EARLY TUG NAMES
A - D
Page last updated 9-8-2010
This section contains details of some of the earlier, larger tugs of the River Thames, that are not listed in the larger company sections of the site.
AGAMEMNON 1872
Built 1872 by Readhead, Softley & Co, S. Shields. YN75. Iron Paddle Tug. L106.3'. B18.4'. D10.0'. 129grt. 55nhp 2cyl 28"x48" side lever steam engine by builder. Official No 65673. PoR 1872 London. 1875 Memel. 1885 London.
1872 Delivered to T. A. Banks et al, Gravesend. 1875 Owned at Memel. 1885 Sold to James Watkins, London. (Broker) 1885 Sold to Alexander Petrie, Stockton. 1891 Owner G. Petrie, Middlesbro. 18-10-1895 Towing lighter laden with wheat Hull to Stockholm. 25-9-1900 Collision with SS Clydesdale in Middlesbrough Dock. 1904 Owner Hepple & Co., S. Shields. 1904 Owner Anthony Irwing, Sunderland. 1907 Owner Susannah Irwing. 12-1910 Transferred to James Irwing. 8-1926 Transferred to Irwing Steam Tug Co., Sunderland. 1928 Scrapped.
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AID 1855
Built 1855 by Money Wigram & Sons, Blackwall. Wood paddle tug. L89.2'. B18'. D8.9'. 112grt. 50nhp 2cyl compound steam engine by John Stewart, Blackwall
1855 Delivered to The Royal Harbour of Ramsgate Trust, London. 1865 Owners The Board of Trade, London. 1890 Sold to John W Spicer & others, Wapping, London. 1891 Sold to James T Morgan & others, London. 1899 Owners The Shipowners' Tug Co Ltd, London. 1900 Sold to Dutch owners.
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AID 1877
1877 Built by Millwall Docks & Engineering Works, Millwall. Iron screw tug. L60.6’. B12.3’. D6.7’. 32grt. 250ihp 1cyl steam engine by builder. ON77018
1877 Delivered to Union Lighterage Co Ltd., London. 1892 Owner Francis & Richard Lambert, London. 1896 Owner William Cory & Son Ltd., London. 1898 Owner Richard Waters, London. 1900 Owner Robert Forster, Scotswood-on-Tyne. 1920 Owner Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Howden. 1927 Owner Robert Sword, Newcastle. 1932 Scrapped
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AJAX 1855
Built 1855 Garmouth, Scotland [Garmh??] Wood paddle tug, oak, fir, locust. Iron bolted. L94.8’. B21.1’. D11.5’. 175grt. ON12788 Callsign LDHN
1855 - 1865 Registered to Shipowners Towing Co, London. Master J Brander.
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ALARM 1859
Built 1859 at North Shields. Wood paddle tug. L83.3'. B18'. D9.5'. 81grt. 11nrt. 50nhp 2cyl side lever steam engine. ON28062.
1859 Delivered to Henry Hindmarsh, London. 1866 Owner J D Hindmarsh, London. 1870 Owner Charles Wade, London. 1873 Owner William Allen, London. 1882 Owner Paul Bonta, Gravesend. 1886 Scrapped.
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ALICE
Iron Paddle Tug. 170grt. 60nhp.
Operating Thames 1839
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ATHLETE 1893
Built 1893 by J. Stewart & Son Ltd., Blackwall. Steel screw tug. L92.5'. B19.6'. D10.5'. 119grt. 2nrt. 500ihp 3cyl TE 13"x21"x34"x24"s steam engine by builder. ON101992. Callsign HPCS later GIAA.
