge Thelma Collins. The pair were tasked with delivering coal from ports near the mouth of the Mississippi River to Tampa Electric’s power plants at Tampa, Florida.
Ellena Hicks was sold to McAllister Towing & Transportation of New York, New York, in 2003. She was renamed Colleen McAllister, and operated as a harbor tug at New York Harbor. In 2016, Port City Marine Services of Muskegon, Michigan, a subsidiary of Sand Products Corporation, purchased the Colleen and her sister Katie G. McAllister. The two tugs set off from layup at Staten Island in December, passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway later in the month. The tow arrived at Muskegon on Christmas Eve, and the tugs were laid up at the Mart Dock. Colleen McAllister remains in layup at Muskegon, and is used for spare parts for her sister Prentiss Brown.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on February 21, 2021
Gallery
Sources
Pennock, Isaac. “Colleen McAllister”. Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats, N.d. Accessed 28 December 2020. https://gltugs.wordpress.com/colleen-mcallister/
Pennock, Isaac. “Colleen McAllister”. Tugboat Information, N.d. Accessed 28 December 2020. http://tugboatinformation.com/tug.cfm?id=9686
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