Tugboat Polar King Back After Vessel Overhaul

The formerly retired tugboat Polar King is back on the water thanks to the hard work of the Alaska Marine Lines team and many others throughout the Lynden companies. The 50-year-old tugboat was completely overhauled earlier this year and is now back in the fleet and will be towing barges between Seattle, Hawaii, and Western Alaska ports. The 120- by 34-ft. tug was built in 1974 at McDermott Shipyard, one of eight built that year. Four of those vessels ended up towing barges at AML. After many years of service, three of the four tugs were retired, and the Polar King was selected to receive a major overhaul.

The project took approximately 16 months from the initial teardown to the Seattle sea trials, according to AML Port Engineer Kris Mullan. "The tug was stripped down to the bare hull and then rebuilt," he explains. All new equipment was installed, and the main engines and reduction gears were rebuilt. The Polar King now has an updated hydraulic system, valves, piping, electronics, wheelhouse, winches and other internal components. The tug engines may be removed and installed from the top of the deck (see photo above), a new and beneficial redesign feature.

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