4-1893 Delivered to Matthew Brownfield, Poplar. 23-12-1901 Towed collision damaged Danish barque Claudia, only kept afloat by cargo of timber, from off Dover to London. 29-12-1906 Assisted in refloating Belfast steamer Ormley, aground in St. Margarets Bay, after 1000 tons of wheat cargo had been transferred to lighters. 1908 Owner Miss E. Brownfield, London. 10-6-1909 Sold to The Robinson Tug Co Ltd., Middlesbrough. 191? Req for Admiralty service. 191? Returned to owners. 30-7-1920 Owners Tees Towing Co Ltd., Middlesbrough. 17-3-1929 Towed S.S. Troutwood with defective engine into River Tees. 1947 Sold to J.H. Lamey Ltd., Liverpool. 1955 Scrapped by Thomas W. Ward Ltd., Preston
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BEN ACHIE
See Malta [2]: William Watkins lists.
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BEN LEDI 1878
Built 1878 by Hall, Russell Co., Aberdeen. Iron Paddle Tug. L90'. B18.6'. D10.2'. 114grt. 50nhp 2cyl 25"x48" side lever steam engine by builder. ON 79641. PoR 1878 London. 1883 Aberdeen. 1891 Ayr. 1897 Newcastle.
1878 Delivered to J. F. Gibb, Ratcliff, London. 6-9-1879 Towed SV St. Vincent, on fire, to Gravesend from off Southend. 2-2-1881 Shared in £700 salvage award to tugs for towing barque Mary Stewart off Shingles Sands. 1882 Sold to J. N. Newton, Aberdeen. 1886 Sold to Robert Lumley Cook, Sunderland. 4-1891 Sold to Ayr Harbour Trustees (£1700). 5-1897 Sold to Robt. Readhead and Son, Tyneside. 5-1903 Transferred to M. H. Readhead and Susannah White. 1914 Hired by Royal Navy. 9-1915 Returned to Owner. 6-1916 Transferred to Robt Readhead & Son Ltd. 8-1929Transferred to Readhead & Dry's Tugs Ltd. 1935 Scrapped.
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BEN LOMOND
See Burmah: William Watkins lists.
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BEN MORE
Built 1855 at Rotherhithe. Wood paddle tug. L75.9'. B17'. D8.7'. 82grt. 22nrt. 40nhp. 2culSL steam engine. ON23363
1855 Delivered to J. Drysdale, C M Lughrue and E Lawson, London named Robert Burns. 1860-1885 various owner changes. 1876 Owner J F Gibb, London, renamed Ben More. 17-2-1886 Offered for sale by Auction, London. 1886 Scrapped.
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BEN NEVIS
See Iona: William Watkins lists.
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BLACK EAGLE 1848
Built 1848 by Thomas & William Smith, N. Shields. Wood paddle tug. L90'. B16.9'. D10'. 108grt. 57nrt. Waite grasshoppertype steam engine. ON27204
1848 Delivered to Thomas A. Jolliffe, Liverpool ?? 27-12-1848 Registered at London for Thames Steam Towing Company, London. 1860 Sold to Thomas Elliott, Cardiff.
186? Sold to Mary Gibbs Elliott. 1871 Sold to Thomas Elliott. 1887 Scrapped.
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BULLDOG 1857
Built 1857 at North Shields. Wood paddle tug. L75.3'. B15.4'. D8.6'. 54grt. 28nhp. 1cyl lever steam engine. ON 19872
1857 Delivered to Joseph Hall, Tynemouth. 1858 Owners Henry Hindmarsh, Charles Wade, William Jordan & John Sinclair, London. 1859 Owners Henry Hindmarsh, Charles Wade, William Jordan & James Sinclair. 21-4-1863 Owners appeared in court along with skipper Thomas Bishop accused of transporting passengers from North Woolwich to attend an illegal prize fight at Erith, without a passenger licence. The case was proved. Owners fined £5, skipper £1. 1871 scrapped.
