Lead Horse – Gulf Challenger – Challenger – Mark Hannah – Spartan
1969 – Present
Articulated Tugboat, Bludworth Coupler; Paired with Barge Spartan II
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1969
Builder: Burton Shipyard Inc., Port Arthur, TX
Hull #439
Registry: US 5192040
IMO #70474610
Laid Down: —
Launch Date: —
Commissioned: 1969
Paired Barges:
Construction
Lead Horse was constructed in 1969 as a tugboat by Burton Shipyard of Gulfport, TX, for Caspary Wendell Inc. She was later modified to push tank barges.
Modifications
- Fitted with Bludworth ATB Coupler system, 1993.
General Stats
Length Overall [Combined Tug & Barge]: —
Length Overall [Tug]: 121’01”
Breadth: 32’01”
Depth: 10’09”
Vessel Type: Articulated Tugboat
Propellers: 2
Rudders: 2
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: —
Engine Model: —
Number of Engines: —
Rated HP: 3200 BHP
History
Lineage
Lead Horse – 1969-1971
Owner: Caspary Wendell Inc., Houston, TX
Operator: Caspary Wendell Inc.
Flag: United States
Home Port: —
Lead Horse – 1971-1973
Owner: Santa Fe Pomeroy Marine Service Co., Houston, TX
Operator: Santa Fe Pomeroy Marine Service
Flag: United States
Home Port: —
Gulf Challenger – 1973-1979
Owner: Gulf Mississippi Marine Inc., Houston, TX
Operator: Gulf Mississippi Marine Inc.
Flag: United States
Home Port: —
Challenger – 1979-1993
Owner: Hannah Marine Corp., Lemont, IL
Operator: Hannah Marine Corp.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Mark Hannah – 1993-2009
Owner: Hannah Marine Corp., Lemont, IL
Operator: Hannah Marine Corp.
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Spartan – 2009-Present
Owner: Occidental Chemical Corp., Dallas, TX
Operator: Andrie Inc., Muskegon, MI
Flag: United States
Home Port: Ludington, MI
Her Story
The tugboat Lead Horse was built in 1969 by Burton Shipbuilding of Gulfport, TX, for the Caspary Wendell Inc. of Houston. She was sold in 1971 to Santa Fe Pomeroy Marine Service Co. of Houston, retaining her name. She was sold again in 1973 to Gulf Mississippi Marine, and renamed Gulf Challenger.
Gulf Challenger was purchased by Hannah Marine Corp. of Lemont, IL, in 1979, and brought to the Great Lakes region. She was renamed Challenger, and employed pushing tank barges for the Hannah Fleet. Hannah renamed her to Mark Hannah in 1993, and retrofitted the tug with a Bludworth style ATB coupler system and paired her with the tank barge Hannah 6301.
In 2009, Mark Hannah and Hannah 6301 were sold to Occidental (Oxy) Chemical Corp. of Houston, TX, renaming the vessels Spartan and Spartan II, respectively. Oxy contracted Andrie Inc. of Muskegon, MI, to manage the pair. Spartan and Spartan II continue to be active, transporting Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) from the Oxy Calcium Chloride plant in Ludington, MI, to ports across the Great Lakes.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on December 9, 2021
Gallery
Sources
Fairfield, T., Wilson, Capt. R., Cooke, Capt., J., Streeter, W. “Spartan”. Tugboat Information. N.d. Accessed 9 December 2021. <http://tugboatinformation.com/tug.cfm?id=5654>
Pennock, Isaac. “Spartan”. Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats. N.d. Accessed 9 December 2021. <https://gltugs.wordpress.com/spartan/>
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