Sigrid Dunlap blessing and readiness reception

The Sigrid Dunlap was blessed before a cheerful and enthusiastic crowd of over 200 well-wishers, family members, company employees, ship builders, support partners and invited guests May 22. Dunlap Towing President Jim Dunlap thanked all who worked so diligently on this project in his opening remarks.

In contrast to the dark, cold early-morning launch on January 20, the blessing and readiness ceremony was held under brilliant blue skies on a warm morning.

The dedicated efforts of all associated with the Sigrid Dunlap were echoed by daughter Meghan Dunlap-Rice, the company’s assistant controller, in her remarks.

Giving the blessing, Minister Jon Younquist share examples from the Bible of ships and those who made their livings from the sea.

The Sigrid Dunlap is a state-of-the-art sea-going tug 121 feet in length. It has a beam of 38 feet and twin CAT C-175 diesel engines capable of producing 5,346 horsepower. It will pull cargo on barges connected by two tow wires, each 2.25 inches thick. Tow wire one is 3,100 feet long and tow wire two is 2,400 feet long. Both are wound on a massive Markey tow winch.

The wheelhouse is fully automated and equipped with highly sophisticated electronics. Since launching in January, work has progressed rapidly to complete electronics installation, finish crew quarters and get the ship ready for sea.

Its maiden voyage will be a ten-day trip to Honolulu, departing June 1. It will dock for 35 to 40 hours to unload and then return to Washington.

The Sigrid Dunlap joins the Dunlap Company fleet of tugs, which tow log barges to sawmills on the northwest coast as well as serves customers in Alaska and remote villages above the Arctic circle.

The ship is named for Dunlap’s grandmother. She came to La Conner from Norway in 1905.