SHIP TOWAGE [LONDON] LIMITED
 
FLEET LIST
ATLANTIC COCK - FOSSA
Ship Towage [London] Ltd. came into being on the 1st February 1950, being an amalgamation of the fleets of William Watkins Ltd., (14 tugs), Elliott Steam Tug Co. Ltd., (2 tugs) and Gamecock Tugs Ltd., (4 tugs). On 1-5-1965 four ship handling tugs belonging to Gaselee and Son Ltd. also joined the combine. The constituent companies retained their individual funnel colours until 1965, when the Ship Towage colours were introduced.
William Watkins Ltd. contributed the following vessels, whose details can be found in the Watkins Fleet Lists:ARCADIA: CERVIA[2]: GONDIA: HIBERNIA[2]: JAVA[2]: KENIA: MURIA[2]: NAPIA[2]: RACIA[2]: RUMANIA[3]: SIMLA: TANGA: ZEALANDIA[2] and the chartered EMPIRE JOHN.
These lists therefore contain details of the Elliott, Gamecock and Gaselee vessels plus any new tugs entering the fleet 1950-1969.
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ATLANTIC COCK
Photo Rays colln.
Built 1932 by Alexander Hall and Co. Ltd., Aberden. Screw Tug. L86'. B25'. D11.8'. 182grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE steam engine by builder. Acquired 1-2-1950 Disposed 1970. Scrapped 1971. Official No. 162687. Call sign MBBM.
1932 Built for Gamecock Steam Towing Co. Ltd., Gravesend. 1940 Stationed at Milford Haven for three weeks. 17-11-1940 Stationed at Oban. 2-1940 Grounded in Oban Harbour and sustained bottom damage. Sent to River Clyde for repairs and when completed stationed on Clyde. 15-9-1941 Damaged by mine at Dalmuir Basin, River Clyde. Tug beached and refloated 11-10-1941 for repairs. 5-1944 Departed River Clyde. 9-1944 Supplied steam for winches of SS Richard Montgomery, which had grounded and broken her back in Thames off Sheerness laden with munitions. 1-2-1950 Transferred to Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 2-1970 Scrapped by Scrappingco SA, Antwerp.
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ARTEMIS
From a newspaper clipping sent by Michael Robinson.
(Coal Hulk)
Built 1912 by Nuscke and Co., Stettin. L221'. B34'. 960grt. TE6cyl steam engine. Acquired 1953. Disposed 1960. Scrapped 1960.
1912 Delivered to A. Kirsten, Hamburg, named Borussia. 1939 Renamed Timandra. 5-1945 Seized as prize at Hamburg. 1946 Owners MoWT, renamed Empire Confal. 1947 Sold to General Steam Nav. Co., London, renamed Woodwren. 1953 Acquired by Ship Towage [London] Ltd, cut down to deck level and steam crane fitted amidships at Ramsgate and later stationed off Gravesend as a coal hulk. renamed Artemis. 24-10-1968 Towed away by Moorcock for scrapping at Medway Dry Docks, Sheerness.
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AVENGER
Photo Barney Hunt Colln.
Built 1962 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1482. Screw Tug. L118'5''. B30'5''. D12'11''. 293grt 1800bhp 9cyl British Polar diesel engine. Speed 12 knots BP 36 tons. Acquired 1962. Disposed 1975. Official No. 304381. Call sign GKSU.
1962 Built for Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1974/5 Fitted with Kort nozzle and variable pitch prop by Tyne Dock and Engineering Co., South Shields. Bollard pull increased from 18 to 32 tons. 1-1-1975 Owners The Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 1985 Sold to Purvis Marine, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, renamed Avenger IV. 31-10-1985 Departed Gravesend bound for Great Lakes of Canada. 2008 Still in service.
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BURMA
Photo J. Grainger Colln.
Built 1966 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Hessle. YN S842. Screw Tug. L30.7m. B7.83m. D3.81m. 166grt. 1050bhp 8cyl Ruston and Hornsby diesel engine. Speed 11 knots. Acquired 1966. Disposed 1975. Scrapped 1989. Official No. 309861. Call sign GWJA.
1966 Built for Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1970 Enclosed wheelhouse conversion by Denton Slipways Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners The Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 19-11-1989 Towed to breakers at Sheerness by Sun London. 1989 Scrapped by The Medway Drydock and Engineering Co. Ltd.
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CHALLENGE
Photo R.Stanford Colln.
Built 1931 by Alexander Hall and Co. Ltd., Aberdeen. YN633. Screw Tug. L110'. B26.1'. D12.3'. 1150ihp 3cylTE coal fired steam engine by builder. Acquired 1-2-1950. Disposed 1973 Official No. 162549. Call sign MPZB.
