TUG TIDWORTH

Sussex Express Article - October 2010

By OurNewhaven

This once typical harbour scene is from the early to mid 1950’s. The small tug is the Tidworth and this rare view shows her as built as a wartime TID (Tug, Inshore and Dock), with an unenclosed wheelhouse.  She’s moving the fuel bunker barge Nitrogen back to its berth on the West Quay, presumably having refuelled the passenger steamer Brighton (VI) behind her. The steamer partly seen at the left is the French vessel Lisieux. These two were the last passenger steamers built for the Newhaven-Dieppe route and were both very fast ships, capable of over 25 knots. Although she does not hold the official record for the fastest crossing, Brighton (VI) has the honour of being the only steamer to have made three round trips in one day.

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'TUG TIDWORTH' page
This page was added by Laurie Stonehouse on 27/01/2011.
Comments about this page

Tidworth was re-engined with a direct drive Petter diesel and she was used to tow sections of the Severn Bridge circa 1965 she then had an enclosed wheelhouse and was a fine little vessel.

By michael hardwick
On 17/06/2011
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