Palatka (YTB-801)
1969-1995
A city in Florida. "Palatka" is a Seminole Native American word meaning "spilled."
YTB-801: displacement 356; length 109'0"; beam 31'0"; draft 14'0"; speed 12 knots; class Natick)
Palatka (YTB-801) was laid down on 29 November 1968 at Slidell, La., by Southern Shipbuilding Corp., Slidell, La.; launched on 19 August 1969; and delivered on 7 November 1969, to the Fifth Naval District.
Palatka is a large harbor tug specially configured to berth and dock nuclear powered submarines and aircraft carriers. She is also equipped to provide emergency rescue and other services.
Taken out of service, Palatka was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 4 April 1995, and was disposed-of, through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, on 16 July 2001. Boston Towing acquired the tug and renamed her Maverick. A decade later, Runner Maritime, Ltd., a part of Capital Oil & Gas Industries, Ltd., of Lagos, Nigeria, bought her and renamed her Alfa.
Updated, Robert J. Cressman
14 February 2024
