Fireboat "Torrent"
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"Torrent" begins new career as a tug boat
..The new owners offered the Torrent for re-sale, and in December of 1957 the boat was purchased by Richard and Robert Bludworth of “Bludworth Construction Co.”, Houston Texas. The Torrent was taken in tow by the Bludsworth tug “Ernest” and towed from Baltimore to Houston. On the trip around Florida, The Torrent went aground off Pass-A-Grille in heavy seas, and it was several days before Captain Bill Hutto, of the “Ernest” was able to free the boat and continue his trip to Texas. The Torrent safely reached Houston by the end of December 1957, where the Bludworths commenced to convert the Torrent into a diesel powered towboat.
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Torrent as a towboat in 1958 with the barge “City of Pensacola”. At this time
she .had .been. converted .from .steam to a .direct reversing Superior marine
diesel,. and some of the deck house, and. quarters were re-arranged. The boat
continued to carry the name “Torrent” in her new role.------------------------------
she .had .been. converted .from .steam to a .direct reversing Superior marine
diesel,. and some of the deck house, and. quarters were re-arranged. The boat
continued to carry the name “Torrent” in her new role.------------------------------
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Torrent. spent. the next twenty years towing various barges .in .the Gulf of
Mexico to the East Coast, .Puerto Rico, .Cuba, .Buenos Aires, .Mexico, and
Venezuela.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexico to the East Coast, .Puerto Rico, .Cuba, .Buenos Aires, .Mexico, and
Venezuela.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
..In 1967, Torrent was re-powered with a 12-cylinder Fairbanks-Morse, opposed piston marine diesel engine, with a Lufkin two speed gearbox and a 120 inch by 132 inch, 5 blade propeller.
.. During 1972-73 a "Bludworth" Flexible Ocean Pushing System was installed on the boat, and an upper wheel house was added to see better over the pushed barges.
..After conversion to the push system until 1992, Torrent pushed the ocean notch barges "Ponciana" and "Poseidon" in the U.S. Gulf, East Coast, Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America.
..Her deck house, and bulwarks were replaced/refurbished in 1992, and after being laid up for several years, Torrent went back into service in 1996 pushing the new molten sulphur barge "Margaret Sue", for Martin Gas Marine.
..In 1997, Torrent suffered a broken lower crankshaft, and was re-powered with a 16-cylinder, 3,000 H.P. Alco 251e marine diesel. ..
.. During 1972-73 a "Bludworth" Flexible Ocean Pushing System was installed on the boat, and an upper wheel house was added to see better over the pushed barges.
..After conversion to the push system until 1992, Torrent pushed the ocean notch barges "Ponciana" and "Poseidon" in the U.S. Gulf, East Coast, Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America.
..Her deck house, and bulwarks were replaced/refurbished in 1992, and after being laid up for several years, Torrent went back into service in 1996 pushing the new molten sulphur barge "Margaret Sue", for Martin Gas Marine.
..In 1997, Torrent suffered a broken lower crankshaft, and was re-powered with a 16-cylinder, 3,000 H.P. Alco 251e marine diesel. ..
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Torrent after conversion to the "Bludworth" Flexible Ocean Pushing System
and installation of the upper wheel house, during the 1970's.--------------------
and installation of the upper wheel house, during the 1970's.--------------------
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Torrent in service during 1997 pushing the molten sulphur barge "Margaret
Sue" for Martin Gas Marine". .Note the original upper wheel house has been
replaced with a taller one. -------------------------------------------------------------------
Sue" for Martin Gas Marine". .Note the original upper wheel house has been
replaced with a taller one. -------------------------------------------------------------------
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In June of 2001,. Richard Bludworth Jr., of. “Vessel Repair”, whos father had
purchased the Torrent in. 1957,. sent me this picture of the boat, laid up at a
repair yard in Port Arthur, Texas. He stated the boat had served the company
well, over the years, and was one of his favorites. --------------------------------------
purchased the Torrent in. 1957,. sent me this picture of the boat, laid up at a
repair yard in Port Arthur, Texas. He stated the boat had served the company
well, over the years, and was one of his favorites. --------------------------------------
..About six months after her new engine installation, Torrent made her final commercial voyage, and was then laid up for sale on an "as is, where is" basis. After several years of having the boat for sale, an offer was recieved and accepted for the purchase of her main engine, reduction gearbox, propeller, and generator sets. The upper wheel house, and towing winch were also removed at this time.
BACK TO FORMER BOATS
.. Today, Torrent is still moored at Port Arthur, Texas for sale as scrap or for conversion at the age of 84 years!
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