Tug Shillelagh Then and Now
The Tug Shillelagh was splashed recently after her 1st yard period since she underwent a major refit in the summer of 2006. Captain Mike Knecht stated "we hauled the Shillelagh for routine maintenance; during this yard period the boat's bottom and topsides were painted, new graphics were applied, her shafts and props were treated with PropSpeed and some other general maintenance was accomplished. The boat is in great shape and she is back in the water ready service the needs of the yachting community."
The Tug Shillelagh was purchased from a towing and salvage company in Beaufort North Carolina and transported to Ft Lauderdale on the deck of the Richard L. Becker; TowBoatU.S. Ft Lauderdale's 96' OSV. The previous owner purchased the partially completed tug many years before from the owner of Universal Alco which was formerly located in Dania Beach. After spending many years serving the towing and salvage needs of the North Carolina Coast, TowBoatU.S New River spent a full year completely refitting the tug. The refit was complete and she was splashed in August 2006 boasting heavy welded steel hull construction, John Deere diesel power, 3:1 gears, 34" propellers, Fernstrum keel coolers and fully protected running gear. On deck, a new wheelhouse was designed and fabricated of aluminum, an aft control station was added and non marking fendering was installed. The power, size and weight of this tug make it well suited for towing the largest yachts that transit the New River and South Florida's waterways.
The Tug Shillelagh is available to assist with the towing needs of yachts, marinas and yards throughout South Florida. Please contact TowBoatU.S. New River at 954-525-5577 to schedule a tow or for more informations.
