Jupiter (tugboat)

Jupiter is an American tugboat. It was built in Philadelphia in 1902 by Neafie & Levy for the Standard Oil Company of New York ("Socony"), and was named Socony No. 14.[1] In 1939 it was sold to the Independent Pier Company in Philadelphia, and was renamed Jupiter.

Jupiter

Jupiter moored at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia
History
United States
Name:	Socony 14 (1903–1914) S.T. Co. No. 14 (1914-1918) Socony 14 (1918-1938) Jupiter (1938-Present)
Owner:	Standard Oil Company (1901–1939) Independent Pier Company (1939–1980) Eastern Towboat of Boston (1980–1989) Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (1989–)
Operator:	Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild
Route:	Philadelphia & Boston Harbors
Builder:	Neafie & Levy
Yard number:	961
Laid down:	1901
Launched:	1902
Completed:	1903
In service:	1902–1989
Status:	Museum ship
General characteristics
Type:	Tugboat
Tonnage:	147 GT
Length:	101 ft (31 m)
Beam:	22 ft (6.7 m)
Draft:	9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Decks:	4
Installed power:	1 × 500HP Compound steam (1902–1949) 1 × EMD 567 Main Diesel engine, 2 × Detroit 2-71 Diesel DC Generators (1949–)
Propulsion:	Single screw
Speed:	13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) max
Crew:	4–12

When USS New Jersey was launched in December 1942, Jupiter was one of the tugboats that helped move the massive battleship. Seventy-five years later, Jupiter participated in a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the launch (and of the attack on Pearl Harbor a year previously).[2]

In 1949, Jupiter had an engine refit in Baltimore, converting it from steam to diesel power. In 1999 it was retired from work and was sold to the Penn's Landing Corporation.

Jupiter is maintained and preserved by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, and is used for tourism.[1][3]