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BULLDOG 1884
Built 1884 by London Dry Dock Co Ltd., Deptford. Iron screw tug. L77.0'. B16.5'. D9.3'. 72 GRT, 3 NRT 40nhp 2cyl 15”x29”x20”s compound steam engine by Windus & Dunsmore, Millwall ON 89630
6-1884 Delivered to London Steam Tug Co Ltd, London. 29-11-1890 Towed SS Berwick with broken shaft into Gravesend. 1900 Owner Arthur W. Smith, Limehouse. 1900 owner John G. Hammond, London. 1901 Owners Boston Steam Tug Co., Boston 5-1912 J. Batey & Son Ltd., Newcastle 6-1920 Transferred to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd., Newcastle 9-1925 Sold to Allen Brown Ltd., Newcastle £825 7-1934 Owners Risdon Beazley Marine Trading Co Ltd., Southampton 4-12-1934 Broken up at Southampton.
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BULLDOG 1891
Built 1891 by A. Smit, Rotterdam. Screw tug. L61.8'. B14.5'. D7.3'. 46grt. 150ihp 2cyl compound steam engine by builder.
ON125619
1891 Delivered to Dutch owners. 1907 Owner Joseph J Beckett, London, named Bulldog. 1908 Fitted with new boilers. 1909 Sold to Carribbean Marine Salvage Co., Havana Cuba. 10-1909 Departed London for Havana. 1-1910 Sank in Atlantic.
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CALEDONIA 1838
Built 1838 by Stephen Wood, Gateshead. Wood Paddle tug. L84.2’. B18.8’. D9.2’. 96grt.
1838 Delivered to J Drysdale, T Petley, A Harrower, E Lawson & others, London. 1840 Sold. 1844 Owner Caledonian Steam Towing Co, London. 1853 Owner Daniel Barker, Horsleydown, London. 1867 scrapped
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CALEDONIA 1854
Built 1854 by R & H Green, Blackwall. YN307. Wood Paddle Tug. L102'. B16.4'. 124grt. 70nhp.
1854 Delivered to Caledonian Steam Towing Co., London.
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CHALLENGE 1856
Built 1856 by John Thompson, Rotherhithe. Wooden paddle tug. L84.6'. B16.6'. D8.9'. 78grt. 25nrt. 181ihp 2cyl side lever steam engine by John Stewart, Blackwall. ON11396
8-1856 Delivered to John Deane, Gravesend. 1865 Sold to David Spence, Melbourne. Delivered under sail. 1874 Owner John Dalton, Newcastle NSW. 30-4-1876 Sunk after colliding with New England off Bradley's Head, Sydney. . Salved. 2-1891 Converted to barge. 9-5-1917 Register closed.
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CHAMPION 1865
Built 1865 at Northfleet. Paddle tug. L99.3'. B18.3'. D9.9'. 119grt. 56nrt. 50nhp 2cyl side lever steam engine. ON52821
1865 Owner Andrew Redgrave, London. 1865 Owner W B Greenfield, London. 1889 Sold to Egyptian Government.
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CHARLES DICKENS 1872
Built 1872 by Readhead, Softley & Co., Newcastle. Iron Paddle Tug. L103.2'. B18.3'. D10.1'. 121grt. 55nhp 2cyl 28"x48" side lever steam engine by Builder. ON 65662
1872 Delivered to J. Martin., London. 10-2-1879 Towed SS Alice, with engine defect, from Downs into Ramsgate. 1879 Owner A. Tolhurst, Gravesend. 5-1880 Owners Tees Conservancy Commissioners. 12-1903 Sold to Florence Tugboat and Salvage Co., Middlesbrough. 1904 Owners Linthorpe Dinsdale Smelting Co., Middlesbrough. 10-1905 Sold to F. Batey, J. Batey & R. Armstrong, Newcastle. 6-1906 Transferred to J. Batey & Son Ltd. 5-1915 Scrapped on Tyneside.
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CHARLEY 1862
Built 1862 by H Price, Neath Abbey, Glam. Iron paddle tug. L87.8'. B17.6'. D9.6'. 114grt. 60hp 2x2cyl 28"x48" lever steam engines by W H Price, Swansea. ON29599.
