'Expeller' has an interesting history.
Built by Nobiskrug Germany in 1942 and siezed in 1945. Single screw diesel tug of 317 Grt. BHP 820.
Allocated to Captain of the Dockyard, Chatham and was replaced in 1967 by 'Mastiff'. Sold 1968 to Salvatori Bezzina, Malta and renamed 'Sabi'.
I don't know any details Rab but when Chatham closed a few of the RMAS Guys transferred down to Portland and One of the Guys was believed to be a survivor of a serious tug accident. I know His name but I won't write it. sadly though he has now departed this land. I'm not a hundred percent sure but it may well have been a Girl class single screw.
I recall GREY ROVER ramming into TRIUMPH (late 1979) and peeling most of her focsle back to RASCO after a CPP failure with all the tugs trying to stop her. I was 2/O in GOLD ROVER alongside in Chatham and it was quite a show. Sadly, I never took any photos........probably in too much of a hurry to get ashore!
Yes King Ratt, you are correct.
On 29 December 1962 the TID 97 was fast on the stern of the **** while assisting her to berth in No3 Basin. During the operation TID 97 was overpowered by the ****'s engine and wash causing the tug to be girted. Three lives were lost one of which I worked with for three years. A great tragedy.
TID 97 was the last vessel I worked on before leaving the dockyard six months earlier.
Yes Tony I did know Shrimpo. When he joined the dockyard he was put on board the same tug as I was on, after a couple of days he was moved to another vessel. I bumped into him a couple of times before I left the yard. He became quite a well known character int he yard.
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