By Neil Farrell ~
She’s one of the more famous little boats ever in Morro Bay and has been painstakingly restored, with a public unveiling set for Saturday, June 4.
It’s been more than 15 years since the Kelsey Family of Sylvester’s Tug Service donated the Alma to the Central Coast Maritime Museum Association, and the time has come to put her on public display, adding the tug to its array of boats on the Morro Bay waterfront.
An open house is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4 for $5 adults and free for 5-under. The tours include climbing inside the Deep Sea Rescue Vehicle Avalon.
On Sunday from noon-2 p.m. is a benefit barbecue, hosted by Dockside Too, with a grilled chicken dinner for $15 adults and kids $7.
The Alma was a line tender for the Estero Marine Terminal in the 1940s when World War II broke out after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, Ha.
Just two weeks later, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the oil tanker, Montebello, offshore from Cambria. The Alma was one of two tugs that sprang into service and helped rescue all aboard the stricken tanker, which sunk to the bottom.
Launched in 1971, the Avalon is one of just two DSRV’s commissioned by the Navy to conduct deep-sea rescue missions of submarines following the tragic loss of the nuclear sub, U.S.S. Thresher, in April 1963. It was the first nuclear submarine ever lost.
Some 50-feet long, the Avalon and her sister ship, Mystic, were designed to be able to be loaded into transport planes and flown anywhere in the world for rescue mission. Neither boat was ever put into service for a submarine rescue but have been used in various Hollywood movies, including The Hunt for Red October. The CCMMA also has a Coast Guard Surf Rescue Rollover Boat in its display. In the photo are volunteers moving the rollover boat last February.
CCMMA is also working to install a small museum building at the Front Street site, hoped to be accomplished sometime in 2017.
Advance Tickets are available at Coalesce Book Store, 845 Main St. Walk-ups are welcome. For more information about the CCMMA, see: www.morrobaymaritime.org.
