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#adept #devonport #dockyard #harbor #harbour #naval #plymouth #river #royalnavy #sea #tamar #tug #uk
Published: 2018-06-28 18:06:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 414; Favourites: 15; Downloads: 0
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Description
SD 'Adept' leaves one of the basins at Devonport, seen from the harbour cruise on June 20, 2017. 'Adept' has been a supporting player in many of my maritime pictures, from assisting the battleship USS Iowa in Portsmouth, way back in 1986, right up to date with the nuclear subs I have photographed recently in Plymouth Sound. It is only right, therefore, that 'Adept' gets to star in her own picture!Formerly RMAS 'Adept' (Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service), this tug was another victim of creeping privatisation in our armed services when the RMAS was disbanded in 2008 and the role taken over by the private company Serco (Hence SD - originally Serco Denholm). The attractive buff upperworks of the RMAS ships was replaced by Serco's white superstructure and red funnels. However, the black hull remains and is a typical tugboat shape.
This picture serves to remind me of the Falmouth tugs when I was a boy - 'The Magnificent Seven'. How I wish I had taken some photographs while they were still there.......
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Comments: 11
Favourite because of how often these support vessels are overlooked.
Back when I was at school "Denholm Ship Management" was a separate company to Serco, and actually managed a fleet of blue water bulkers, tankers and box boats.
It also reminded me of a WW2 story.
HMS Tribal (not an actual name but it will do) was escorting a UK-bound convoy which was attacked by U-Boats. One of the tankers suffered damage which left it able to float but bent the propeller shaft so it was unable to proceed under power.
HMS Tribal took the tanker in tow and signaled their ETA Plymouth when passing Fastnet Rock. They were then met by a tug dispatched from Plymouth and the following signals were exchanged:-
Tug - "I will take over your tow."
HMS Tribal - "We've steamed 1_000NM with the tow; we will proceed to Plymouth."
Tug - "I am an ocean-going tugboat."
HMS Tribal - "So am I!" (and I have 4.5" guns)
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That's a good story. Reminds me of the one (which I'm sure you've heard) doing the rounds recently about the USS Enterprise and the unidentified radar contact......
I've been trying without success to track down a photo I took of another tug (civilian) in Plymouth Sound probably last summer. Damn thing has disappeared. I should take more shots of these unsung heroes.
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I don't know that I have any photos but back in the 1970s (pre Elvin Safety) one of my favourite places in Greenock was the tug basin in the docks, which normally had at least half a dozen tugs and a couple of pilot boats in it.
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Oh that must have been a sight to see.
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Oh yes, and amazingly since there was no Elvin Safety no visitors like me ever fell in or got hit on the head by a mooring rope.
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Funny that isn't it? It was much the same down here.......
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Exactly; the same thing also applies to commercial docks.
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A great capture of a good looking tugboat. Well done, Sir!
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Thanks kind Sir and for your faithful support also!
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Always a pleasure, my Friend.
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