LONDON TUGS LIMITED
ON THE 27TH JANUARY 1969 W. H. J. ALEXANDER LIMITED JOINED FORCES WITH SHIP TOWAGE [LONDON] LIMITED AND THE COMBINE BEGAN TRADING AS LONDON TUGS LIMITED. ALL THE LONDON SHIP HANDLING TUGS WERE THEREFORE NOW COMBINED IN THE ONE FLEET OF THIRTYSIX TUGS.
ON 27-1-1969 SHIP TOWAGE'S FLEET COMPRISED:
ATLANTIC COCK: AVENGER: BURMA: CERVIA [2]: CHALLENGE: CONTEST: CRESTED COCK: CULEX: DHULIA: FOSSA: HIBERNIA: IONIA: MOORCOCK: NAPIA [2]: OCEAN COCK: RANA: TANGA: VANQUISHER: VESPA AND WATERCOCK [2].
W. H. J. ALEXANDER LIMITED CONTRIBUTED:
SUN II: SUN III: SUN VIII: SUN X: SUN XII: SUN XV: SUN XVIII: SUN XIX: SUN XX: SUN XXI: SUN XXII: SUN XXIII: SUN XXIV: SUN XXV: SUN XXVI AND SUN XXVII.
FLEET LIST: SUN II - SUN XIX
SUN II
Photo P. van Damme Colln.
Built 1965 by Charles D. Holmes and Co. Ltd., Beverley. YN995. Screw Tug. L28.58m. B7.45m. D3.74m. 150grt. 1400bhp 6cyl Mirrlees National diesel engine. BP16t. Speed 12 knots. Acquired 1-1969. Disposed 1-1975. Official No 307890. Call sign GRRA.
7-1965 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander Ltd, London. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners Alexandra Towing Co [London] Ltd. 9-1992 Owners Vergina Towing Co. Ltd., Chalkis, Greece, renamed Alexandros. (Greek flag, ON 1061, call sign SW5714.) 3-2006 Still in service.
------------------------------------------
SUN III
Built 1966 by James Pollock Sons and Co., Faversham, Kent. YN2138. Screw Tug. L28.58m. B7.45m. D3.74m. 150grt. 1400bhp Mirrlees National diesel engine. BP16t. Speed 12 knots. Acquired 1-1969. Disposed 1-1975. Official No 308108. Call sign GRQU.
4-1966 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander Ltd, London. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 23-6-1983 Transferred to Alexandra Towing Co. Ltd., Swansea. 1984 Renamed Fabians Bay. 9-1992 Owners Vergina Towing Co. Ltd., Chalkis, Greece, renamed Filipos. (Greek flag, ON 1060, Call sign SW5713.). 2002 Deleted from Register "existence doubted".
-------------------------------------------------
SUN VIII
Photo J. Grainger Colln.
Built 1919 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. YN731. L100.3'. B25.6'. D11.8'. 196grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by Earles Ltd., Hull. Acquired 1-1969. Disposed 2-1969. Scrapped 1969. ON143951. Callsign MJTL.
12-1919 Delivered to W.H.J. Alexander Ltd., London. 10-1939 Req by Admiralty for Southend Naval Control. . 31-5-1940 Under skipper S. Smith crossed to Dunkirk towing 12 ships lifeboats and returned. 1-6-1940 Crossed to Dunkirk again and returned, carried total 120 men. 1940 Assisted Thyra II and Colonel Crompton in Barrow Channel. City of Dundee ashore Long Sand. Ingineer N. Vlassapol aground Barrow Sand. 1941 Assistance to: HMS Lowestoft, HMS Pelican, Halizones and Lieisten, all mined. S.S. Dicky salvaged Barrow Channel. MV Dixcove, mined. Rescued 48 survivors from S.S. Winkfield in Barrow Channel. 1942 Involved salvage tanker Scottish Musician and S.S. Camerata. 1943 Refloated S.S. Maurice Rose, S.S. Fort Frontenac and S.S. Isaac Shelby. Assisted refloating front section loaded tanker Josefina Thorden (Cant Sands) and collier Brockley, ashore on Long Sand in minefield. 1944 Salvaged S.S. Valburg, S.S. Florence Martus : towed HM Sub Turpin and S.S. Samos off Barrow Sand. 1945 Assisted S.S. Jersey City, S.S. Fort Kootenay, S.S. Empire Seaman, salvaged S.S. Lossiebank and quelled fire and later beached S.S. Mount Othrys. 18-4-1946 Returned to owners. 2-1960 Converted to oil fired boiler. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 2-1969 Broken up at Antwerp by Scrappingco SA..
--------------------------------------------
SUN X
Photo J. Grainger Colln.
