An authentic maritime heritage and education attraction for Olympia’s evolving waterfront
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Our immediate goal is to complete the Parthia Exhibit. Donate now by clicking on the Donate button, then selecting:
Use this donation for: Parthia Restoration & Exhibit Fund |
The South Sound Maritime Heritage Association (SSMHA), a nonprofit organization founded in 1974, and the originator of the Olympia Harbor Days tugboat festival and races, has acquired the historic tugboat Parthia. Working with other partner groups, the SSMHA is completing restoration of the 1906 tugboat as a covered, outdoor shore-side heritage and educational exhibit on the Olympia waterfront.
The 50-foot Parthia was built in the early 1900s by James Hall, of the widely-known Hall Brothers shipbuilding family of Port Blakely and later Winslow, Washington. Purchased in 1934 and operated by the Delta V. Smyth Tug and Barge Co., and later in 1961 by Foss Launch and Tug Co., the hard-working tug was a common sight on Olympia’s waterfront for nearly four decades. After her sale by Foss in 1975, she passed to a series of private owners, and became a familiar, race-winning participant in the annual Olympia Harbor Days festivals beginning in 1986.
Opportunity statementFollowing the 2016 Harbor Days festival, Parthia was sold to a new owner who took her to Pleasant Harbor on Hood Canal. Unfortunately, in early August 2017, the venerable tug accidentally sank at her private moorage. The SSMHA was informed that her owner would donate Parthia to anyone or any organization that would salvage her. Not wanting to lose an important icon of Olympia’s working waterfront history, the Association called on friends in the Puget Sound maritime heritage and industry community to help raise, refloat, and return the tug to Olympia. This was achieved when Parthia arrived at the Port of Olympia Swantown Boatyard in mid-November 2017.
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Project vision
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In late September 2017, after careful consideration, the SSMHA board voted unanimously to acquire Parthia through donation. And following initial conversations with potential government, individual, and other project partners, an Association task force began to develop a lasting legacy plan for the historic Olympia tugboat.
The project goals were to (1) restore the tug to her 1950s working appearance, and (2) find an appropriate site on the city’s continually evolving waterfront, to exhibit her as a maritime educational exhibit, and public attraction for South Sound residents, students and tourists. Goal 1 has been 95 percent achieved, and goal 2 was met when the Port of Olympia approved the plan to display the Parthia on Port property adjacent to Olympia Farmers Market. We look forward to putting some finishing touches on Parthia, erecting the covered exhibit pavilion, and installing the tugboat in its new location. |
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Parthia being built on the ways in 1906.
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Hull sanded , stern view, 2018.
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Parthia Restoration Update: 2019
The 113-year-old Parthia was 95 percent restored in 2019. Photo Credit: Chuck Fowler ©2019.
When Parthia, a longtime participant in the Olympia Harbor Days Tugboat Festival and Races, sank in Hood Canal in early August, 2017, and was offered to the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association (SSMHA) at no cost, the group’s board decided to acquire, return and restore the historic Olympia tug. The vision was to place her ashore near the city’s waterfront where she worked for 40 years, as a maritime heritage icon and educational attraction. Two years later, after hundreds of hours of planning and donated volunteer and contracted work in the Port of Olympia’s Swantown Boatworks, the 113-year-old Parthia has been 95 percent restored, and is near ready for a permanent shore-side exhibit site.
Also, because in late January, 2019 the long-planned and awaited Maritime Washington National Heritage Area (MWNHA) was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President, a proposal has been developed to create a “Tugboat Heritage Walk” on Percival Landing and the Olympia waterfront. As envisioned, the Walk would be included in the new National Park Service-administered NHA, and would link the city’s two historic tugs, Sand Man and Parthia, with pictorial interpretive signage along the route. When implemented, it would provide a unique maritime heritage educational enhancement, and be an appropriate tourism and economic development attraction for the Capital City.
A detailed story about Parthia’s rescue and restoration appeared in Volume 1 of Tugs in the Capital City, published in 2018.
Also, because in late January, 2019 the long-planned and awaited Maritime Washington National Heritage Area (MWNHA) was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President, a proposal has been developed to create a “Tugboat Heritage Walk” on Percival Landing and the Olympia waterfront. As envisioned, the Walk would be included in the new National Park Service-administered NHA, and would link the city’s two historic tugs, Sand Man and Parthia, with pictorial interpretive signage along the route. When implemented, it would provide a unique maritime heritage educational enhancement, and be an appropriate tourism and economic development attraction for the Capital City.
A detailed story about Parthia’s rescue and restoration appeared in Volume 1 of Tugs in the Capital City, published in 2018.
