Historic tug set to become a museum

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 8

Historic tug set to become a museum

PA Wellington The tug Tapuhi will be back in Wellington within five weeks for restoration as a floating museum and restaurant. The 245 ton Tapuhi was one of the biggest tugs built by Britain and was Wellington’s principal heavy tug between 1947 and 1973. For the last seven years she has rusted up a creek on Vanuatu after completing a salvage contract. A Wellington businessman, Mr Clem Griffiths, said last year that he intended bringing back the old tug and restoring

her to her Union Steam Ship Company colours. Mr Griffiths said yesterday the tug was being put on a slip in Santo this week and was being surveyed by Lloyd’s in readiness for the long tow home. “It’s all firing. It’s on its way back. It’s on its way home,” he said. The tug will be towed to New Zealand by a Fijian salvage company and Mr Griffiths is negotiating with the Wellington Harbour Board to use the now defunct patent slip in Evans Bay to start restoration.

The tug was looking decrepit after her years in the jungle creek, but the wounds of time appeared to be superficial, Mr Griffiths said. “It will be so sad when it arrives — it looks a rusty old hulk.” On April 10, 1968, during the Wahine disaster in which 51 people died, the tug was the only ship capable of getting close to the sinking ship. Breaking line foiled the tug’s attempts to tow the ship to shallower water. The tug plucked 178 of the Wahine’s passengers and crew from the water.