Str. Lunga Point FINALLY Salvaged !

Can you provide links to more information about this steamer?

Str. Lunga Point - Links

Stephen ,
Thanks for your interest in the Str. Lunga Point and no I don't have any direct links to this boat but like many other things you may have some luck by " Google-ing " the Lunga Point and in all likelyhood if there are any links on her Google will bring it to your attention . Good luck with your search and for that matter I have quite a few other pictures of the Lunga point that I would be happy to share with you or for that matter any one else .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Steven Harrod;15822 wrote: Can you provide links to more information about this steamer?

According to Way's Towboat Directory

Steven Harrod;15822 wrote: Can you provide links to more information about this steamer?

Here's the info from Way's Towboat Directory p. 151 :
T1661 LUNGA POINT
prop tb sh 1944-1966. built Ironton, Oh by Mt. Vernon Bridge Co. A DPC 180x52x11. Two four cylinder triple expansion engines, 16s 26s 32s 32s 2 ft. stroke rated 2000 hp at 185 rpm. twin four-bladed props, 9 ft. diameter with 6ft.7in pitch Steam provided by Foster-Wheeler A type generator, 275 psi at 100 degree superheat Bunker C
Leased by Inland Waterways Corp during WWII. Chartered to Butcher-Arthur Co.. of Houston during WWII. sold May 1947 to Ore Steamship Co, a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel for Orinoco River service, but never went there. Reboilered to receive two B&W steam generators and got two smokestacks. Laid up at Beaumont Tx for a great while. Sold in Feb 1954 to Ohio Barge lIne. Decommissioned when the Steel Express came into service in 1966. Sold in 1968 to a Pittsburgh dentist who planned to make a restaurant of her, but didn't. Sold to Port Allen LA Marine Service who put offices and shops aboard and utilized her boilers for barge cleaning.

So are those engines still aboard?? TWO, triples! With 4 cylinders, two low pressure (actually, by the time you get to the third expansion, likely you are below atmospheric or nearly so)? Anyone out there know, or better yet, pics??
S'
David D.

In the late 1860's I salvaged a set of drawings of the DPC steamers from a dumpster at Jeffboat. I made drawings from them for modelers. See model building if you want a set. I think the drawings from which I worked are in the Inland Library Collection. There is a special sheet for Lunga Point, the only one to have two stacks.

More Str. Lunga Point Pictures !

Greetings From Plaquemine , La. ,
Today I am south bound on an in-ballast tanker out of Exxon , Baton Rouge and when making my steer around Plaquemine Point , river mile 209 LMR , I could not help but notice that the salvage operation on the Str. Lunga Point has now intensified with the addition of a second derrick barge . I would just have to imagine that barring any unexpected problems or issues , they should have the Lunga Point afloat in the next few days . I am not sure if they're working 24/7 with the salvage operation but needless to say , I am pleased to see them making progress . I also hope that come next hurricane season , this whole river region of southeast Louisiana will be spared from another season of Mother Nature's wrath ! Time will tell !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Ted Davisson;15808 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans ,
Well , FINALLY , the Str. Lunga Point is geting raised and salvaged from her leve side resting place since Hurrican Ike blew through this last September 11th. . Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Level 3 hurriccane and the damage she inflicted is still very much present in south Louisiana . In my opinion , just one of the many tradegies that she brought to the river region of Louisiana was the partial sinking of the old Str. Lunga Point . Fortunately , and I guess better latter than never , her present owners , the Plaquemine Point Shipyard ( formerly known as the Banta Fleet ) is now in the process of raising and salvaging this old steam tow boat and I can only assume that she will go back into service at the shipyard to clean tank barges with the steam from her vintage boilers . Time will tell ! Also , in the first picture , and in the foreground is one of the model bow , harbor tugs that we use to maneuver the ships in and out of the docks and anchorages with .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Ted, do you know if the Bantas plan to put the LUNGA POINT back in operation for her steam plant, or will they let her waste away like so much of their other stuff?

Capt.'n Bob , Great Question !

Bob ,
First of all , I wish I could give you a difinate answer but in all honesty , I don't know . I am sure , like many would like to think that they will return her to service , but your guess is good as anyones ! Secondly , great post on Americas Inland Waterway , " Junk Fleets " !! I just wish the Coast Guard would regualte them as much as they regulat the vessels and personel that mann these same river vessels !! Go figure !! Thanks for all your interesting and informative comments !!
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Bob Reynolds;15935 wrote: Ted, do you know if the Bantas plan to put the LUNGA POINT back in operation for her steam plant, or will they let her waste away like so much of their other stuff?

I just came by the salvage site, and things are not looking up. There is now a THIRD salvage rig and 3 smaller crane barges in addition to the 3 big rigs. The LUNGA POINT is still under water in the sam eposition as Ted's pics. A lot of lifting power, but no progress yet.

The Str. Lunga Point Has Risen !!

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Well , after many months of speculation and I am sure after an equal amount of anxiety from those of us that actually care about the river and the old and almost forgotton boats that made the river and for that matter America what it is today , the Str. Lunga Point has finally been ressurected from an almost certain watery grave . Last night I had a south bound sailing out of the Exxon/Mobile refinery in Baton Rouge and although it was night time when I was making my steer around Plaquemine Point , I could not help but notice that not only the salvage derricks were missing but so was and fortunately was the Str. Lunga Point as well . Hopfully the Str. Lunga Point will not only be be put back into service to clean petro chemical barges at the Plaquemine Point Shipyard but is it to far a stretch to imagine that just possibly one day she may be restored and used for something a bit more glamorous than a cleaning tug ?? Food for thought !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Bob Reynolds;16015 wrote: I just came by the salvage site, and things are not looking up. There is now a THIRD salvage rig and 3 smaller crane barges in addition to the 3 big rigs. The LUNGA POINT is still under water in the sam eposition as Ted's pics. A lot of lifting power, but no progress yet.

Capt. Ted, I had read your post earlier this evening, and was glad to see it. As much as I hate to contradict you though, the LUNGA POINT is still sunk in the same place...I'm looking at it as I type this. They have moved the salvage rigs...I am still hoping htat they have not given up raising her!