Built 1920 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN 733. Screw Tug. L100.3'. B25.6'. D11.8'. 196grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by Earles Ltd., Hull. Acquired 1-1969. Disposed 2-1969. Scrapped 2-1969. Official No. 144657. Call sign KGJP later MKCS.
1-1920 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander Ltd., London. 31-8-1923 Injecting steam into number five hold, SS Alpe Maru, on fire off Gravesend. 18-12-1936 Sank off Tilbury after collision with freighter Turquoise. Salved and repaired at Mills and Knight Ltd., Rotherhithe. 27-1-1937 Returned to service. 5-1940 Took part in Dunkirk evacuation under Skipper W. A. Fothergill. 2-6-1940 Tried unsuccessfully to move grounded SS Rouen in Dunkirk harbour before removing 200 men from her. 25-8-1942 Req by MoWT, served on River Clyde under management of Clyde Shipping Co. Ltd. 3-5-1945 Returned to owners. 5-1957 Converted to oil fired boiler. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 2-1969 Scrapped by Scrappingco SA, Antwerp.
-----------------------------------
SUN XII
Photo Ian Boyd.
Built 1925 by Earles Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd., Hull. YN 652. Screw Tug. L100'. B25.6'. D12'. 183grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 27-1-1969. Disposed 5-1969. Scrapped 5-1969. Official No. 148637. Call sign KSTV later MNJB.
1925 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander Ltd., London. 6-3-1928 Struck by City of Charleroi whilst moored off Gravesend. Damage to stern and bulwarks. 31-5-1940 to 2-6-1940 Took part in Dunkirk evacuation under Master B. Mastin, making three round trips. 25-8-1942 to 7-6-1945 Req by MoWT, served on River Clyde and at Oban under management of Steel and Bennie Ltd. 1945 Returned to owners. 1-1957 Converted to oil fired boiler. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 5-1969 Scrapped by Scrappingco SA, Antwerp.
--------------------------------------
SUN XV
Photo Ian Boyd Colln.
Built 1925 by Earles Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Hull. YN 661. Screw Tug. L100'. B25.6' D12'. 183grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1969. Disposed 1969. Scrapped 1969. Official No. 148696. Call sign KTHS later MNLB. Passenger licence.
10-1925 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander Ltd., London. 9-12-1928 Standing by SS Marloch, with fire in bunkers, off Southend. 31-5-1940 Crossed to Dunkirk under Skipper J. J. Belton, towing six small boats. 2-6-1940 Rescued survivors from bombed hospital ship Paris. 3-6-1940 Crossed to Dunkirk again. 25-7-1940 Req by MoWT for port duties based on River Clyde. 30-1-1946 Returned to owners. 2-1959 Converted to oil fired boiler. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 5-1969 Scrapped by Scrappingco SA, Antwerp.
----------------------------------------------
SUN XVIII
Photo A. Hughes Colln.
Built 1951 by Philip and Son Ltd, Dartmouth. YN 1217. Screw Tug. L88'2''. B22'1''. D9'11''. 105grt. 750ihp 7cyl Ruston and Hornsby 7VGBM diesel engine, 12.5" bore, 15" stroke 430rpm. Speed 10 knots. BP 7.5 tons. Acquired 1969. Disposed 1975. Official No 184360. Call sign GMDL. (Alexanders first diesel tug)
27-7-1950 Launched. 2-1951 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander Ltd., London. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1972 Transferred to Gaselee and Son (Felixstowe) Ltd. 9-1974 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 1-1975 Sold to A & N Vogul Ltd., London, renamed Ecclesbourne. 1977 Sold to Petros and Spyridon Rarakos, Kerkyra, Greece. Renamed Alexandros. (Greek flag, ON 25 call sign SV3479.) 199? Owners Rarakos Shipping Co., Kerkyra. 1997 Laid up at Kerkyra. 7-2003 Derelict at Kerkyra.
-----------------------------------------
SUN XIX
Photo A. Hughes Colln.
Built 1956 by Philip and Son Ltd., Dartmouth. YN1289. Screw Tug. L107'2''. B25'11''. D11'9''. 192grt. 1210bhp 6cyl Ruston and Hornsby diesel engine. Acquired 1969. Disposed 1-1975. Scrapped 1996. Official No 187480. Call sign GVVJ. Licenced for 77 passengers.
1956 Delivered to W. H. J. Alexander and Co. Ltd., London. 8-7-1957 Rescued Frenchman clinging to overturned canoe 8 miles off Folkestone whilst on passage Gravesend to Chichester. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 5-1979 Sold to Societa Rimorchiatori Napoletani, Naples, renamed Sole Primo. (Italian flag, ON 1313, call sign IRTA). 26-8-1996 Scrapped by Izzet Sari Gemi, Sokum, Turkey.
------------------------------------------------------
|
