Tugboats

DELECTATIONS

Happiness, total happiness, is spending a day on a Moran tug in New York harbor, as I was privileged to do a short time ago—a passionate wish of many years fulfilled. I was on the Theresa Moran, one of the most powerful of the Moran fleet of well over 100 tugs, identified by the big M on their funnels. The Moran tugs dock and undock huge ocean liners and mammoth tankers and do many other workhorse chores that are essential to commerce in New York harbor. Theresa, a seagoing tug built in 1967, measures 110 feet in length, 28 feet 6 inches in beam, 17 feet in depth amidships. With a horsepower of 4,290, compared to the horsepower of 1,750 of most of the harbor tugs, she burns 3,500 gallons of diesel an hour, out of her tanks storing more than 56,000 gallons. Yet she is not the strongest nor the fanciest of the mighty Moran fleet. Alice Moran, the world’s most powerful oceangoing tug, has 9,600 hp; Amy Moran, newest of the fleet, prides herself on a pilothouse which is 15 feet high, the better to see over the big tankers she propels.

NH

About the Author

Nika Hazelton

DELECTATIONS

Happiness, total happiness, is spending a day on a Moran tug in New York harbor, as I was privileged to do a short time ago—a passionate wish of many years fulfilled. I was on the Theresa Moran, one of the most powerful of the Moran fleet of well over 100 tugs, identified by the big M on their funnels. The Moran tugs dock and undock huge ocean liners and mammoth tankers and do many other workhorse chores that are essential to commerce in New York harbor. Theresa, a seagoing tug built in 1967, measures 110 feet in length, 28 feet 6 inches in beam, 17 feet in depth amidships. With a horsepower of 4,290, compared to the horsepower of 1,750 of most of the harbor tugs, she burns 3,500 gallons of diesel an hour, out of her tanks storing more than 56,000 gallons. Yet she is not the strongest nor the fanciest of the mighty Moran fleet. Alice Moran, the world’s most powerful oceangoing tug, has 9,600 hp; Amy Moran, newest of the fleet, prides herself on a pilothouse which is 15 feet high, the better to see over the big tankers she propels.