HISTORIC TUG T.B. McCLINTIC This site documents the five year period (between 2003-2008) of major restoration and significant events of the historic tug, T.B. McClintic, while it was owned and operated by Rainey Harbor Towing. Launched Oct. 12, 1932 (Photo courtesy Maine Maritime Museum. Click on photo to link to Museum.) Tug T.B. McClintic was built as a boarding tug for the U.S. Public Health Service by Bath Iron Works in 1932.  Although a small tug, she was a significant vessel for the shipyard.  The construction of the tug T.B. McClintic and another small vessel, the lighthouse tender Hickory, were critical to Bath Iron Works' ability to reduce lay-offs and continue operations during The Great Depression. Tug T.B. McClintic was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as "the last known remaining quarantine boarding tug afloat and in operating condition . . . the sole survivor of its type."   Following its service as a boarding tug for the U.S. Public Health Service, Tug T.B. McClintic was renamed "Atlantic IV" and served twenty-five years as a fireboat for the City of Wilmington, North Carolina. Fire Boat Atlantic IV parades by the Battleship North Carolina with monitors spraying. (Photo courtesy of Chris Nelson. Click on photo to link to W.F.D.) "Mac" in Bucksport, SC, before start of restoration Tug T.B. McClintic was purchased by Rainey Harbor Towing in August of 2003.  She had been laying in Bucksport, South Carolina, for over five years.  Within weeks of new management, she was headed north to Sneads Ferry, NC to ride out Hurricane Isabel. Shortly thereafter, Tug T.B. McClintic, nicknamed "Mac the Moose" by its new owners, was underway again to Hampstead, North Carolina, for major rennovations.  After tremendous sustained effort, Mac's extensive restoration was completed and she was re-launched after three years in the shipyard at high tide on February 21, 2008. Tug T.B. McClintic kicked-off its historic return by being honored as a visiting ship in the 61st annual Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina.  During its return to Wilmington, Mac hosted a memorable special event for the Wilmington Firefighters.  The event was a memorable reunion including many firefighters who had served aboard the tug during its fifteen years as the Wilmington Fireboat. Following the Azelea Festival and other local events, Mac transited the Intracoastal Waterway to Norfolk, Virginia.  Mac's eight-foot draft made navigating the narrow, shallow-waters of the waterway very challenging.  In Norfolk, T.B. McClintic joined other historic working vessels and tall ships from around the world as a visiting ship for Norfolk's 32nd annual Harborfest.  Mac enjoyed a front-row berth next to the Harborfest Pirates encampment. After Harborfest, Mac continued north up the Chesapeake Bay to Baltimore.  The T.B. McClintic had been stationed in Baltimore for the majority of its service as a quarantine boarding tug for the U.S. Public Health Service.  Mac participated in two significant events during this homecoming.  In August, Mac joined many historic and modern work boats to participate in Baltimore's Tug Fest.  The vessels paraded single-file through Baltimore's Inner Harbor while the fireboat sprayed plumes of water and the Liberty Ship John Brown looked on.  The tugs then rafted together behind the historic Tug Baltimore for a big on the water party.  Tug T.B. McClintic also hosted and was honored by the Assistant Secretary of Health during a special event to announce a new Public Health Service initiative. The crew of Rainey Harbor Towing is proud to have completed the major restoration of the historic tug, T.B. McClintic, and to have participated in these maritime events.  We will always cherish the memories and our sense of accomplishment.  Godspeed to the new owners as you write the next chapter for Mac.    Click to go to Mac's Wilmington Fire Dept. Page Click to go to MAC's US Public Health Service Event Click to go to Mac's Tug Fest Photos