Awarded 2 May 1968 Acquired 25 November 1969 Fate Sold, 16 July 2001 Launched 19 August 1969 Builder Slidell | Laid down 29 November 1968 Struck 4 April 1995 Construction started 29 November 1968 Length 33 m | |
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Status Commercial service as Maverick into 2011 | ||
Palatka (YTB-801) was a United States Navy Natick-class large harbor tug named for Palatka, Florida.
Contents
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. 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.