Victory
1981-Present
Articulated Tugboat, Hydraconn Coupler; Paired with Barge Maumee
Specs
Build Information
Year Built: 1981
Builder: McDermott Shipyard, Amelia, LA
Hull #259
Registry: U.S. 637185
IMO #8003292
Laid Down: February 21, 1981
Launch Date: April 21, 1981
Commissioned: Summer 1981
Paired Barges:
Construction
The Victory was constructed in 1981 by McDermott Shipyards at their Amelia, Louisiana, shipyard, as a large push tug for Texaco Marine Services. She featured a large pilothouse with another elevated pilothouse.
Modifications
- Upper pilothouse raised, VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Escanaba, MI, 2007.
- Hydraconn Articulated Tug-Barge Connection System installed, VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Escanaba, MI, 2007.
- Lower pilothouse converted to cabins, VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Escanaba, MI, 2007.
- Upper pilothouse raised, VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Escanaba, MI, 2008.
General Stats
Length Overall [Combined Tug & Barge]: 815’02”
Length Overall [Tug]: 140′
Breadth: 43’01”
Depth: 18′
Vessel Type: Articulated Tugboat
Propellers: 2
Rudders: 2
Engineering Equipment
Original
Engine
Engine Type: Diesel Engine
Engine Manufacturer: MaK, Kien, Germany
Engine Model: 6MU551AK
Number of Engines: 2
Rated HP: 7880 BHP
History
Lineage
Victory – 1981-1990
Owner: Texaco Marine Services, Port Arthur, TX
Operator: Texaco Marine Services
Flag: United States
Home Port: —
Victory – 1990-2001
Owner: Signet Marine, Houston, TX
Operator: Signet Marine
Flag: United States
Home Port: —
Victory – 2001-2006
Owner: Penn Maritime Inc., Stamford, CT
Operator: Penn Maritime Inc.
Flag: United States
Home Port: —
Victory – 2006-2011
Owner: K&K Integrated Logistics, Menominee, MI
Operator: K&K Integrated Logistics
Flag: United States
Home Port: Menominee, MI
Victory – 2011-Present
Owner: Black Creek Shipping Co., Traverse City, MI [Rand Logistics]
Operator: Grand River Navigation Co., Traverse City, MI [Rand Logistics]
Flag: United States
Home Port: Cleveland, OH
Her Story
The Victory was constructed in 1981 by McDermott Shipyards at their Amelia, Louisiana, shipyard, as a large push tug for Texaco Marine Services. The keel for the Victory was laid on February 21, 1981, being launched on April 21, 1981. She entered service that summer for Texaco, pushing a tank barge between Gulf of Mexico ports.
In 1990, the Victory was acquired by Signet Marine of Houston, Texas. She was sold yet again in 2001 to Penn Maritime of Stamford Connecticut. Her operations remained essentially the same.
In 2006, the tug was acquired by K&K Integrated Logistics of Menominee, Michigan. She was brought onto the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway, arriving in Escanaba, Michigan, on November 26, 2006.
While in Escanaba, her upper pilothouse was raised, her lower pilothouse converted into cabins, and a Hydraconn Articulated Tug-Barge Connection system was installed by VanEnkevort Tug & Barge. She was used in late 2007 to push the barge Lewis J. Kuber. Prior to entering service for the 2008 season, her upper pilothouse was raised yet again, making it the tallest on the Great Lakes. She was then paired with K&K’s barge James L. Kuber, entering service on April 13, 2008.
In February 2011, Rand Logistics announced that they had acquired the vessels of the K&K Integrated Logistics fleet, those being their two Articulated tug-barge units, Lewis J. Kuber / Olive L. Moore and James L. Kuber / Victory. The tug-barge units were placed under the ownership of Rand’s Grand River Navigation Company. Part of the agreement was that the barges must keep their names for five years after the purchase.
On January 4, 2013, the Hydraconn connection system between the tug and the barge had a mechanical failure, and the tug crew had to set the barge adrift in heavy seas. The barge was retrieved by her fleetmate Saginaw, which was assisted by the tug Victory.
The James L. Kuber was renamed Maumee {2} in February 2019. The Maumee / Victory continue to be active members of the Grand River Navigation fleet, serving the ore, coal, stone, and grain trades.
Compiled By Brendan Falkowski
Updated on August 3, 2020
Gallery
Sources
Greenwood’s Guide to Great Lakes Shipping 2016, Harbor House Publishers, 2016. Pp. 6.5.
“Maumee Integrated with Tug Victory”. Rand Logistics, N.d. Accessed 3 August 2020. <https://www.randlog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Rand-Vessel-Profile-MAU-8-2019.pdf>
Pennock, Isaac. “Victory”. Great Lakes Tugs & Workboats. N.d. Accessed 3 August 2020. <https://gltugs.wordpress.com/victory/>
Wharton, George. “Victory”. Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping Online. N.d. Accessed 3 August 2020. <http://boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/Victory.htm>
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