TUG MEECHING - NOW NORE CREST

Seen at Ramsgate, April 2013

By Andy Gilbert

Our much loved former harbour tug Meeching, is now owned by Murray Tugs at Queenborough and has been renamed Nore Crest.

She's just coming to the end of a year-long, and very extensive, refurbishment and upgrade. As the final part of this, she arrived at Ramsgate a few days ago and was winched up on to the port's No.1 slipway for her survey and the repair to some underwater damage. There was a hold-up due to problems with the slipway's winch gear, which apparently had been giving problems recently. She eventually missed the tide. New parts for the winch arrived a few days later and she came out of the water on 24th April. She's due to be on the slipway for 10 days.

These photos are from Ken Larwood, Peter Wearing and Andrew Taylor, all fellow shipping enthusiasts, and I thank them for permission to use them. Ken tells me that he will send me some more photos in due course and I will add them to this page.

It's good to see Meeching, albeit under her new name of Nore Crest, moving under her own power, the first time for some years. The photos show that there is still some considerable work to do, especially on that starboard propeller. All being well, she'll be back at work soon, not a bad feat for a 53 year old tug. They certainly built them to last at Appledore!