Michele Returns to Seattle after Pacific Circumnavigation

With the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop, the Michele Foss enters Seattle’s Elliott Bay after its Pacific Odyssey.

The tug Michele Foss in early October completed a four-month, 16,000-mile circumnavigation of the Pacific Ocean, heading from Seattle to Tahiti to tow a powerless ship to Korea before returning to the Pacific Northwest.

The high-powered ocean going tug was enlisted to tow a 431-foot, Philippine-registered bulk carrier to Korea for permanent repairs after temporary repairs had been performed in Tahiti. The ship had lost power and run aground near Raroia Atoll.

The Michele Foss is one of three Arctic Class tugs built at Foss Rainier Shipyard. The tug is 132-feet long, 41 feet in beam and is rated at 7,268 horsepower. The vessel entered service in 2015.

Members of the Michele crew were, from left, Colin Smith, mate, Sean Thomson, oiler, Ryan Regner, able seamen, Dimitri Stignei, mate, Kevin Hergert,oiler, Tom File, captain, Cliff Acre, able seaman/cook, and Brian Jutzon chief engineer.