Palatka (YTB-801)

Palatka (YTB-801)

On 26 August 1994, Palatka casts off for the last time from her former homeport at NAS Burmuda to start her three-day journey to her new homeport at Norfolk, VA. The final departure of Palatka was part of a reduction in services associated with the September 1995 base closure of NAS Bermuda.
History
United States
Awarded	2 May 1968
Builder	Southern Shipbuilding Corp, Slidell, Louisiana
Laid down	29 November 1968
Launched	19 August 1969
Acquired	25 November 1969
Stricken	4 April 1995
Identification	IMO number: 8980816
Fate	Sold into commercial service as Maverick, 16 July 2001
Notes	Sources: NVR, DANFS
General characteristics
Class and type	Natick-class large harbor tug
Displacement	283 long tons (288 t) (light) 356 long tons (362 t) (full)
Length	109 ft (33 m)
Beam	31 ft (9.4 m)
Draft	14 ft (4.3 m)
Speed	12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement	12
Armament	None
Notes	Sources: NVR, DANFS

Palatka (YTB-801) was a United States Navy Natick-class large harbor tug named for Palatka, Florida.[1]

Construction

The contract for Palatka was awarded 2 May 1968. She was laid down 29 November 1968 at Slidell, Louisiana, by Southern Shipbuilding Corp and launched 19 August 1969.

Operational history

Delivered 7 November 1969, Palatka was assigned to the 5th Naval District. She was later assigned to Naval Air Station Bermuda where she served until 1995.[2] A Large Harbor Tug, she was specially configured to berth and dock nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. She was also equipped to provide emergency rescue and other services.

Stricken from the Navy List 4 April 1995, ex-Palatka was sold 16 July 2001, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) to Boston Towing for $437,335 and renamed Maverick. Ex-Palatka was sold to Runner Marine Limited of Lagos, Nigeria in 2011 and renamed Alfa.[2]

References

1. "Palatka (YTB-801)". Retrieved 2011-11-08.
2. "Maverick".

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
•  This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of Palatka (YTB-801) at NavSource Naval History