A tiny tugboat, at only 19 feet long and 10 feet wide with a draft of 5 feet, is being called the “smallest ship in the U.S. Navy” on social media.
The boat is initially a “Boomin Beaver” security tug built to herd logs in waterways. Now, it’s an all-purpose Navy boat that tows small ships and positions floating security fences, ensuring that aircraft carriers, larger submarines, and warships are protected from unwanted visitors.
On August 24th, the tiny tug made its first appearance on Reddit. The boat was built for loggers by Chuck’s Boat & Drive company in Longview, Washington. At some point, the Navy purchased them for harbor duties.
One Reddit user, ‘Idontfeellucky,’ identified this particular tug as operating out of Point Loma Sub Base in California, and wrote:
It’s a security tug. Those protective barriers surrounding the water portion of the navy base don’t move themselves. It’s the equivalent of opening the gate for cattle to go in and out. Unlock it, unlatch it, swing it open, and close it when the ship has passed.
The Boomin Beaver is spotted in several locations, including the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, and the Boston Harbor, where it operates as “the floating barrier” surrounding the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. The tiny boats are also seen at numerous naval bases across the U.S., including Naval Base San Diego and Naval Base Kitsap Bangor.
All of these Boomin Beavers are situated near floating security nets, recognized in the imagery as streams of connected buoys. The nets form a visible security barrier that ensures local shipping will keep away from billion-dollar warships.
One of the tiny boats, with a Cummins 6BTA5.9 diesel engine rated at 260 hp with ZF marine transmission, was put up for government auction in 2006. The boat’s highest bid was $100,025, which sounds like a lot, but it’s the cheapest Navy boat you will find.
