Northwest Seaport volunteers cleaned and organized the tug 's interior and refurbished the main engine piece by piece , with the first official startup as a museum ship occurring in 1980 . Afterward '' Arthur Foss '' regularly cruised Puget Sound waters during the summer months with a volunteer crew , participating in tugboat races , boat shows , and other maritime heritage events until 2001 . The tug 's excursions ended that year due to rising fuel and insurance costs , and increased safety concerns , in the wake of the September 11 attacks . Volunteer crew burnout , lack of organizational development , and the increasing need for major restoration work also played a part . Varying non-professional attempts at spot repairs over the years were superseded beginning in 2004 with larger but specifically focused restoration projects run by contracted professionals . However , a comprehensive restoration has not yet been attempted . Following extensive survey , documentation , and hull maintenance projects in 2017 , planning and fundraising efforts are under way to restore the vessel to its 1940 appearance , in cruising condition
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Arthur Foss