THE GRAND OLD LADY OF LYTTELTON

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 24

THE GRAND OLD LADY OF LYTTELTON

In nautical terms, any craft over the age of 60 is generally regarded as being very much past her prime. But the grand old lady of Lyttelton, the tug Lyttelton I, is 74 years old and still steaming strongly, giving pleasure and enjoyment to thousands of passengers in a way her designers could never have foreseen. Lyttelton I is now the property of the Tug Lyttelton Preservation Society and its members maintain her to the highest nautical standards. She earns her keep with harbour cruises and charter trips. Launched in 1907, the tug finished her working career in 1971 when she was bought by the society. During the next 12 months extensive renovation was carried out: her boilers were repaired, the twin engines overhauled, the deck work brought up to scratch, and she was given a fresh coat of paint. Every year, the tug is placed in dry dock for her annual facelift. This year she was repainted, her hull was treated to prevent fouling, repairs were made to her underwater valves, and her propeller shaft was dismantled so that it could be inspected for wear and any possible flaws. As is usually the case, all the work was done by members of the society. The pictures, taken by a staff photographer, DAVID CHARTERIS, show:TOP LEFT: The tug is secured after entering dry dock at Lyttelton. TOP RIGHT: John Hayston checks the ship’s telegraph alarm. MIDDLE LEFT: Russell Lawrence makes repairs to the propeller shaft. MIDDLE RIGHT: Propped in the graving dock. BOTTOM LEFT: “High” and dry, waiting for work to begin. BOTTOM RIGHT: Lesley Paulsen and Brian Fairbrass brush down the hull before painting.