Great Lakes Manning River Shipping NSW
'Prolific' - Ex 'Terri'(1945 -2018)
'Prolific' on Sydney Harbour 1972.
Details :
Name: Prolific – Ex Terri
Type: Tug/Houseboat
Length: Actual 45 ft
Dimensions for calculation tonnage
Length 40.25 ft
Beam: 14 ft
Depth: 6.83 ft
Tonnage: (Volumetric measure 1 ton = 100 cubic ft)
Gross: 29 ton
Underdeck: 23.08 ton
Net: 10 ton
Engine: Motor 6Cy.5½"-6" 4SA Cummins diesel .
Built: Manning River Taree NSW
Builder: W. O. Ryan
Launched: 1945
Designer: Arthur Swinfield
Official Number: 317457
Identifying Numbers: (To be confirmed)
Owners:
- Nicholson Bros Harbour Transport Pty Ltd, Sydney. (1964 – 1968)
- Stannard Bros Launch Services Pty Ltd. (1968 – 1976)
- Albert (Bertie) Webster (1976 – ?)
- Michael Webster (? – 2016)
- Kris Mitchell ( 2016 - )
Construction:
- Planking: Carvel 2" hardwood & oregon, copper fastened. Copper sheathed.
- Framing: 2¾"x1¾" @ 9" centres.
- Engine beds: 11¾"x6".
- Bulkheads: Two double diagonal T&G, one waterproof ply.
- Stringers: 3 per side 5"x2".
- Shelf: 5"x2".
- Clamp: 6"x2".
- Keel: 10"x8".
- Deck beams: 5"x3" @ 1'9" centres.
- Deck: 1⅝" oregon.
- Deckhouse: Plywood on 3½"x2½" studs with ⅝" tie rods.
- Wooden rudder: 4'3" x 2'3", hand steering via chains and rods to quadrant.
- Wooden mast.
- Bulwarks: 14" high aft. 8' draft.
Location
The portion of land used for the shipyard, was situated in the vicinity between the end of Stevenson Lane and the banks of Browns Creek. (also known as Crooked Creek)
Now known as Muscio Park, Taree NSW.
Latitude: -31°53'54.6" S
Longitude: 152°28'4.43" E
Launch
After the vessels were launched, the hulls were then towed out of the creek into the Manning River and upstream to the North Coast Steam Navigation Company wharf.
The engines, machinery and metal work were installed by Mr Hector Haden’s engineer's, whilst Mr. A. Butterworth was in charge of fitting the electrical systems.
A team of carpenters added the superstructure and finished off the craft before they were test run on the river, and handed over for service.
History:
WWII Construction of Vessels in Australia
A program for Australian Construction was set up to supply craft for the U.S. Army, Australian Army, & the Royal Navy, through the Australian Shipbuilding Board, who distributed the orders to the various shipyards.
W. Ryan & Son's, of Taree, and E. Wright of Tuncurry were just two of many shipyards contracted to under take the orders for the various classes of vessels.
Boats built by W. Ryan & Sons were fully completed and tested, whereas E. Wright's shipyard at Tuncurry, supplied the hulls only, which were towed to either Sydney or Newcastle .
Standard 45ft Work boat built in 1945 for the Ministry of Munitions by W. Ryan’s shipyard Manning River NSW.
1945
WWII Service history:
Name: Terri (Further details unknown)
Standard 45ft Work boat built in 1945 for the Ministry of Munitions by W. Ryan’s shipyard Manning River NSW.
1949
Nicholson Bros Harbour Transport Pty Ltd.
Towards the end of the war, Nicholson Brothers was employed to complete a number of these US–Army style tugs. Eric Nicholson was so impressed with the design that, after the war, he purchased a number of them to add to his fleet around 1949.
Renamed with a company prefix “Pro-...)” the ex Terri became the Prolific, working in and around Sydney Harbour as a tug and towboat.
1964
Steering gear overhauled, new chains, pins and blocks fitted, steering tested & found satisfactory on the 7th October.
Inspected on slip at Greenwich on the 14th October, survey completed. Class VII Limited Coast Trade certificate carrying 3 crew off the coast of NSW with a radius of 26 nautical miles of Port Jackson , subsequently increased (c1970) to 4 crew. Harbour & River Class VIII certificate carrying 2 crew and Harbour & River Class IV certificate to carry 12 pax & 2 crew, both within a straight line drawn from Cannae Point to Hornby Light, Port Jackson, when bad weather signals are flying at South Head Signal Station or Fort Denison within a straight line from Green Point to George's Head only.
