MEECHING CELEBRATES ANOTHER BIRTHDAY
Still going strong at 58!
By Andy Gilbert
Our former harbour tug Meeching, now known as Nore-Crest, celebrates her 58th birthday this week, having been launched on February 25th 1960 at Appledore in Devon. I'm pleased to report that she's still working well as these photos will show.
One of my friends in the Medway area is well-known marine photographer Ted Ingham. He keeps an eye out for her and has just sent me some of his latest photos of Nore-Crest. My very grateful thanks go to Ted for allowing me to share them on this page.
All photos © and courtesy of Ted Ingham
Here we see Nore-Crest at her home base at Rushenden, near Queenborough. She's looking a little scruffy, but that's normal for a busy tug and the days when tugs had large crews chipping and painting during idle moments are long gone.
All photos © and courtesy of Ted Ingham
Here's Nore-Crest doing a proper day's work, berthing the large ro-ro freighter Ciudad de Cadiz at Ramsgate on 14th February 2018. There was a strong gale blowing that day and she had to use considerable 'welly' to do the job!
All photos © and courtesy of Ted Ingham
And here's a closer view.
All photos © and courtesy of Ted Ingham
When Ciudad de Cadiz left Ramsgate after discharging several hundred trade cars, Nore-Crest remained alongside for part of her transit through the port, then broke off to act as escort tug. We see her here just off Ramsgate harbour having followed the freighter safely into deeper waters.
Ted Ingham also makes some excellent videos of maritime matters in the Medway and Kent areas and his most recent one includes footage of Nore-Crest assisting Ciudad de Cadiz. If you look at the propeller wash at the tug's stern and the amount of exhaust coming out from the twin funnels, you'll see what I meant by 'considerable welly'!
Here's the link to the Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5fhl-a6gAU