The Parthia: Resurrected (from 2018)
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An excerpt from Tugs at the Capital City, South Sound Maritime Press, 2018
Preserving Parthia: The Rest of the Story When Parthia, a longtime participant in the Olympia Harbor Days Tugboat Festival and Races sank in Hood Canal in early August, 2017, several members of the South Sound Maritime Heritage Assocaition (SSMHA) acted quickly to save the tug. Three months later, after hundreds of hours of planning and donated volunteer and contracted work, the 112-year-old Parthia was back in Washington’s Capital City at the Port of Olympia’s Swantown Boatworks. After restoration, the SSMHA’s plan is to exhibit her shore-side on Olympia’s waterfront as a maritime history and education exhibit. She would be a fitting tribute to the individuals, families and companies in the Pacific Northwest that helped build the region’s strong maritime and timber economy. These businesses included Olympia’s Delta V. Smyth Tugs & Barges and Foss Launch & Tugboat, for which Parthia towed for a total of 27 years, other working waterfront companies, and labor organizations like the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 47. A perennial participant and winner of five Olympia Harbor Days tugboat races, the venerable tug had been sold to a new owner, Robert Shashinda, in 2016. After she sunk, Shashinda offered to donate the 50-foot long Parthia to anyone who would salvage her. Not wanting to lose an icon of the city’s working waterfront history, the SSMHA decided to acquire the tug. Chuck Fowler and Bob Peck, both SSMHA past presidents, were asked to lead the initial Parthia rescue, return and restoration effort. |
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After her sinking in Hood Canal and the decision to acquire Parthia, the SSMHA began her 105 day-long salvage process. The effort involved both donated volunteer and paid work, and ended in mid-November when the 111-year-old tug arrived by boat transport truck at the Port of Olympia’s boatyard.
The rescue process began when Fowler contacted Frank Immel, a friend with Seattle’s Global Diving & Salvage Company, who was also president of Puget Sound Maritime in Seattle, a regional nonprofit historical organization. Immel had crewed on the Parthia for several years, during trips around the Sound and in the San Juan Islands with one of her former owners, the late Scott Bokland of Vashon Island. With this personal connection to the tug, Immel volunteered to lead the salvage effort. He traveled to her Pleasant Harbor sinking site, and with the help of Scott’s son Simon, they spent a combined total of 20 hours pumping her out. Once refloated, Parthia was turned broadside to the shore at low tide, her open hull seams were patched, and the tug readied for safe towing. After Parthia’s refloating, the initial plan was to have the owners of vintage tugs that had participated in past Harbor Days events use their retired workboats for the 100-mile long tow from Pleasant Harbor in Hood Canal to Olympia, but logistical and scheduling difficulties prevented this approach. However, after hearing about the problem Olympia businessman, former tugboat owner and Harbor Days participant John Warjone came up with another solution. |
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Together with his retired business owner friend Rick Panowicz, and Rick’s nephew, tug captain Rob (Chip) Panowicz, they proposed to use Rick’s 47-foot trawler yacht Jean Marie to tow Parthia from the site of her sinking on Hood Canal north to Port Townsend for haul-out. Chip, a licensed, experienced tug master with Sause Brothers Ocean Towing of Coos Bay, Oregon, would prepare the tug for towing, and be at the helm of Jean Marie during the 36-mile-long transit.
As part of the overall tug rescue plan, Warjone contacted his boat hauling company owner friend, Mark Cohen of Associated Boat Transport of Marysville (WA), and arranged for donation of the 100-mile-long highway haul of the tug from Port Townsend to Olympia. In all, in November rain, high wind and sea conditions on Hood Canal, the well-planned boat tow and subsequent truck haul were completed successfully on Nov. 16. The whole operation took a total of ten hours during a two day period. During the next seven months, under the supervision of SSMHA volunteer and retired Washington State construction manager Gary Larson, the venerable tug was pressure washed inside and out, a few seams re-caulked and planks replaced, bow bumper restored, primer paint applied, and other improvements made. Professional shipwright and SSMHA member George Kruzman rebuilt the wheelhouse to her 1958 design when operated by Olympia’s Delta V. Smyth Tugs & Barges company. By mid-July, 2018, thanks to hundreds of hours of dedicated volunteer and professional work, Parthia had been 85 percent restored for on-shore exhibit. More than $ 25,000 in donated, in-kind services had been donated to the project, and the SSSMHA had invested almost $ 30,000 in cash to the restoration. |
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By mid-July, 2018, thanks to hundreds of hours of dedicated volunteer and professional work, Parthia had been 85 percent restored for on-shore exhibit. More than $ 25,000 in donated, in-kind services had been donated to the project, and the SSSMHA had invested almost $ 30,000 in cash to the restoration.
Potential waterfront exhibit sites for Parthia have been proposed by SSMHA and are being reviewed, and Olympia architect Ron Thomas has contributed the design of a protective timber and steel canopy for the tug. In addition, informational panels interpreting the colorful working history of the tug and the Olympia waterfront, and donor recognition, are being incorporated into the structure’s design.
As a true working waterfront historical icon, it’s vital to save, and restore Parthia as a publically-visible, heritage and educational attraction for South Sound residents, students, and visitors. And the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association is dedicated to achieving this worthy goal.
Potential waterfront exhibit sites for Parthia have been proposed by SSMHA and are being reviewed, and Olympia architect Ron Thomas has contributed the design of a protective timber and steel canopy for the tug. In addition, informational panels interpreting the colorful working history of the tug and the Olympia waterfront, and donor recognition, are being incorporated into the structure’s design.
As a true working waterfront historical icon, it’s vital to save, and restore Parthia as a publically-visible, heritage and educational attraction for South Sound residents, students, and visitors. And the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association is dedicated to achieving this worthy goal.