The River Mersey - Tugs
Working Tugs
There are several tugs that work on the Mersey and around the docks:
Ashgarth
Bramley Moore
Canada
Collingwood
Gladstone
MCS Marlene
Oakgarth
Shannon
Smit Donau
Svitzer Bidston
Switzer Stanlow
Thorngarth
Trafalgar
Viper
Waterloo
Ashgarth
In February 2006 while on a walk I saw Ashgarth assisting Clyde Fisher approaching Queen Elizabeth II Docks.
Built in Japan, Ashgarth sailed to the UK and after engineering work to bring her up to UK maratime regulations (adding an anchor etc) she entered service.
Dimensions 36 * 10 * 3.3 with a gross tonnage of 307.
Bramley Moore
In June I spotted Bramley Moore moving from Vittoria Dock. I thought it may be towing HMS Onyx which is scheduled to be towed this week. I got a picture of the fire fighting tug but the submarine wasn't on tow.
Specification: 33 * 10 * 4.6 weighting 336 tons.
Canada
Late on a sunny April morning (2006) I parked my car in Alabama Way, named after a ship built locally that was involved in the American Civil War. I spotted the tug Canada waiting at the entrance to a large local ship yard.
Collingwood
I spotted Collingwood tied alongside Canada early in a May evening when I went to see the historic warships at their temporary locations.
Gladstone
I saw the tug in July (2006) while watching LM Constructor being towed towards Birkenhead / Wallasey Docks.
Oakgarth
I spotted Oakgarth, the large tug at the LHS of the picture in May (2006). It was helping to position the temporary Liverpool Landing Stage.
Specification: 34 * 10 * 4.7 weighing 452 tons.
MCS Marlene
Work started on the offshore wind farm in 2006 and the tug MCS Marlene was involved with the construction platform LM Constructor.
MCS Marlene was built in 2001 has dimensions of 25 * 9 * 2.8 and is 141 gross tons.
Smit Donau
In March 2009 I saw Smit Donau racing up the river with the tide.
Svitzer Bidston
In July 2006 on the way back from taking photographs of the liner Crystal Serenity I spotted the tug assisting the bulk carrier amsterdam out of the dock assisted by oakgarth.
Dimensions 30 * 11 with a gross tonnage of 366.
Switzer Stanlow
On a misty December morning (2006) I saw the tug aiding a tanker berth at Tranmere and then heading back towards the estuary.
Shannon
In March 2006 while driving I spotted the cargo ship Midjur being assisted by the tugs Shannon and Ashgarth.
Dimensions 34 * 10 * 47, tonnage of 382.
Thorngarth
In August 2006 I saw The tug heading past the Albert Dock towards the oil terminal.
Built in Japan, Ashgarth sailed to the UK and after engineering work to bring her up to UK maratime regulations (adding an anchor etc) she entered service.
Dimensions 33 * 10 * 3.6 tonnage of 365.
Trafalgar
At the end of the clipper 2002-03 race the clippers returned to Liverpool in September (2003). Trafalgar is in th background demonstrating its fire fighting equipment.
Specification: 30 * 11 * 5.2 weighing 369 tons.
In 2006 I saw the tug assist the departure of the cruise liner Crystal Serenity.
At the end of the Clipper 2005-06 race Trafalgar led the clippers to Liverpool.
Viper
I took this picture at the 2005 River Festival. Viper was helping the ships berth in Canning / Albert Dock.
Waterloo
Specification: 30 * 11 * 4 with a tonnage of 298.
Historic tugs
Brocklebank
This tug was involved in building the Seaforth container docks. In July she took part in the Battle of Trafalgar celebrations at Portsmouth. Brocklebank is usually berthed in Canning Dock, part of the Albert Dock complex.
Brocklebank was able to return to Canning Dock once the engineering work on the lock gate was completed in 2006.
In July 2006 she acted as the finish line at the end of the clipper 2005/06 round the world race.
Kerne
This steam powered tug is usually based in Canning Dock. In 2006 Kerne was moved to Wallasey / Birkenhead dock so that some work could be carried out in the dry dock.
Shipping Cross Reference
The River Mersey - Shipping
Battle of the Atlantic celebrations
Related Topics
The Mersey River Festival
The Albert Dock
Places of Interest
Getting Places
Wallasey Docks... including historic warships
Map Index.