Slideshow: Tugboat Challenger refloated and moved to downtown waterfront

The wrecked tugboat Challenger was tied up to the AJ Dock Tuesday.

Lt. Jennifer Ferreira of the U.S. Coast Guard said the Challenger was successfully hoisted up and refloated at high tide at 1 a.m. that day. Another tug boat took the Challenger in a side tow under the Juneau Bridge before noon.

Hazardous materials and any oil will be removed from the old tugboat while it is at the AJ Dock. It will be later moved to Thane and dismantled.

The tugboat sank in September in Gastineau Channel across from the Juneau Yacht Club.

Built in 1944 for the U.S. Army, the tugboat was later sold to a commercial tug company and later turned into a bunk and breakfast in Seattle. The vessel later became home for a live-aboard family in Juneau.

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