HISTORIC TUG T.B. McCLINTIC Professional Cruising School and Unique Charters Assistant Secretary of Health Launches New Health Diplomacy Initiatives and Honors "MAC's" Service (see link at bottom of page) 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 has now been completed and she was re-launched after three years in the shipyard at high tide on February 21, 2008. Tug T.B. McClintic will kick-off its historic return by being honored as a visiting ship in this year's 61st annual Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina.  Following the Azelea Festival and other local events, Mac will make an historic homecoming trip from North Carolina to Bath Iron Works.  Rainey Harbor Towing will be offering working berths to qualified passengers selected for this special adventure.  If you are interested in being a member of Mac's Homecoming Crew for one or more of the legs of this adventure, drop us a line via the mail buoy link or fill out our online Guest Log. Rainey Harbor is still evaluating several sites as Tug T.B. McClintic's future homeport.  Once there, "Mac" will serve as the flagship for a professional cruising school and as a unique charter vessel. 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