Lady Elda – Kings Challenger – ITM No. 1 – Kings Challenger – Susan W. Hannah – Bradshaw McKee
1977-Present
Articulated Tugboat, Bludworth Coupler; Paired with Barge St. Marys Conquest
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1977
Builder: Toche Enterprises Inc., Ocean Springs, MS
Hull #101
Registry: US 582617
IMO #7644312
Laid Down: —
Launch Date: 1977
Commissioned: 1977
Paired Barges:
- Medusa Conquest [Southdown Conquest, 1999; Cemex Conquest, 2003; St. Marys Conquest, 2005] [1987-2008]
- Cleveland Rocks [2011-2012]
- St. Marys Challenger [2014-2015]
- St. Marys Conquest [2015-2019]
- Commander [2019-2020]
- St. Marys Conquest [2021-Present]
Construction
Bradshaw McKee was constructed in 1977 as the Lady Elda for United Offshore Services. She was constructed by Toche Enterprises at their Ocean Springs, MS, shipyard, and was equipped with a Bludworth ATB Coupler system.
Modifications
- Repowered, 1994.
- Upper pilothouse added, Versatile Fabrication, Muskegon, Michigan, 2014.
General Stats
Length Overall [Combined Tug & Barge]: 498′
Length Overall [Tug]: 121’06”
Breadth: 34’06”
Depth: 18’02”
Vessel Type: Articulated Tugboat
Propellers: 2
Rudders: 2
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: Brons, Appingedam, Netherlands
Engine Model: —
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: —
Repower – 1994
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: General Motors Electro Motive Division, Chicago, IL
Engine Model: 12-645-E5
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 4,320 BHP
History
Lineage
Lady Elda – 1977-1978
Owner: United Offshore Tugs, Inc., Harvey, LA
Operator: United Offshore Tugs
Flag: United States
Home Port: New Orleans, LA
Kings Challenger – 1978-1978
Owner: King’s Marine International, Gretna, LA
Operator: King’s Marine International
Flag: United States
Home Port: New Orleans, LA
ITM No. 1 – 1978-1981
Owner: King’s Marine International, Gretna, LA
Operator: Unkown Charterer
Flag: United States
Home Port: New Orleans, LA
Kings Challenger – 1981-1986
Owner: King’s Marine International, Gretna, LA
Operator: King’s Marine International
Flag: United States
Home Port: New Orleans, LA
Susan W. Hannah – 1986-2009
Owner: Hannah Marine Corporation, Lemont, IL
Operator: Hannah Marine Corp.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Susan W. Hannah – 2009-2011
Owner: Port City Marine Services, Muskegon, MI [Sand Products Corp.]
Operator: Port City Marine Services
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Bradshaw McKee – 2011-Present
Owner: Port City Marine Services, Muskegon, MI [Sand Products Corp.]
Operator: Port City Marine Services
Flag: United States
Home Port: Muskegon, MI
Her Story
Bradshaw McKee was constructed in 1977 as Lady Elda for United Offshore Services. She was built by Toche Enterprises of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, as yard Hull #101. She was fitted with a Bludworth ATB coupler system when constructed.
In 1978, Lady Elda was sold to King’s Marine International Corp. of Gretna, Louisiana, who renamed her Kings Challenger. She was chartered out to a different company later in the season, being renamed ITM No. 1. The charter expired in 1981, and she was returned to her name Kings Challenger. She visited the Great Lakes on an occasion under this name.
In 1986, Kings Challenger was sold to Hannah Marine Corp. of Lemont, IL, who brought her to the Great Lakes and renamed her Susan W. Hannah. She was paired with the self-unloading cement barge Medusa Conquest in 1987. Hannah Marine had been contracted by Cement Transit, the owner of the Medusa Conquest, to operate and manage the barge. This arrangement lasted until late 2008, when the Hannah was laid up at South Chicago, IL. Hannah Marine’s assets were seized by the U.S. Marshal in early 2009, and Susan W. Hannah was sold to Port City Marine Services, a subsidiary of Sand Products Corp. Port City sailed her to Muskegon, MI, where she was laid up at the Mart Dock.
Susan W. Hannah underwent a refit in November 2010, and was repainted in Port City Marine colors. She was renamed Bradshaw McKee in late 2011, after the late president and executive of Sand Products Corporation. She was paired with the self-unloading barge Cleveland Rocks at the beginning of the 2012 season. After some modifications being made to the barge by Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair, the pair entered service in May 2012. They operated in the stone and aggregates trades for the duration of the season, but were placed in long term layup at the Mart Dock on December 1, 2012.
In late 2013, Versatile Fabrication of Muskegon, MI, fabricated and installed a new elevated pilothouse on Bradshaw McKee while she was in layup at the Mart Dock. This was done in preparation for her to be paired with the barge St. Marys Challenger beginning in the 2014 season. She departed layup in Muskegon in May, sailing to Sturgeon Bay, WI, to pair up with the St. Marys Challenger. The pair departed Bay Shipbuilding on June 3, 2014, light for Charlevoix, MI, to load cement.
Bradshaw McKee switched places with the Prentiss Brown as the primary push tug for the barge St. Marys Conquest, being reunited with her old partner in early 2015. She switched barges again in January 2019, when she paired up with the recently-converted cement carrier barge Commander in January 2019. They sailed together for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, before Bradshaw McKee switched back to the St. Marys Conquest.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on February 17, 2021
Gallery
Sources
“Bradshaw McKee”. Tugboat Information. N.d. Accessed 7 January 2021. http://tugboatinformation.com/tug.cfm?id=9688
LeLievre, Roger. Know Your Ships 2020. Marine Publishing Company, 2020. Pp. 77.
Pennock, Isaac “Bradshaw McKee”. Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats. N.d. Accessed 7 January 2021. https://gltugs.wordpress.com/bradshaw-mckee/
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