Hi Harold,

Thanks so much for the detailed information and and IMO number on the "Hercules"!She assisted in the berthing and un-berthing (at the Mobil refinery in Beaumont) of many of the Mobil tankers I worked on from 1973 to 1983. I'm glad to see was saved.

The Hercules was built in 1938 at the Gulfport Boiler and Welding Works. She was christened as a tug in the Sabine Towing Company's fleet by Miss Gertrude Fredrichsen, daughter of Captain H.M. Fredrichsen. The Hercules is 92 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 36 feet high, and was one of the first tugs to be constructed as an all-steel all-welded vessel.
In 1991, after fifty three years of service, The Hercules was going to be decommissioned and scrapped when David W. Hearn, Jr. learned of her existence and took steps to preserve her. The Sabine Towing Company generously donated the Hercules to the Clifton Steamboat Museum, and she was disassembled and moved to the Museum grounds.
The Hercules' engine was removed from the ship when she was transported to the Museum site. The fourth and last engine in the Hercules, it was originally designed as a locomotive engine. A 16-cylinder super-charged diesel, the engine weighs 16 tons and could generate more than 1800 horsepower. The engine on display was not the original engine, but it was the only engine for the Hercules when she was decommissioned. She was originally equipped with a 600 horsepower Atlas Imperial direct reversible cast iron six cylinder diesel engine. She came a long way in 50 years.
Also on display in the Museum, is an exhibit of several artifacts related to the life of the Hercules. Part of an anchor chain found aboard, the level used to lay her keel, and a variety of documents concerning her life and activities are on display.

The 1938 Hercules tugboat is a 205 tons, 92 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 36 feet high. The Hercules was donated to the Clifton Steamboat Museum by Sabine Transportation. The tugboat is available in conjunction with the museum tour. http://www.plakainc.com/clifton/Clifton14.htm