1960’s
Tugs fitted with an upper wheelhouse to design of Eric Nicholson, modification made to improve visibility from the wheel when towing punts laden high with timber.
1964-1974
Tug on Sydney Harbour, licenced to carry passengers, surveyed annually. Sydney No.3 of 1965.
1965
Inspected afloat at Birchgrove on the 3rd March.
Inspected on slip at Drummoyne, 1st November, metal on hull patched especially rudder post, rudder let go to enable this work.
1966
Eric Nicholson, who had been running the business, passed away suddenly on the 1st June. His older brother Stan took over the running of the business.
1968
Stannard Bros Launch Services Pty Ltd.
Allan Stannard accepted an offer, and acquired the Nicholson Bros business on the 2nd January 1968.
The Prolific was inspected on Lavender Bay slip on the 24fh October, rotten decking on quarters renewed, survey completed Circular Quay on the 16th January 1969.
1970
4th June inspected at Broken Bay prior to undertaking towage.
1972
Inspected on slip at Lavender Bay, Sydney, 6th October.
1973
Inspected on slip at Berry's Bay on 25th September, metal patched especially aft in way of rudder post.
Inspected afloat at Birchgrove on 31st October at Birchgrove.
Permission sought for vessel to tow punt from Sydney to Port Kembla on the 26th November.
1974
Registered out of commission on 1st October.
1976
20th April, inspected on slip at Berry's Bay.
Sold on the 14th July fitted out for private use.
1977
Reported on Parramatta River. Converted to private cruiser.
1991
26th January operating under private ownership at Darling Harbour.
2004
Converted to houseboat by 2004. sighted in December at berth in Snail's Bay, Sydney.
2016
Advertised for sale – Sold in August 2016.
2018
Sank at her moorings in Burraneer Bay NSW.
Raised and scrapped in November 2018.
A sad ending to a colourful career.
Image Source: Graeme Andrews. A lower resolution image is available from City of Sydney Archives Graeme Andrews 'Working Harbour' Collection: Image 092637.
Acknowledgements: The assistance of Mori Flapan (Mori Flapan boatregister) by providing access to his extensive database is greatly appreciated.
All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.
GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flick Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List
'Prolific' - Ex 'Terri'(1945 -2018)
'Prolific' on Sydney Harbour 1972.
Details :
Name: Prolific – Ex Terri
Type: Tug/Houseboat
Length: Actual 45 ft
Dimensions for calculation tonnage
Length 40.25 ft
Beam: 14 ft
Depth: 6.83 ft
Tonnage: (Volumetric measure 1 ton = 100 cubic ft)
Gross: 29 ton
Underdeck: 23.08 ton
Net: 10 ton
Engine: Motor 6Cy.5½"-6" 4SA Cummins diesel .
Built: Manning River Taree NSW
Builder: W. O. Ryan
Launched: 1945
Designer: Arthur Swinfield
Official Number: 317457
Identifying Numbers: (To be confirmed)
Owners:
- Nicholson Bros Harbour Transport Pty Ltd, Sydney. (1964 – 1968)
- Stannard Bros Launch Services Pty Ltd. (1968 – 1976)
- Albert (Bertie) Webster (1976 – ?)
- Michael Webster (? – 2016)
- Kris Mitchell ( 2016 - )
Construction:
- Planking: Carvel 2" hardwood & oregon, copper fastened. Copper sheathed.
- Framing: 2¾"x1¾" @ 9" centres.
- Engine beds: 11¾"x6".
- Bulkheads: Two double diagonal T&G, one waterproof ply.
- Stringers: 3 per side 5"x2".
- Shelf: 5"x2".
- Clamp: 6"x2".
- Keel: 10"x8".
- Deck beams: 5"x3" @ 1'9" centres.
- Deck: 1⅝" oregon.
- Deckhouse: Plywood on 3½"x2½" studs with ⅝" tie rods.
- Wooden rudder: 4'3" x 2'3", hand steering via chains and rods to quadrant.
- Wooden mast.
- Bulwarks: 14" high aft. 8' draft.
Location
The portion of land used for the shipyard, was situated in the vicinity between the end of Stevenson Lane and the banks of Browns Creek. (also known as Crooked Creek)
Now known as Muscio Park, Taree NSW.
Latitude: -31°53'54.6" S
Longitude: 152°28'4.43" E
Launch
After the vessels were launched, the hulls were then towed out of the creek into the Manning River and upstream to the North Coast Steam Navigation Company wharf.
