The USS Active, constructed in 1888 at San Francisco by the Union Iron Works, holds the distinction of being the first steel tug built on the U.S. West Coast. She was launched on August 4, 1888, featuring a length of 100 feet (30.5 meters), a beam of 22 feet (6.7 meters), and a hold depth of 13 feet (4.0 meters). Her design included five watertight bulkheads dividing the vessel into compartments, contributing to her seaworthiness and operational safety. The vessel's construction was notable for its predominantly steel structure, with only the captain's stateroom and pilot house finished in teak with cherry and ash paneling, emphasizing her innovative design for the period. Powered by a 12-foot 6-inch long boiler with a circumference of 13 feet 6 inches, the Active drove a 9-foot 6-inch diameter propeller, enabling her to reach speeds of approximately 14 knots (16 mph). Her steam engine was a compound type, and she consumed about 10 tons of coal daily, with a bunker capacity of 65 tons, ensuring considerable endurance for her duties. Acquired by the U.S. Navy in April 1898 from the John D. Spreckels Brothers Co. during the Spanish-American War, she was commissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard in July 1898. She initially served at Bremerton Navy Yard before returning to Mare Island, where she undertook a long service period. Notably, after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Active played a crucial role in firefighting efforts, assisting with hoses and fire suppression alongside other Navy vessels, and helping to safeguard the Pacific Mail dock and waterfront. Throughout her career, she was renamed Lively in 1918 and received the hull number YT-14 in 1920. After sinking at her moorings in 1926 and being deemed unfit for further service, she was decommissioned, struck from the Navy list in 1929, and sold into commercial service. Reacquired during World War II in 1942, she was designated YT-323 and later YTM-323, serving as a harbor tug in Kodiak, Alaska, until 1945. She was ultimately returned to commercial operation until her scrapping in 1963. The USS Active's long service history reflects her significance as an early steel tug and her versatile contributions to both wartime and peacetime maritime activities.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.