{"id":2839,"date":"2010-11-19T16:36:55","date_gmt":"2010-11-19T20:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.divetalking.com\/?p=2839"},"modified":"2011-01-07T22:26:51","modified_gmt":"2011-01-08T02:26:51","slug":"tuff-e-nuff-the-tug","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.divetalking.com\/?p=2839","title":{"rendered":"TUFF-E-NUFF, the Tug"},"content":{"rendered":"

The vessel now sits in St. Mary’s Georgia and TISIRI members are presently cleaning her for placement as an artificial reef within the next month.<\/p>\n

If you know or have any history or any paperwork on this vessel, please contact Larry Davis under the contact<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Tuff-E-Nuff<\/strong><\/em>, was originally known as Thomas Cunningham Sr.<\/strong><\/em> A late 19th-century tugboat<\/a> which has had a remarkable 112-year commercial career. She was still operating as a working tugboat as recently as\u00a0 2010.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>Thomas Cunningham Sr.<\/strong><\/em>, was built in 1895 by Neafie & Levy<\/a> of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<\/a> for the Army Corps of Engineers<\/a>. She was operated by the Harbour Board of the Port of Richmond<\/a>, Virginia<\/a> for more than eighty years.<\/p>\n

After 45 years of service, Thomas Cunningham Sr.<\/em> was sent to Newport News<\/a> for the annual inspection where she was placed into “durance vile”\u2014meaning the vessel was considered unsafe to operate. [4]<\/a><\/sup>Her papers where seized and she was suspended from duty until repairs where made. The main complaint was deck issues. [5]<\/a><\/sup> The Richmond City Council quickly approved the budget extension for $8,000 to get the repairs completed [6]<\/a><\/sup> and get their tug back.<\/p>\n

Starting in late 1948, Thomas Cunningham Sr.<\/em> finally got a much needed major refit. The wooden pilot house and deck were replaced with steel versions, and a 500 horsepower<\/a> (370\u00a0kW<\/a>) Cleveland 8-268A diesel<\/a> engine was installed to replace the original steam engine<\/a>. The entire cost of the project, including sending two maintenance people to the Cleveland factory for training, was $65,927.02. [7]<\/a><\/sup> Out of the 9 bidders for the work, Dunn’s Marine Railway, Inc. of West Norfolk won the bid and completed the work approximately $11,000 under budget. [8]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In 1977 the vessel was sold into private hands,[9]<\/a><\/sup> and reportedly became a salvage tug<\/a> in Florida<\/a>.[3]<\/a><\/sup> In May 2007, the tug was placed on the market by her owners, a salvage company, who were hoping to sell her to restorers. As of 2008, she was registered as a recreational vessel according to the U.S. Coast Guard<\/a>‘s Port State Information eXchange. [10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

As of November 2010, Tuff-E-Nuff is on a sandbar in Georgia and an organization is working to sink the tug as an artificial reef. [11]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Mariners Museum collection<\/h3>\n

In 1951, the ship’s original engine was acquired by the Mariners’ Museum<\/a> at Newport News, Virginia<\/a>. The engine has since been restored to working order\u2014albeit powered by electricity rather than steam\u2014and is on display at the Museum.[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

The engine is a two-cylinder<\/a> compound<\/a> type with an 18-inch (46 cm) stroke<\/a>, and 206 indicated horsepower<\/a> (154\u00a0kW<\/a>). The high-pressure cylinder is 12\u00bd inches (32 cm) in diameter and the low-pressure cylinder is 24\u00a0inches (61 cm). The engine weighs approximately 14 tons and stands 10-feet-1\u00bd-inches (3.09 m) high.[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In addition to the engine, the Museum also has on display a handcrafted 1:24 scale cutaway model of the Thomas Cunningham Sr.<\/em>,[9]<\/a><\/sup> as well as the original builder’s plate for the engine.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Career<\/th>\n\u00a0<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Name:<\/td>\nTuff-E-Nuff<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Builder:<\/td>\nNeafie & Levy<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost:<\/td>\n$21,000[9]<\/small><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yard number:<\/td>\n886[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christened:<\/td>\nThomas Cunningham Sr.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Completed:<\/td>\n1895<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
In service:<\/td>\n1895\u20132010<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Status:<\/td>\nbeing cleaned for artificial reef 11\/2010<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
General characteristics<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Tonnage:<\/td>\n65\u00a0GT\u00a0(gross tonnage<\/a>), 44\u00a0NT\u00a0(net tonnage<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length:<\/td>\n68\u00a0ft\u00a06\u00a0in (20.88 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beam:<\/td>\n17\u00a0ft\u00a01\u00a0in (5.21 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Draft:<\/td>\n8\u00a0ft\u00a07\u00a0in (2.62 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Decks:<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deck clearance:<\/td>\n34\u00a0ft\u00a01\u00a0in (10.39 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Installed power:<\/td>\nOriginally steam; replaced by diesel 1948<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Propulsion:<\/td>\nSingle screw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed:<\/td>\n8\u00a0knots (15 km\/h), cruising speed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capacity:<\/td>\nBerthing for six<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Notes:<\/td>\nWinch and Crane removed August 2008<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Vessel Information:<\/td>\nVessel Particulars:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vessel Name:<\/strong> TUFF E NUFF
\nVIN:<\/strong> 145704
\nHull Number:<\/strong>
\nVessel Flag:<\/strong> UNITED STATES
\nVessel Call Sign:<\/strong> WC6219
\nBuild Year:<\/strong> 1895<\/td>\n		Service:<\/strong>
\nLength:<\/strong> 68.6 ft
\nBreadth:<\/strong> 17.1 ft
\nDepth:<\/strong> 8.7 ft
\nAlternate VINs:<\/strong> 145704,
\nIMO Number:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Service Information:<\/td>\nTonnage Information:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Service:<\/strong> Not In Service
\nOut Of Service Date:<\/strong> 04\/2010
\nLast Removed From Service By:<\/strong>Owner – James<\/td>\n		Deadweight:<\/strong>
\nGross Tonnage(GRT):<\/strong> 65
\nNet Tonnage(NRT):<\/strong> 44
\nGross Tonnage(GT ITC):<\/strong>
\nCargo Authority:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n