Founded in 1860, by Michael Moran as a towing and brokerage firm, the Moran Towing and Transportation Company of New York, New York. In 1863, the company transitioned from a brokerage firm to an owner/operator of towing vessels when the company acquired a one-half interest in the tugboat Ida Miller for $2,700. In 1880, Michael Moran painted the first white "M" on the stack of a Moran tugboat.
Long Island Sound averages 60 ft in depth, with the greatest depth of over 300 ft at the eastern end. Tidal effects are strongest at the narrow western end, where all the inrushing water flow piles up and makes tidal variations of up to 7 ft. Strong tidal currents are also prevalent, and visibility tends to be poorer than the open ocean, especially at depth.
