- Tug Boat
- 55ft 17m Lengths
- 42ft 13m Depths
- 43° 27′ 42.3″ N
-76° 33′ 11.88″ W
The MARY KAY, originally built as PAYDAY II, was a tugboat constructed in 1957 in Franklin, Louisiana. It measured 55 feet in length and weighed 35 tons. Powered by twin Murphy diesel engines, the MARY KAY underwent a significant refurbishment in 1988 when it was purchased by Salvage and Demolition Inc. of North Weymouth, Massachusetts. This included a renaming to CAPT. G.H. SMITH or SWIFT in 1987.
On September 21, 1988, the MARY KAY embarked on a journey from Rochester, New York, to its new home in Boston. Unfortunately, just west of Oswego harbor on Lake Ontario, the tugboat encountered severe weather conditions. Two 9-foot waves crashed over its stern, flooding the engine room and causing it to quickly list and sink. At the time of the incident, only the captain and engineer were on board.
Upon receiving a distress call and reports from witnesses on land, the US Coast Guard cutter from Oswego promptly responded to the emergency. They braved the storm and successfully rescued the two men from the sinking vessel. The City of Oswego Police Department recognized the bravery of the USCG crew by awarding them certificates of recognition.
Prior to its ill-fated journey, the MARY KAY had been owned by International Barge Lines and stationed at Port Weller, Ontario, since July 1987. The tugboat had served on the Great Lakes before being purchased by its new owners in North Weymouth, Massachusetts.
