Built for the Union Castle line, a single screw Tug at 121 gross ton’s.
Length overall of 90 feet being 20 feet at her beam this was a large tug for her day.
I don’t have any photo’s as yet as she was launched such a long time ago, it must have been around the early 1920’s so if anyone out there has a pic’s or any further info then please feel free to get in touch.
The William Messina, spent most of her time in Africa as far as I can find out and she was scrapped in Durban, South Africa in 1967
The following was an order to build 8 Dumb Barges for East African Lighterage, all at 85 tons and with a length of 85feet this would have been a very welcome order indeed.
The barges were designated as Ship Nos 22 to Ship No 29.
S.A.Wolraad Woltemade (Ship No 516) makes short work of a large tow.
When launched she was the biggest tug in the world.
Excelent picture!,a real "fighter"in the lead,how beautiful these tugs were,fortunately we can admire the "Smit Amandla",what was the "John Ross",but I liked its original appearence more,but its service today is a luxury!thank you very much for posting such emotional memories!...
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