I know how frustrated you must be but I can assure you that many more are in the same boat with you.

Baltimore Museum of Industry's (BMI) director, Roland Woodward was quoted in news article last year that its not that the National Historic Landmark BALTIMORE isn't a priority of the museum, it is but one of many in the collection the museum must address when choosing where to commit their limited funding.

Where I think you and I agree is that, in the past (and perhaps up to the present too), BMI truly believes that if the Tug BALTIMORE should actually sink at her moorings (as the US Coast Guard also believes IT WILL) - it ought settle into no more than eighteen inches of water and thus not flood the entire engine room. Mr. Woodward so expressed this same belief to the gathering of Port of Baltimore Tricentennial committeemen earlier this year. It was not a convincing situation.

After viewing your digital imagry showing BALTIMORE still afloat at extreme low tide, and noticing where the tide markings were on the pier pilings she is tied to, I m quite convinced that this 100 year old operational artifact would see her main deck awash, perhaps half way up her deck house should she suffer the misfortune to slip beneath the waves.

If when settling, her keel comes in contact with an obstruction silently lying just beneath the vessel, the weight of the tug could very likely spring her keel forever. As with most tugs of her contemporary construction, weakened sterns oftimes separate from the rest of the hull upon springing. The stern literally falls off.

BALTIMORE is known to have sub-structure hull challenges from fresh water corrosion brought about by deferred maintenance. This situation has, over the years, been created by leaks in her deckhouse roof and concrete maindeck fissures. She's literally rusting from within and will continue to do so (according to a July 2006 USCG report) unless extreme measures are taken to reverse this trend. To date, this has not occurred.

The Steam Tug BALTIMORE virtually represents one-third of the entire 1706-2006 history of the Port of Baltimore. She is the very last hand-fired coal-burning steam tugboat still capable of being operated in all of North America. When she's gone there ARE NO MORE to take her place.

According to wording within E-mails I have received from Tug BALTIMORE'S chief engineer and project manager, Stephen Heaver, the tug is well beyond any attempts at regular maintinence and should have been pulled for a hull replacements long ago. Steve admits that BALTIMORE is on borrowed time.

The near-newly constituted non-profit Baltimore & Chesapeake Steamboat Company (B&CSC) has yet to imagine itself in a position to assume ownership of the vessel.

BMI's previous administration had asked B&CSC to form for this purpose but has, since Novemeber of last year, withdrawn its offer to transfer ownership to the new non-profit made up mostly of longstanding tug volunteers.

Communication between the two groups in the past has been wanting. Of the two groups the B&CSC seems to suffer most.

Frustration over poor communication and lack of 2007 event scheduling has led to recent talks of laying the infant B&CSC aside as a functioning entity is actively being considered according to project director Mr. Heaver and others on the B&CSC's board. What active volunteers remain have somehow managed to do so dispite many museum administration changes and a clear lack of mission within the B&CSC. Following the group's successful involvement with the tug's 100th birthday celebration the B&CSC seems to have lost its compass heading.

Sustained survival, especially with dedicated yet well-worn volunteers, oft times leaves many tug enthusiasts with scars. Is it time for a complete revamping of priorities in order to save the tug from sinking? As Edward DeBono was quoted as saying, "You can't dig a new well by digging the same hole deeper".

A complete changing of the old guard might be in order as suggested by B&CSC advisor Maizie Cummings. This would be better then shutting the new organization down or placing it in hibernation, as seems to be the indications.

People are never so likely to settle a question, or develop a pending situation, as when they can discuss it freely. Can it be done here on this forum? That would be something fresh, new and exciting!

I'm not so confident that either the B&CSC or BMI, the artifiact's stewarts, have been able to find a workable solution to Tug BALTIMORE'S desperate situation. As stated earlier, descisive communication and subsequent 'save-the-tug' measures have been lacking. Project Director Heaver has in the past commented that Tug BALTIMORE is on borrowed time. Do others agree?

Thanks for your succinct and timely posting Doug. The time bomb nature of 1906 Tug BALTIMORE'S hull continues to tick. The thought of allowing this National Historic Landmark to sink ought not to be endured. Saving our maritime heritage should be everyone's 'priority'.

Walt Mathers
Late of the Board of Directors
Baltimore & Chesapeake Steamboat Company
A 501 c(3) non-profit corporation

• RE: This Website & A Teeter'g Tugboat's Future - Walt Randolph 06/01/2007 08:50:39 EDT (1)