Tug Reuben Johnson

[Richard Jenkins]

Thanks to Tom Caine for posting the pics in today's News Gallery, confirming the Reuben Johnson has indeed been cut up. A sad end for a fine old tug, looks like her steel was still in good shape too, considering she was only a couple years away from her 100th birthday.

[Richard Jenkins]

Fraser cut up several workboats a few years ago, including the Troy L. Johnson, but the Reuben Johnson was not cut up at that time. She was still intact and afloat when I was out there in the fall of '08. If her document was renewed just this past June, it sounds like her scrapping must have been a very recent development.

[Paul A]

In the Public Gallery, I remember Franz having a gallery of the shearing of all those workboats at Frazer.

[Richard Jenkins]

That's sad. When did it happen? Are the pictures online anywhere?

[Guest]

She's razor blades. Saw pictures of the hull on the dock being cut down.

[Richard Jenkins]

Can anyone confirm one way or the other if the Reuben has indeed been scrapped? I know they were unwilling to sell or donate her as of a couple years ago and had plans to put her back into service. Would be a shame if they actually did scrap her though, she was the most original of the surviving "City" class G-tugs (she was formerly the Buffalo), would have made a nice museum tug or a project for somebody.

[Zac]

Franz has no operation left as of a couple years ago. All of his tugs were seized by the county.

[William Lafferty]

That does seems strange, considering that Fraser renewed her documentation on 30 June 2010. She is 98 years-old, however, and I believe only 450-bhp.

[Bill H]

I heard that Fraser Shipyard has scrapped their old tug Reuben Johnson. Why? I thought it was in operational condition. Why didn't FRanz VonRiedel's preservation society take over the tug? They're right there. Can anyone clue me in?