SA WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE

We could not resist showing this great photograph taken by D. Shackleton and sent into the Leith Shipyards website by L. Pollard.
 Same photographer took the almost identical shot of her sister ship the SA JOHN ROSS which had been built at a local South African shipyard and was launched a bit after the Leith built SA WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE which just looked right.

SA WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE Z-TUG

SA JOHN ROSS Z-TUG

They show the two mighty ships arriving at Cape Town for the first time ready to go about there work.

Don’t know about you but I know which ship looks the better and leave you to choose your own preferred picture.

M.S.C. PANTHER

M.S.C. PANTHER

Ship No 381

As part of the large modernisation programme for the Manchester Ship Canal, an order was placed for the supply of two, latest designed, twin screw diesel tugs.

Panther was the first of this two ship order for tugs built at Leith. One of the eight new tugs to be built by the Henry Robb Company to help make up the post war renewal fleet. Became Weston Panther of Weston Marine Services in 1975.Later sold to SONATRAM, Société Nationale des Travaux Maritimes, Algeria in 1977. I have no further info on her after this time, so if you know then get in touch and we can get her history right up to date.

She was 154 tons, with a length between perpendiculars (L.B.P.) of 88 feet, with a beam of 23 feet. Powered by a twin screw Crossley oil engine I.H.P. 1200

Launched 11th of February 1950

H.M.S. MEDIATOR

RFA. MEDIATOR

Ship No 335


“Bustler Class” Rescue Tug.

Was a further order for the supply of Four more, Ocean Going Diesel salvage tugs, all of the “Bustler Class” With Mediator being the fifth of the class built by Henry Robb in Leith.

They were required to carry out salvage and rescue work along with convoy escort duties.

They were large and very powerful tugs put to good use during World War II and for long after as well. A fleet of the “Bustler class tugs along with others were stationed in Campbeltown on the Scottish coast during the long “Battle of the Atlantic”

Nicknamed the “Campbeltown Navy” they were instrumental in saving many thousands of tons of shipping badly needed for the war effort against Hitler’s Germany and they also saved countless seamen from the ravages of the U-Boats.

She was 1,100 tons with a length overall of 190 feet and beam of 38 feet and six inches, with a draught of 19 feet.

Launched 21 Jun 1944

Commissioned 8 Nov 1944

DE-COMMISSIONED from the Royal Navy in 1965.


MEDIATOR was to spend most of her post war time in the Mediterranian and was eventually owned by  Greek interests. She was Re-Named ATLAS.