The engines, machinery and metal work were installed by Mr Hector Haden’s engineer's, whilst Mr. A. Butterworth was in charge of fitting the electrical systems.
A team of carpenters added the superstructure and finished off the craft before they were test run on the river, and handed over for service.
History:
WWII Construction of Vessels in Australia
A program for Australian Construction was set up to supply craft for the U.S. Army, Australian Army, & the Royal Navy, through the Australian Shipbuilding Board, who distributed the orders to the various shipyards.
W. Ryan & Son's, of Taree, and E. Wright of Tuncurry were just two of many shipyards contracted to under take the orders for the various classes of vessels.
Boats built by W. Ryan & Sons were fully completed and tested, whereas E. Wright's shipyard at Tuncurry, supplied the hulls only, which were towed to either Sydney or Newcastle .
Standard 45ft Work boat built in 1945 for the Ministry of Munitions by W. Ryan’s shipyard Manning River NSW.
1945
WWII Service history:
Name: Terri (Further details unknown)
Standard 45ft Work boat built in 1945 for the Ministry of Munitions by W. Ryan’s shipyard Manning River NSW.
1949
Nicholson Bros Harbour Transport Pty Ltd.
Towards the end of the war, Nicholson Brothers was employed to complete a number of these US–Army style tugs. Eric Nicholson was so impressed with the design that, after the war, he purchased a number of them to add to his fleet around 1949.
Renamed with a company prefix “Pro-...)” the ex Terri became the Prolific, working in and around Sydney Harbour as a tug and towboat.
1964
Steering gear overhauled, new chains, pins and blocks fitted, steering tested & found satisfactory on the 7th October.
Inspected on slip at Greenwich on the 14th October, survey completed. Class VII Limited Coast Trade certificate carrying 3 crew off the coast of NSW with a radius of 26 nautical miles of Port Jackson , subsequently increased (c1970) to 4 crew. Harbour & River Class VIII certificate carrying 2 crew and Harbour & River Class IV certificate to carry 12 pax & 2 crew, both within a straight line drawn from Cannae Point to Hornby Light, Port Jackson, when bad weather signals are flying at South Head Signal Station or Fort Denison within a straight line from Green Point to George's Head only.
1960’s
Tugs fitted with an upper wheelhouse to design of Eric Nicholson, modification made to improve visibility from the wheel when towing punts laden high with timber.
1964-1974
Tug on Sydney Harbour, licenced to carry passengers, surveyed annually. Sydney No.3 of 1965.
1965
Inspected afloat at Birchgrove on the 3rd March.
Inspected on slip at Drummoyne, 1st November, metal on hull patched especially rudder post, rudder let go to enable this work.
1966
Eric Nicholson, who had been running the business, passed away suddenly on the 1st June. His older brother Stan took over the running of the business.
1968
Stannard Bros Launch Services Pty Ltd.
Allan Stannard accepted an offer, and acquired the Nicholson Bros business on the 2nd January 1968.
The Prolific was inspected on Lavender Bay slip on the 24fh October, rotten decking on quarters renewed, survey completed Circular Quay on the 16th January 1969.
1970
4th June inspected at Broken Bay prior to undertaking towage.
1972
Inspected on slip at Lavender Bay, Sydney, 6th October.
1973
Inspected on slip at Berry's Bay on 25th September, metal patched especially aft in way of rudder post.
Inspected afloat at Birchgrove on 31st October at Birchgrove.
Permission sought for vessel to tow punt from Sydney to Port Kembla on the 26th November.
1974
Registered out of commission on 1st October.
1976
20th April, inspected on slip at Berry's Bay.
Sold on the 14th July fitted out for private use.
1977
Reported on Parramatta River. Converted to private cruiser.
1991
26th January operating under private ownership at Darling Harbour.
2004
Converted to houseboat by 2004. sighted in December at berth in Snail's Bay, Sydney.
2016
Advertised for sale – Sold in August 2016.
2018
Sank at her moorings in Burraneer Bay NSW.
Raised and scrapped in November 2018.
A sad ending to a colourful career.
Image Source: Graeme Andrews. A lower resolution image is available from City of Sydney Archives Graeme Andrews 'Working Harbour' Collection: Image 092637.
Acknowledgements: The assistance of Mori Flapan (Mori Flapan boatregister) by providing access to his extensive database is greatly appreciated.
All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.
GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flick Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List