Two launchings, only a week apart, at Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc., Tacoma, Wash., have added the 176-foot tuna seiners Cheryl Marie and Kerri M to the expanding U.S. fishing fleet.
The Cheryl Marie was the second and the Kerri M the third of a series of three seiners being constructed at Tacoma Boat. The first vessel, the Pacific Tradewinds, is already working in the southern tuna fishing grounds. All three seiners were constructed under a federal government subsidy program by which the U.S. pays 48 percent of the approximate $1.8-million cost of each vessel.
The Cheryl Marie was sponsored by Mrs. John Silveira, wife of the captain-managing owner of the seiner. The Kerri M was christened by Miss Kerri Medina, the 10-year-old daughter of its captain-managing owner.
While the Kerri M was the third to be launched, it will be delivered prior to Cheryl Marie. The latter seiner will be delivered in February.
The designer of the three sisterships was Rados & Sons Engineering Company of San Pedro, Calif.