USC&GS A. D. Bache (1901) - A New Ship Built-1901

A New Ship Built-1901

In April 1899 the steamer Bache of 1871 was condemned as unseaworthy and inspected in Mobile by Assistant H. G. Ogden, then supervising construction of Pathfinder, with temporary repairs making her safe for the voyage to New York authorized. Coast and Geodetic Survey appropriations for the fiscal year 1901 included $60,000 for rebuilding the A. D. Bache. On December 17, 1900, after work in Chesapeake Bay, the Bache of 1871 under command of Assistant W. I. Vinal departed Baltimore arriving at "Shooter's Bay", New York on the 19th and placed in drydock at Towsend and Downey Shipbuilding and Repair Company which had been awarded "a contract for building a new hull" even though "rebuild" is noted in other records.

There a "new hull of composite construction" was built to designs by Mr. L. B. Friendt of Baltimore and a new boiler was provided with machinery, instruments and the name from the old ship transferred to the new hull which was launched September 21, 1901. The vessel was 472 tons displacement/370 gross tons with a registered length of 153.2 feet, beam of 26.2 feet and 10 foot draft of 400 horsepower for a speed of 10.5 knots. She had a capacity for 96 tons of coal and 9 officers and 42 men.

Accepted January 18, 1902 the vessel completed outfitting, with personnel and a boat conducting a four day hydrographic examination in the vicinity of Shooters Island before departure.