1862 Completed for unknown owner. 1871 Owner Wm. H. Jeffreys, Briton Ferry. 1873 Sold to G. Butchard, Gravesend. 1882 Sold to E. P. Peek, Hull, renamed Defiance. 28-2-1883 Sold to Thos. Wilson Sons and Co., Hull. 10-9-1895 Sold to W & T W Pinkney, Sunderland. 1904 Sold to J, Taylor, Sunderland and scrapped.
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CHARM
Built 1855 at Isle of Dogs. Wood paddle tug. L84.9'. B16.6'. D8.8'. 93grt. 50nhp steam engine. ON13687.
Owner Richard Ross, London. 26-12-1855 Assisted S/V Cyclone, damaged in river, into London Docks. 1881 [by] Owner Henry Booker, Hull.
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CLEVELAND 1894
Built 1894 by Montrose Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Montrose. YN 28. iron screw tug. L93.5’. B18.4’. D10.1’. 116grt. 39nrt. 400ihp 2cyl compound steam engine. ON 104824
11-1894 Delivered to J. Mitchell & Sons, London. 7-1-1895 Towed collision damaged barque Primera from Folkestone to Holehaven. 31-3-1899 Towed SS Corbright, which had lost prop, from Downs to Gravesend for agreed £55. 1903 Sold to J. Turner, Hull. 1904 Owners SA de Remorquage La Navale, Dunkerque, renamed Naval. 1905 Owners Soc. Dunkerquoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage, Dunkerque, renamed Pas De Calais. 1907 Owners Corpo dei Piloti, Naples renamed A. Witting. 1915 Requisitioned by Italian Navy 1919 Owners A. Longobardi & Co., Naples. 1920 Owners Corpo Piloti Pratici, Naples. 1926 Owners RN - Societa Rimorchiatori Napoletani, Naples. 1936 Re-engined to 3cyl TE steam engine by Crabtree. 1966 Scrapped.
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COCK OF THE NORTH 1853
Built 1852 by John Duncan, Morayshire, Scotland. Wood Paddle Tug. L93.7' B19.1' D7.2’. 136grt. 120nhp 2cyl 38"x43"s side lever steam engine. ON4373. Callsign JCGN.
9-1853 Delivered to Ship Owners Towing Co. London. 1857 Company ceased trading. 11-1858 Sold to John Pile & co, Hartlepool for £600. 1859:Sold to John Fleming. 1860 Sold to M.J.Wilson. 1861 Sold to W.W.Bruce 17-11-1864 Lying Birkenhead for sale by auction. 1865 Sold to William & Thomas Jolliffe, Liverpool. 1866 Renamed Empress. 1886 Sold to Robert Smith, Birkenhead and scrapped.
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COMMODORE 1840
Built 1840 @ Newcastle. Wood paddle tug. L90'. B17.8'. D10.2'. 111grt. 80hp. ON4375 Callsign JCGQ.
1840 Delivered to Shipowners Towing Co, London. 4-1-1842 Refloated brig Minerver from Reculver sand and towed to London. 1858 Company in liquidation. 1876 Owner J. Masson, London. 1881 Still owned.
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CONDOR 1884
Built 1884 by S. & H. Morton & Co. Leith. YN 45. Screw tug. L90.7'. B19.1'. D11.2'. 125grt. 450ihp 2cyl 20.5"x40"x24"s compound steam engine by A. Shanks & Son, Arbroath. ON89672. Callsign JTRK.
1884 Delivered to Todd & Son, Northumberland Ave., Fenchurch St, London. 1887 Owner Todd & Co., London. 1890 Sold to Prairie Screw Towing Co. [J.H. Dunn & T.L. Handford], Newport, renamed Prairie King. 1896 Sold to Liverpool Screw Towing and Lighterage Co Ltd., Liverpool, renamed Prairie Cock. 1936 Scrapped at New Ferry.
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CONQUEROR 1863
Built 1863 by Blackwood & Gordon, Glasgow. YN53. Iron Paddle Tug. L111.5'. B18.6'. D9.6’. 118grt. 37nrt. 65hp 1cyl 40”x56”s side lever steam engine by builder. ON45954.
