Tugs on the Tyne

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Here you can find out about the tug boats that are stationed on the River Tyne. You can also find out about the towage companies that operate on the Tyne.

Of course, with a name like Classic Tugs, you can be sure that we won't forget about all those great tugs from years gone by that used to be a common sight on the Tyne from towns such as North Shields, South Shields, Gateshead and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Tugs active on the Tyne
Svitzer Marine
HT Blade	IMO Number: 9159672 Bollard Pull Ahead: 43t Delivered: 1990 Status: Formerly owned by Humber Tugs. Active on the Tyne since July 2010.
Svitzer Lyndhurst (formerly Adsteam Lyndhurst)	IMO Number: 9129495 Bollard Pull Ahead: 43t Delivered: 1996 Status: Former Southampton tug. Active on the Tyne since 2010.
Yarm Cross	Type: Twin Azimuth Thruster Tractor IMO Number: 7800021 Bollard Pull Ahead: 36t Delivered: 1979 Status: Originally a River Tees tug. Active on the Tyne since ?.
Former Tyne Tugs
France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd.
Alnmouth	Type: Steel Screw Kort Nozzle Bollard Pull Ahead: 16.5t Built: 1962 History: Launched in May 1962 for France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., transferred to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. in May 1977, and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986. Alnmouth operated on the Tyne from 1962 until 1987 before being sold to Thiela Shipping Co., Greece and renamed Thiela. Sold in 1990 to Megalohari Hellenic Tugboats and was still in service as of 1992.
Comet	Type: Iron Paddle Built: 1876 History: Launched in 1876, Comet operated on the Tyne from 1897 until 1952.
Conqueror	Type: Iron Paddle Built: 1884 History: Launched in 1884 by the Hepple company, North Shields. Conqueror operated on the Tyne well into the 1940's.
George V	Type (as built): Steam Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: ? Built: 1915 History: Delivered in Jaunary 1915 to Robert Redhead & Son, transferred in August 1929 to Redhead & Dry's Tugs Ltd., transferred in May 1944 to France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., chartered in Januray 1959 to Tyne Tugs Ltd., and transferred in May 1977 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. George V operated on the Tyne from 1915 until 1978. In August 1954, George V was re-engine and converted to diesel power. Sold in January 1978 to Coastal Marine Services, Plymouth, in July 1981 to Bankside Shipping & Towage Co. Ltd., Queenborough, in August 1982 to N.E. Murray, Queenborough, in February 1984 to Estuary Tugs Ltd., Sark, and in March 1987 to Lavington International Ltd., Gibraltar. Was still in service as of 1992 but current status is unknown.
President	Type: Iron Paddle Built: 1876 History: Launched in 1876 at John Readhead's yard, South Shields. President operated on the Tyne and the Wear for 69 years from 1891 until 1959 including escorting the liner Mauretania down the Tyne on its delivery voyage to Liverpool in October 1907.
Washington	Type: Iron Paddle Built: 1870 History: Launched in 1870 at John Readhead's yard, South Shields. Washington operated on the Tyne from 1883 until 1952 including escorting the liner Mauretania down the Tyne on its delivery voyage to Liverpool in October 1907.
John Batey
Providence	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: 1871 History: Built in 1871 in the names of John & Francis Batey and Robert Armstrong. Was still active in 1874 when partnership of J. Batey and Son was formed and operated with that company until 1892 when it was sold to Henry Wilson of Sunderland. Was sold four more times before being broken up in 1909.
Rosamond	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: 1859 History: Bought by John & Francis Batey and Robert Armstrong in 1864 from unknown owners. Sold in 1870 to John Lakey and son. Sold once more in 1897 after which time no further history is known.
Sir Colin Campbell	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: 1858 History: Bought by John & Francis Batey and Robert Armstrong in 1871 from G.R. Turnbull of St. Anthony's. Was still active in 1874 when partnership of J. Batey and Son was formed and operated with that company until 1877 when it was sold to James Hunter of Willington Quay. In 1903 it was no longer registered.
Venus	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: 1867 History: Built in the names of John, Francis, and Thomas Hunter Batey in 1867. Was still active in 1874 when partnership of J. Batey and Son was formed and operated with that company until 1905 when it was sold. In 1913 it was no longer registered.
William	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: 1842 History: Operated by John Batey and other part-owners on the Tyne from 1854 until 1857. Continued working under other part-owners until around 1866.
Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd.
Alnmouth	Type: Steel Screw Kort Nozzle Bollard Pull Ahead: 16.5t Built: 1962 History: Launched in May 1962 for France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., transferred to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. in May 1977, and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986. Alnmouth operated on the Tyne from 1962 until 1987 before being sold to Thiela Shipping Co., Greece and renamed Thiela. Sold in 1990 to Megalohari Hellenic Tugboats and was still in service as of 1992.
Appelsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 18t Built: 1962 History: Launched in July 1962, Appelsider operated on the Tyne from 1962 until 1972. Sold in January 1972 to Dublin Port & Docks Board and renamed Coliemore. Still in service as of 1992.
Cragsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 46t Built: 1976 History: Launched in December 1976 for Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986, Cragsider operated on the Tyne from 1976 until ?. Now a pilot vessel for Baltagi Pilots, Beirut named Baltagi XX.
George V	Type (as built): Steam Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: ? Built: 1915 History: Delivered in Jaunary 1915 to Robert Redhead & Son, transferred in August 1929 to Redhead & Dry's Tugs Ltd., transferred in May 1944 to France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., chartered in Januray 1959 to Tyne Tugs Ltd., and transferred in May 1977 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. George V operated on the Tyne from 1915 until 1978. In August 1954, George V was re-engine and converted to diesel power. Sold in January 1978 to Coastal Marine Services, Plymouth, in July 1981 to Bankside Shipping & Towage Co. Ltd., Queenborough, in August 1982 to N.E. Murray, Queenborough, in February 1984 to Estuary Tugs Ltd., Sark, and in March 1987 to Lavington International Ltd., Gibraltar. Was still in service as of 1992 but current status is unknown.
Ironsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 18.5t Built: 1967 History: Delivered in September 1967 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Ironsider operated on the Tyne from 1967 until 1992. Sold in 1992 to Proodos Maritime Co., Piraeus, Greece and renamed Megalochari XII. Still currently in service.
Northsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 18.5t Built: 1967 History: Delivered in April 1967 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Northsider operated on the Tyne from 1967 until 1996. Sold in 1996 to Baltagi Pilots, Beirut and renamed Baltagi VI. Still currently in service.
Roughsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 11t Built: 1958 History: Delivered in May 1958 to Blyth Tug Co. Ltd., chartered in November 1958 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd., to Tyne Tugs Ltd. in January 1959, and to Wear Tugs Ltd. in June 1980. Roughsider operated on the Tyne from 1958 before being sold for breaking up in February 1986.
Wearsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 17t Built: 1980 History: Delivered in November 1980 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Wearsider operated on the Tyne from 1980 until ?. In 1991, was chartered to North Sea Tugs Ltd. and renamed Samurai Swordsman but returned to the Tyne and reverted to the name Wearsider on completion of that charter in June 1992. Sold in ?.
William Purdy
Messenger	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: Before 1877 History: In 1877, William Purdy fitted the tug out as a trawler and made good money splitting the vessel's time between trawling and towing. This development is believed to have started the steam trawling era at North Shields on the Tyne.
Joseph Price
Eagle	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: Around 1815 History: Originally built around 1815 (original name unknown) as a passenger vessel to work alongside the Tyne Steam Packet. After two years the passenger service failed and the vessel was purchased by Joseph Price who renamed it Eagle and again tried to use it as a passenger vessel. After the passenger service failed once again, Price came up with the idea of offering the vessel as a tug. After the success of the first ever steam tow by Eagle's sister ship Perseverance in July 1818, both vessels went on to be very successful as tugs on the Tyne.
Perseverance	Type: Wooden Paddle Built: 1814 History: Originally built in 1814 as the passenger vessel Tyne Steam Packet. After two years the passenger service failed and the vessel was purchased by Joseph Price who renamed it Perseverance and again tried to use it as a passenger vessel. After the passenger service failed once again, Price came up with the idea of offering the vessel as a tug. In July 1818, Perseverance towed the sailing vessel Friends Adventure down the Tyne to the sea. This is thought to be the first ever steam tow on record.
Svitzer Marine
Flying Spindrift	Type: Twin Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) IMO Number: 8500953 Bollard Pull Ahead: 38.7t Delivered: 1986 Status: Originally a Clyde tug. Worked on the Tyne from 1995 to 2006. Now based in Cardiff, Wales.
Phoenix Cross	Type: Twin Voith Schneider IMO Number: 9064724 Bollard Pull Ahead: 40t Delivered: November 1993 Status: Operated on the River Tyne from Dec 2008 to July 2009 whilst Svitzer Maltby was on transfer to Milford Haven. Now back on the River Tees.
Roseberry Cross	Type: Twin Voith Schneider IMO Number: 8812590 Bollard Pull Ahead: 37t Delivered: 1989 Status: Worked on the Tyne from ? to ?. Now active on the Firth of Forth.
Rowangarth	Type: Twin Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) IMO Number: 8011847 Bollard Pull Ahead: 42t Delivered: 1982 Status: Formerly based in Cabinda, Angola then on the River Mersey. Active on the Tyne from 1999 to 2010.
Svitzer Maltby	Type: Twin Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) IMO Number: 9324784 Bollard Pull Ahead: 70t Delivered: 04/11/2005 Status: Active primarily on the Tyne from 2005 to July 2010. Now on the Mersey.
Svitzer Sword (formerly Sun Thames and HT Sword)	Type: Twin Voith Schneider IMO Number: 8104292 Bollard Pull Ahead: 30t Delivered: 1982 Status: Operated on the Tyne from 23rd March 2009 to 13th May 2009 whilst Yarm Cross was drydocked on Teesside. Now stationed in Grimsby.
Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd.
Alnmouth	Type: Steel Screw Kort Nozzle Bollard Pull Ahead: 16.5t Built: 1962 History: Launched in May 1962 for France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., transferred to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. in May 1977, and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986. Alnmouth operated on the Tyne from 1962 until 1987 before being sold to Thiela Shipping Co., Greece and renamed Thiela. Sold in 1990 to Megalohari Hellenic Tugboats and was still in service as of 1992.
Cragsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 46t Built: 1976 History: Launched in December 1976 for Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986, Cragsider operated on the Tyne from 1976 until ?. Now a pilot vessel for Baltagi Pilots, Beirut named Baltagi XX.
Ironsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 18.5t Built: 1967 History: Delivered in September 1967 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Ironsider operated on the Tyne from 1967 until 1992. Sold in 1992 to Proodos Maritime Co., Piraeus, Greece and renamed Megalochari XII. Still currently in service.
Northsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 18.5t Built: 1967 History: Delivered in April 1967 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Northsider operated on the Tyne from 1967 until 1996. Sold in 1996 to Baltagi Pilots, Beirut and renamed Baltagi VI. Still currently in service.
Seasider	Type: Steel Screw (controllable pitch) Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 18t Built: 1985 History: Delivered in March 1985 to Clyde Shipping Co. Ltd. but chartered to Tyne Tugs Ltd. and in April 1986 chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Seasider operated on the Tyne from 1985 until ?.
Wearsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 17t Built: 1980 History: Delivered in November 1980 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Wearsider operated on the Tyne from 1980 until ?. In 1991, was chartered to North Sea Tugs Ltd. and renamed Samurai Swordsman but returned to the Tyne and reverted to the name Wearsider on completion of that charter in June 1992. Sold in ?.
Tyne Tugs Ltd.
Alnmouth	Type: Steel Screw Kort Nozzle Bollard Pull Ahead: 16.5t Built: 1962 History: Launched in May 1962 for France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., transferred to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. in May 1977, and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986. Alnmouth operated on the Tyne from 1962 until 1987 before being sold to Thiela Shipping Co., Greece and renamed Thiela. Sold in 1990 to Megalohari Hellenic Tugboats and was still in service as of 1992.
Appelsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 18t Built: 1962 History: Launched in July 1962, Appelsider operated on the Tyne from 1962 until 1972. Sold in January 1972 to Dublin Port & Docks Board and renamed Coliemore. Still in service as of 1992.
Cragsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 46t Built: 1976 History: Launched in December 1976 for Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd and chartered to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd. in April 1986, Cragsider operated on the Tyne from 1976 until ?. Now a pilot vessel for Baltagi Pilots, Beirut named Baltagi XX.
George V	Type (as built): Steam Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: ? Built: 1915 History: Delivered in Jaunary 1915 to Robert Redhead & Son, transferred in August 1929 to Redhead & Dry's Tugs Ltd., transferred in May 1944 to France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., chartered in Januray 1959 to Tyne Tugs Ltd., and transferred in May 1977 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. George V operated on the Tyne from 1915 until 1978. In August 1954, George V was re-engine and converted to diesel power. Sold in January 1978 to Coastal Marine Services, Plymouth, in July 1981 to Bankside Shipping & Towage Co. Ltd., Queenborough, in August 1982 to N.E. Murray, Queenborough, in February 1984 to Estuary Tugs Ltd., Sark, and in March 1987 to Lavington International Ltd., Gibraltar. Was still in service as of 1992 but current status is unknown.
Ironsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 18.5t Built: 1967 History: Delivered in September 1967 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Ironsider operated on the Tyne from 1967 until 1992. Sold in 1992 to Proodos Maritime Co., Piraeus, Greece and renamed Megalochari XII. Still currently in service.
Northsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 18.5t Built: 1967 History: Delivered in April 1967 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Northsider operated on the Tyne from 1967 until 1996. Sold in 1996 to Baltagi Pilots, Beirut and renamed Baltagi VI. Still currently in service.
Roughsider	Type: Steel Screw Bollard Pull Ahead: 11t Built: 1958 History: Delivered in May 1958 to Blyth Tug Co. Ltd., chartered in November 1958 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd., to Tyne Tugs Ltd. in January 1959, and to Wear Tugs Ltd. in June 1980. Roughsider operated on the Tyne from 1958 before being sold for breaking up in February 1986.
Wearsider	Type: Steel Screw Kort Rudder Bollard Pull Ahead: 17t Built: 1980 History: Delivered in November 1980 to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd. and chartered in April 1986 to Tyne & Wear Tugs Ltd., Wearsider operated on the Tyne from 1980 until ?. In 1991, was chartered to North Sea Tugs Ltd. and renamed Samurai Swordsman but returned to the Tyne and reverted to the name Wearsider on completion of that charter in June 1992. Sold in ?.

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