1931 Built for Elliott Steam Tug Co., London. 31-5-1940 Worked at Dunkirk berthing vessels in the harbour during the evacuation. 1-6-1940 Returned to Dunkirk towing small craft. 1941 Assisted in erection of the Maunsell AA towers in the Thames Estuary. 1944 Towing Mulberry Harbour parts. 3-7-1944 Damaged by V1 rocket in Royal Albert Dock. Repaired at Mills and Knight's yard, Rotherhithe. 1-2-1950 Transferred to Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 1964 Converted to oil fired boiler at Sheerness. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 29-10-1973 Sold to Taylor Woodrow Ltd. for preservation at St. Katherines Dock, London. 1993 Transferred for preservation to Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust. 2005 Still in existence. 2007 Latest update from Bob Long. Drydocked. Prop, tailshaft, intermediate shaft and pedestal bearing removed for refurb plus attention to boiler. The last steam tug to operate in the Ship Towage fleet.
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CONTEST
Built 1933 by Alexander Hall and Co. Ltd., Aberdeen. Screw Tug. L100'. B26.1'. D12.3'. 213grt. 1150ihp 3cylTE coal fired steam engine by builder. Acquired 1-2-1950. Disposed 1972. Scrapped 1972. Official No. 163323. Call sign MBCR.
1933 Built for Elliott Steam Tug Co., London. 31-5-1940 Present at Dunkirk evacuation, working off beaches under Skipper H J Bates. 12-1940 Based on River Clyde. 5-1944 Departed Clyde. 1-2-1950 Transferred to Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 2-1958 Converted to oil fired boiler on Tyneside. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 7-4-1972 Scrapped by T W Ward Ltd, Grays, Essex.
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CRESTED COCK
Photo Ray's colln.
Built 1935 by Alexander Hall and Co Ltd., Aberdeen. YN654. Screw Tug. L96'. B25.1'. D11.8'. 177grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE 16"x25"x42" 27" stroke 200psi steam engine by builder. Acquired 1-2-1950. Disposed 1970. Scrapped 1970. Official No. 164441. Call sign MBKX.
1935 Built for Gamecock Steam Towing Co., Gravesend. 31-5-1940 Crossed to Dunkirk towing lighter. Returned to Dover. 1-6-1940 Returned to Dunkirk, assisting small craft under Skipper T Hills. 12-6-1940 Returned to Thames after spell at Newhaven. 1941 Assisted erection of Maunsell AA forts in Thames Estuary. 1-2-1950 Transferred to Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 2-1970 Scrapped at Antwerp.
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CULEX
Photo A Hughes Colln.
With later 'motor' funnel. Photo Ray's colln.
Built 1958 by Schichou, Bremerhaven, Germany. Screw Tug. L80'4''. B21'6''. D10'. 97grt. 660bhp 8cyl Deutz diesel engine. Acquired 1965. Disposed 1971. Official No. 187697.
1958 Built for Gaselee and Son Ltd., London. Tall hinged funnel for 'under bridges' work. 1-5-1965 Sold to Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 1965 Low 'motor' funnel fitted. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 12-1971 Sold to J G Efthimou, Piraeus, Greece, renamed Atromitos. Greek flag, official no. 2010. 198? Sold to Pelion Maritime Co., Volos. Greek flag, official no. 580. Call sign SV2893. 2005 Still in service.
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DHULIA
Photo A. Hughes Colln.
Built 1959 by Henry Scarr Ltd., Hessle. Screw Tug. L113'7''. B28'9''. D12'6''. 272grt. 1280bhp 8cyl British Polar diesel engine. Acquired 1959. Disposed 1975. Scrapped 1986. Official No. 300982. Call sign GFJA.
1959 Built for Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners the Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 16-6-1980 Transferred to Alexandra Towing Co., Gt. Yarmouth. 4-1983 Sold. 1983 Sold again to General Maritime Enterprises [Antwerp] Ltd., renamed Dhulia S. [Panamanian flag] 1986 Scrapped.
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FOSSA
Photo R. Stanford Colln.
Built 1961 by Henry Scarr Ltd., Hessle. Screw Tug. YN775. L85'9''. B21'6''. D10'9''. 98grt. 1000bhp 8cyl SBV8M545 Deutz diesel engine. Acquired 1965. Disposed 1975. Official No. 302599.
1961 Built for Gaselee and Son Ltd., London. 1-5-1965 Sold to Ship Towage [London] Ltd. 27-1-1969 Transferred to London Tugs Ltd. 1-1-1975 Owners Alexandra Towing Co. [London] Ltd. 7-1977 Sold to Darling Bros. Ltd., London renamed Kilda. 1987 Sold to Bennett Bros., renamed Mamba. 1990 Company restyled Medway Lighterage Co Ltd. 2002 Sold to Simon Bradley, converted to houseboat at Port Werburgh, River Medway. 200? Sold to Aaron Hammond. 2003 For sale. 2006 Still at Hoo St Werburgh.
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