6-1-1863 Launched for Clyde Shipping Co Ltd., Glasgow. 26-3- 1863 Completed. 23-3-1864 Owner Chas. R. Heap, London. 1864 Owner Earnest Hankey, London. 29-4-1867 Sold to A. Gabrielli, London. 1867 Sold to Frederick Galla, Naples.
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CONQUEROR 1884
Built 1884 by Hepple, N. Shields. YN386. Iron Paddle Tug. L123.5'. B20.1'. D10.1'. 177grt. 16nrt. 140nhp. 2cyl 32"x58" side lever steam engine by builder. Two funnels. Official No. 89619.
1884 Delivered to Wm. Sandford, Gravesend. 21-12-1887 Towed barque Salmon, with damaged masts, Dungeness to Gravesend. 6-11-1888 Towed barque Johann Wilhelm from Swin Middle Sand to Gravesend. 10-1-1889 Towed barque Linda fromm off Dungeness to London. c1890 Sold to Soc. Anon. du Remorquage Boulonnais. Renamed Conquerant. 1897 Sold to Soc. Nouvelle de Remorquage Boulonnais, Boulogne. 1904 Sold to Mrs R Lennard, Middlesbro, renamed Conqueror. 1905 Sold to B. O. Davies, Middlesbro. c1910 Sold to J Nicholson, Leith. 1913 Sold to Victor Cappon, Dundee. 3-1917 Owners R. Redhead and Sons, Newcastle. 8-1929 Transferred to Redhead & Dry's Tugs, Newcastle. 5-1944Transferred to France Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co., Newcastle. 5-1952 Scrapped by J. J. King & Co., Gateshead. (£2,150)
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CONQUEROR 1899
Built 1899 by Willoughby Bros Ltd,, Plymouth. L86.4’. B18.1’. D10.5’. 111grt. 6nrt. 360ihp 2cyl 17"x34"x21"s compound steam engine by builder. ON110155.
1899 Delivered to George Etheredge, 17 Broad St., Ratcliff, London. 1901 Owner Joseph Constant, London. 1904 Owner G. Etheredge, 84 Narrow St, London. 3-1910 Sold to Portugese owners.
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COPELAND 1836
Built 1836 at Blackwall. Wooden Paddle tug. L102’. B21'. D10'. 141grt. 90hp Disconnecting beam engine by Stewart, London. Tubular boiler. Bunkers 25 tons. Speed 10 knots. ON9078. Callsign KFTD.
1837 Owners The Symington Patent Paddle Towing Co, London. 1839 Owners restyled to The Shipowners' Towing Co Ltd., London. 24-4-1842 Refloated troopship Beulah, aground in East Bay, Dungeness.. 1857 Company ceased trading. 1876 Owner R. Connon, Shields.
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CORONA 1904
Built 1904 by J Kievits & Reede, Papendrecht Steel screw tug. 90.0 x 20.0 x 7.6ft 126grt 54nrt 40nhp 2cyl 11"x22"x12"s Compound steam engine by builder. ON 118405
1904 Delivered to J Constant, London. 1908 Owner W Horton, London. 1909 Sold to J Constant, London. 1910 Sold to Glynn Bros, Kilrush. 1920 0wners Shannon Steamship Co. Ltd., Kilrush. 1941 Still in existence, same owners. 1943 Not appearing in register.
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CRUISER 1874
Built 1874 by John Softley & Co., South-Shields. Iron Paddle Tug. L96.3'. B18.2'. D9.2'. 98 GRT, 10 NRT, 46nhp-300ihp, 2cyl side lever steam engine by Hepple & Co, Official No. 68532.
