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Martinolich Shipbuilding, Tacoma WA

(Also in San Francisco CA and San Diego CA)

Most recent update: July 17, 2011

Martinolich Shipbuilding was started by John A. Martinolich in Dockton and closed in 1930.  His two sons restarted it in Tacoma in 1935, expanding to San Francisco and San Diego.  The San Francisco yard closed in 1949, the San Diego yard was sold to NASSCO in 1957, and the Tacoma yard closed in 1974.  If anyone can tell me more about this company, or where its three shipyards were located, or can fill any of the gaps in the table below, please contact me at timcolton@aol.com. 

Note that there were two earlier Martinolich shipyards, both started by Croatian immigrants of that name but not, apparently, connected.  One was started by Venanzio Martinolich  in Port Guichon BC, in about 1892: it is not clear when it closed.  The other was started by Matteo Martinolich in Gulfport MS, in the 1890s and appears to have closed in 1922, although there are signs of later life.

Hull # Original Name Original Owner Ship Type GT Delivery Disposition
Built in Dockton WA
  Vashon   Fishing Vessel 132 1905  
  Nightingale   Fishing Vessel 18 1907 Active
  Verona   Fishing Vessel 142 1910  
  Nisqually   Fishing Vessel 255 1911  
  Clatawa   Fishing Vessel   1913 To USN 1944 as YFB 50
  Washington   Fishing Vessel 273 1914  
  Monitor   Fishing Vessel 32 1915 Active
  Veribus Martin Suich Fishing Vessel 35 1917 Now Memories
  Five Cs   Cargo Vessel 33 1917 Now Phoenix III
  Michael Jay   Fishing Vessel 46 1927 Now Lummi Boy
  Janet G   Fishing Vessel 33 1929 Active
Built in Tacoma WA
  Spartan   Fishing Vessel 210 1936 To USN 1940 as Pipit (AMc 1), returned to owner 1944
  Dux   Fishing Vessel   1936 To USN 1942 as YP 299, returned 1946
  California Rose   Fishing Vessel   1936 To USN 1942 as YP 317, returned 1946
  Pacific Fisher   Fishing Vessel   1937 To USN 1941 as YP 86, to MARAD 1946
  El Capitan   Fishing Vessel   1937 To USN 1942 as YP 304, returned 1946
  Vivian A   Fishing Vessel   1938 To USN 1942 as YP 294, to MARAD 1946
  Juanita   Fishing Vessel   1939 To USN 1942 as YP 303, returned 1946
  AMB 6   Fishing Vessel   1940 To USN 1942 as YP 364, to MARAD 1946
  J. A. Martinolich   Fishing Vessel 195 1940 To USN 1942 as Hornbill (AMc 13),  in collision and sank 1942
  Mitkof Mitkof Tender Svce Fishing Vessel 106 1940 Active
253 St. Ann   Fishing Vessel   1941 To USN 1942 as YP 517, to MARAD 1946
  Sea Wolf   Fishing Vessel   1942 To USN 1942 as YP 411, to MARAD 1946
  Pamela Jean   Fishing Vessel 119 1943 Now Fleetwood
  Blue Meridian   Fishing Vessel 638 1944 Active
  Gallant   Fishing Vessel 111 1944 Active
  Balaena   Fishing Vessel 192 1944 Active
  Melissa Chris   Fishing Vessel 114 1944 Now Cape Ommaney
  Ghost   Fishing Vessel 572 1944 Now Sea Bird
  Alert Harold Sommer Tug 8 1946 Active
  Miss Rose Ann Marie J. Ferrante Fishing Vessel 18 1949 Active
  Favorite   Fishing Vessel   1950s ? Wrecked ?
  Ashley C Robert K. Johnson Fishing Vessel 41 1962 Now Parrakeet
  Madre Dolorosa Wallace E. Botsford Fishing Vessel 52 1963 Active
  Vaya Con Dios Roderick C. Harvie Fishing Vessel 55 1964 Active
  Roland Brusco, Sr. Brusco Towing Tug 73 1965 Active
  Seaco Northland Leasing Tug 73 1965 Now St. Michael
  Peril Strait Mogul Ocean Towing Tug 88 1965 Now Sarah C
  Sea Queen Pacific Towboat Tug   1965 Now Mathilda Foss
  Jenny Foss Foss Maritime Tug 87 1965 Active
  Melia Foss Foss Maritime Tug 87 1966 Active
  Myrtle Foss Foss Maritime Tug 87 1966 Now Avery O
  Chatham Strait Island Tug & Barge Tug 87 1966 Now Island Wind
  Peggy Jo O. E. Dyson Fishing Vessel 197 1966 Active
  Lucky Island Robert Freeman Fishing Vessel 55 1966 Active
375 Pacific Master Swire Pacific Tug 119 1967 Later Kainani, Catherine Foss, now Lynx
378 San Pedro   Tug 164 1967 Now Pacific Combi
  Lori J   Fishing Vessel 168 1967 Now Emerald Island
  Alaskan Peninsula Alaskan Adventures Tour Boat 184 1967 Now North Pacific
