Shown is the tug "Esther S.", pulling hawser in the Newport News flats, summer 1985...she would hand off her empty SC Loveland oceangoing coal barge to the tugs "Dolly S. McAllister" and Loveland tug "Miss Holly", where they would take her over to Pier IX Newport News. She was owned by a fellow in Suffolk, VA...he also owned/ran another tug named "Capt. Carl".. Allen Baker Photo.

The ESTHER S. was built circa 1965-66 and initially owned/operated by Steuart Transportation in Piney Point, MD. For years she pushed the asphalt barge AUNITE MAME around the East and Gulf Coasts. The Esther S. was owned by Stuert Transportation and was sold long before they were bought out by Vane Brothers. It was bought by Elver Paul, (believe that was his name), at Mid-Atlantic and was named the Bull Run. After his brief ownership it was bought by A-1 Towing and was named Lady D. She was tripped and sank once in New Orleans while A-1 still owned her, and was totally rebuilt inside and some minor details inside. She has been laying at the end of a dock at Lyons Shipyard in Norfolk, Va since 2002. She has great lines and runs well offshore. She has a single 16-645 EMD and a single drum tow winch with and old Duetz motor for the winch. A-1 has been merged with Norfolk Tug now. Norfolk Tug has a lease on the Captain D, Lucky D., and the Taft Beach but still does not use the Lady D. The A-1 tugs still have the same paint scheme, similar to Weeks' paint scheme, but Norfolk Tug has added a red band around the traditional black and white boats to show the merger.