1874 Delivered to Daniel S. Mitchell & others at Gravesend. 1881 census in Dover harbour. 1887 Sold to Joseph Lawson et al. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1895 Lawson Steam Tug-boat Co Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1917 Admiralty service on the River Tyne. 1919 Returned to owner. 1920 Owner Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd., Newcastle. 1945 Chartered to Blyth Tug Co Ltd. Blyth. 11-1948 Scrapped [£275] by J. J. King, Gateshead.
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DARING 1876
Built 1876 by J. Readhead & Co., S. Shields YN123. Iron Paddle Tug. L106.9'. B16.9'. D8.9'. 135grt. 70nhp. 2cyl compound steam engine 28"x51" by Builder. Official No. 73715.
1876 Delivered to W. Sandford, Gravesend. 29-1-1878 Towed SS Joseph Dodd off Long Sand. 14-2-1878 Collided with cross channel packet SS Parlement Belge in Dover Bay, sustaining £3500 of damage. 15-12-1880 Rescued crew of barque Frigate Bird, aground on Goodwin Sands and landed them at Dover. 2-2-1886 Towed disabled SV Island Maid into Ramsgate. 1887 Sold to Robt. Redhead and Son, Tyneside. 5-1903 Transferred to M. H. Redhead & Susannah White. 6-1916 Transferred to Robt. Redhead & Son Ltd. 12-1916 Foundered off St. Mary's Island, Northumberland.
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DAUNTLESS 1884
Built 1884 by Watson and Co., London. Steel screw tug. L56'. B13'. D7.2'. 30hp 2cyl 12"x22"x18"s steam engine by De Ritter, London. ON89659.
1888 Owners Ross and Deering, London.
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DAUNTLESS 1903
Built 1903 by Willoughby Bros, Plymouth. L86.4’ B18.0’. D10.5’. 109grt 3nrt. 90nhp 300ihp 2cyl 17"x34"x21"s 120psi compound steam engine by builder. ON 118328.
1903 Delivered to George Etheredge, London. 1909 Owner William H Tucker, Cardiff. 1911 Owner W H Tucker & Co Ltd, Cardiff.
1920 Owner The Bristol Channel Towage, Salvage & Lighterage Co Ld, Cardiff. 1938 Owner Bristol Channel Towage Co Ltd, Cardiff. 1939 Scrapped.
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DESPATCH 1898
Built 1898 by Willoughby Bros, Plymouth. L66.0’. B14.1’. D7.0’. 43grt 30nhp 200ihp 2cyl compound steam engine by builder. ON108356.
1898 Delivered to Charles Robottom, Leytonstone, London. 1902 Owner Herbert C Robottom, London. 1909 Owner Henry Deering, London. 22-5-1918 Req by War Office for Inland Water Transport service in Egypt. 25-8-1919 Foundered off Alexandria.
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DOMINION 1903
Built 1903 by J P Rennoldson, S. Shields. YN 222. Screw tug. L100'. B22.2'. D11.0'. 152grt. 550ihp. 3cylTE 14.5"x23"x38"x27"s steam engine by builder.
1903 Delivered to Mason, Liley & Hunt [Empire Towing] Gravesend. 1908 Sold to Argentina owners. 1941 Owners Cia. Argentina de Nav/Gardella Ltd., Buenos Aires.
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DOURO 1850
Built 1850 @ N. Shields. Wood paddle tug. L95'. B18.7'. D9.8'. 102grt. 40nrt. 56hp. ON16720. Callsign MCQP.
1876 Owner J. Spicer, Old Ford, London. 1881 Owner G. J. Spicer, West Hill, Gravesend. 29-11-1881 Rescued crew of fishing smack Champion aground on Red Sand and landed them at Margate. 9-12-1884 Towed barque Deodar, damaged in collision off N. Foreland into Sheerness. 18-10-1887 Sank following collision with fish carrier African off Rotherhithe.
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DRAGON 1837
Built 1837 by Ritchie. Wood paddle tug.
24-5-1837 Launched. 1837 Delivered to Symington Patent Paddle Towing Co, London. 1839 May have been transferred to Shipowmers Towing Co., London. No further trace.
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