  Claudia Foss Foss Maritime Tug 97 1968 Now Triumph
  Heritage Jay L. Erickson Tour Boat 18 1968 Active
  Martha Foss Foss Maritime Tug 93 1968 Now Katha C
  Aleutian Rover Hjelle Enterprises Fishing Vessel 292 1968 Now Royal Pelagic
  Royal Pacific Forde Enterprises Fishing Vessel 194 1969 Active
387 Royal Princess Royal Princess Cruises Tour Boat 94 1969 Active
388 Vestfjord Olympic Sports Inc. Fishing Vessel 195 1969 Active
  Viking King Northern Reefer Fishing Vessel 179 1969 Active
  Pacific Voyager Liland Enterprises Fishing Vessel 183 1969 Active
  Betsy L Brix Maritime Tug 107 1969 Active
392 Aries Pan-Alaska Fisheries Fishing Vessel 197 1971 Active
394 Western Meteor   Tug 272 1970 Now Liberty
397 American Star Hjelle Enterprises Fishing Vessel 192 1971 Active
398 Kootznahoo Boyer Towing Deck Barge 312 1971 Active
399 Anela Blue Heron Crane Fishing Vessel 150 1972 Active
402 Rainier Rainier Investments Fishing Vessel 198 1972 Now Debbie Sue
403 Gryphon Gryphon Enterprises Yacht 187 1973 Active
404 Nordic Fury Fury Group Fishing Vessel 198 1972 Active
  Paragon II Erling Jackobsen Fishing Vessel 196 1973 Now Paragon
  Scorpio FY Fisheries Fishing Vessel 196 1973 Now Seadawn
  Betty N G. Nabeshima Fishing Vessel 161 1973 Now Pacific Paradise
  Tarantino III   Fishing Vessel 101 1973 Now Coast Pride
  Aquarian   Fishing Vessel 197 1974 Now Nordic Provider
412 Shaman Dal-Car Maritime Fishing Vessel 198 1974 Now Alaskan Leader
  Firecracker   Fishing Vessel 197 1974 Now Alaska Sea
414 Commodore   Fishing Vessel 268 1974 Now Anita J
415 Pacific Fury Fury Group Fishing Vessel 196 1974 Active
Built in San Francisco CA
  T 5 U.S. Army Boat, psgr.-cargo   Sep-42  
  T 6 U.S. Army Boat, psgr.-cargo   Sep-42  
  T 7 U.S. Army Boat, psgr.-cargo   Sep-42  
  T 49 U.S. Army Boat, psgr.-cargo   Oct-42  
  T 50 U.S. Army Boat, psgr.-cargo   Oct-42  
  BSP 1046 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Apr-43  
  BSP 1047 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   May-43  
  BSP 1048 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Jun-43  
  BSP 1049 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Jul-43  
  BSP 1050 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Aug-43  
  BSP 1051 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Sep-43  
  BSP 1052 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Oct-43  
  BSP 1053 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Nov-43  
  BSP 1054 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Dec-43  
  BSP 1055 U.S. Army Barge, self-prop.   Dec-43  
  FS 46 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 270 May-43  
  FS 47 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 270 Aug-43 Now a bed-and-breakfast in B.C.
  FS 238 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 540 Mar-44 To USN 1950 as AKL 33
  FS 239 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 540 May-44  
  FS 240 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 540 Jul-44  
  FS 241 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 540 Sep-44 Sold as Nordic Maid
  FS 242 U.S. Army Coastal Freighter 540 Nov-44 Sold as Pomare
Built in San Diego CA
250 Rhea (AMc 58) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 307 15-Oct-41 To MARAD 1946
251 Ruff (AMc 59) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 307 15-Oct-41 To MARAD 1946
  Illusive (MSO 448) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780 14-Nov-53 Scrapped 1993
  Impervious (MSO 449) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780 15-Jul-54 Scrapped 2002
  Enhance (MSO 437) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780 16-Apr-55 Scrapped 2000
  Esteem (MSO 438) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780 10-Sep-55 Scrapped 2000
  Storione (MSO 506) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780 1-Feb-56 To Italy as M 5434, active
  Salmone (MSO 507) U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780 1-Jun-56 To Italy as M 5430, struck 1996