Page 22: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 1983)

grand

Photo—Morgan Kaolian

M/V GRAND REPUBLIC

Largest Addition To McAllister Brothers Fleet

Delivered By Offshore Shipbuilding

The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson

Steamboat Company of Port Jef- ferson, Long Island, New York, highlighted the celebration of its 100th anniversary recently with the introduction of its new passen- ger/auto ferry, the M/V Grand

Republic.

McAllister Brothers, Inc., the towing and transportation com- pany headquartered in New York, is the parent company of the

Bridgeport & Port Jefferson

Steamboat Company. Brian A.

McAllister is president of the

Steamboat company.

McAllister's interest in the ferry and excursion business goes back to the turn of the century when

James McAllister formed the

McAllister Steamboat Company some thirty years after he founded the McAllister Tugboat Company.

The company prospered and be- came one of New York's foremost excursion boat operators with a 24 fleet in excess of 20 vessels. The queen of the fleet was the majestic steamboat, the Grand Republic, which flew the McAllister colors.

For years, McAllister was one of the principal owners of the Bridge- port & Port Jefferson Steamboat

Company and subsequently pur- chased all remaining stock bring- ing the steamboat company 1009c into the growing McAllister organization.

There is little physical similar- ity between the old and the new

Grand Republic except the name.

The original vessel was a coal- fired steamboat with a walking beam engine driving side wheels.

Although her hull was iron, all of her superstructure was wood.

The new Grand Republic, on the other hand, is built to the latest requirements of the American Bu- reau of Shipping and United States

Coast Guard. Wood or other flam- mable material is not used in the construction of the vessel. The ves-

Modern wheelhouse of the Grand Republic boasts the finest equipment.

ZIDELL Maritime Reporter/Engineering News