P.R.R. No.9 (or Pennsylvania R.R. No.9), a 92-foot harbor tug, was built at Richmond, Virginia, in 1904. She was acquired by the Navy in September 1917 and placed in service as USS P.R.R. No.9 (SP-679). During the remainder of World War I she operated on tug and minesweeping duties in the New York Harbor area. The tug was returned to her owner in early January 1919.