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Tug Lyttelton assisting the Rangitira of the sand bar outside Pigeon Bay December 29th1940
*NEW* on the National Register of Historic Vessels:![]()
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LYTTELTON (1906 Ocean-Going Tug)![]()
Commissioned by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, Christchurch, New Zealand, and built at Ferguson’s shipyard, Port Glasgow. Her first major job was to escort Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship NIMROD out of Lyttelton Harbour on New Years Day 1908, an occasion witnessed by a 50,000 crowd. She operated as a harbour tug until 1939 when a second tug arrived and they became LYTTELTON I and LYTTELTON II. In April 1942 the NZ Navy acquired her for use as an Examination Vessel and she became HMNZS LYTTELTON. ![]()
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The Tug Lyttelton Preservation Society was founded in 1973 in response to plans to scrap her and, with help from the Harbour Board, she was converted for carrying passengers. Now moored in Lyttelton Harbour, she is kept running by a team of volunteers as a unique working maritime museum, and is also used as a venue for weddings, parties, and funerals. Her Scotch Marine boiler is hand-fired by coal. Lyttelton has been added to the Overseas Watch List, for historic vessels built in the UK but currently based abroad. ![]()
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Read more: www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/3864/lyttelton![]()
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PLAUSIBLE (1965 Harbour/ Coastal Tug)![]()
Built by James W Cook, Wivenhoe, one of the first tugs built for the PLA to have a 360-degree schottle unit, which is now commonplace in modern day tugs. She also had a first of its kind lowering wheelhouse allowing it to go under very low bridges. Having brought the vessel back to its home waters, the owner intends to keep her history and that of Cooks of Wivenhoe shipbuilders alive by engaging with the public when the vessel is not at work. Recently the tug took part in the annual Blessings of the Water event in Brightlingsea, with a group of Sea Cadets on board. Location: Brightlingsea. ![]()
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Read more: www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/3858/plausible![]()
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There are currently over 2000 vessels across our Registers (National Register of Historic Vessels, National Historic Fleet, Overseas Watch List, UK Replica List, and National Archive of Historic Vessels). These include details of designer, builder, dimensions, construction, propulsion, service history, location and ownership.![]()
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Find out more:![]()
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/the-registers/about-the-registers
Another great fundraising event for the Tug Lyttelton with the support of a fantastic group of musicians and artists. Come along for a what will thoroughly enjoyable evening and support to great causes
