St Maws -
IONIA
Previous names
1960 Ionia
Certificate no 3552
Status Registered
DETAILS
Function: Service Vessel
Subfunction: Tug
Location: Bideford
Vessel type: Tug
Current use: Ongoing conservation
CONSTRUCTION
Builder: Dunston, Richard, Thorne
Built in: 1959
Hull material: Steel
Rig: None
Number of decks: 2
Number of masts: 2
Propulsion: Motor
Number of engines: 1
Primary engine type: 6-cyl. 2 S.C.S.A. (340 x 570mm) Polar MN16 type by British Polar Engines Ltd., Glasgow. 960bhp. 27 tons bollard pull
DIMENSIONS
Breadth: Beam 28' 9"(8.53)
Depth: 12' 6½".(3.6576)
Air Draft To be confirmed
Length: Overall: 113' 7" (34.62M)
Tonnage: 187 GRT
HISTORY
IONIA was built in 1960 by Henry Scarr Ltd as a single screw diesel tug for William Watkins Limited. She was built to Lloyd’s A1 “For Towing Services” specifications and to the rules and regulations for tugs of class IX. She was fitted with and still has a British Polar type M46M straight 6 cylinder engine and rated at 960 B.H.P at 250 RPM. This is capable of running at about 300 RPM when the tug running free, giving a speed of 10 knots and a rate bollard pull of 22 tons. In 1973 she was fitted with a gear box to replace the original direct drive, meaning she can reverse without the engine being started in reverse. About the same time she also had a Westington House Air Control System installed to allow bridge control, alongside the original telegraph system which could be restored. She worked in London as a Thames River Tug until 1987, when she was sold to the Falmouth Towing Ltd and renamed St MAWES in 1988, where it is understand she worked out of Falmouth. She was then laid up in London after being sold to Anderson's, and came to lay in Bideford about 2002. She was renamed IONIA by her new owner Exploring Life Ltd. She was purchased by her current owners in August 2007 in order to restore, preserve and share the history of this commercial vessel as a public interest at Bideford Harbour.
Key dates
1960: Built by Henry Scarr Ltd as a tug for William Watkins Limited
1960: Saptember, delivered to William Watkins Ltd London
(GBR flag, regd London, ON 301193, c/s GHGX)
1966: Manager Ship Towage (London) Ltd London
1969 27/01: To London Tugs Ltd London
1973: Fitted with gear box to replace original direct drive
1973: Kort nozzle fitted
1975:January: Taken over by ATCL - Alexandra Towing Co (London) Ltd
1987: Sold to Falmouth Towing Co. Ltd
1988: Renamed ST MAWES before working out of Falmouth
2001: Sold to Mr Anderson, London and intended to be renamed IONIA, but placed in lay-up, initially at Rochester for a few months then to Bideford where she continued in lay-up as ST MAWES.
2005: Sold to Exploring Life Ltd., Buckfastleigh and renamed IONIA.
3.2009: Sold to Rachael Swain, Bideford and still laid up, as intended floating café.
St Maws -
IONIA
Previous names
1960 Ionia
Certificate no 3552
Status Registered
DETAILS
Function: Service Vessel
Subfunction: Tug
Location: Bideford
Vessel type: Tug
Current use: Ongoing conservation
CONSTRUCTION
Builder: Dunston, Richard, Thorne
Built in: 1959
Hull material: Steel
Rig: None
Number of decks: 2
Number of masts: 2
Propulsion: Motor
Number of engines: 1
Primary engine type: 6-cyl. 2 S.C.S.A. (340 x 570mm) Polar MN16 type by British Polar Engines Ltd., Glasgow. 960bhp. 27 tons bollard pull
DIMENSIONS
Breadth: Beam 28' 9"(8.53)
Depth: 12' 6½".(3.6576)
Air Draft To be confirmed
Length: Overall: 113' 7" (34.62M)
Tonnage: 187 GRT
HISTORY
IONIA was built in 1960 by Henry Scarr Ltd as a single screw diesel tug for William Watkins Limited. She was built to Lloyd’s A1 “For Towing Services” specifications and to the rules and regulations for tugs of class IX. She was fitted with and still has a British Polar type M46M straight 6 cylinder engine and rated at 960 B.H.P at 250 RPM. This is capable of running at about 300 RPM when the tug running free, giving a speed of 10 knots and a rate bollard pull of 22 tons. In 1973 she was fitted with a gear box to replace the original direct drive, meaning she can reverse without the engine being started in reverse. About the same time she also had a Westington House Air Control System installed to allow bridge control, alongside the original telegraph system which could be restored. She worked in London as a Thames River Tug until 1987, when she was sold to the Falmouth Towing Ltd and renamed St MAWES in 1988, where it is understand she worked out of Falmouth. She was then laid up in London after being sold to Anderson's, and came to lay in Bideford about 2002. She was renamed IONIA by her new owner Exploring Life Ltd. She was purchased by her current owners in August 2007 in order to restore, preserve and share the history of this commercial vessel as a public interest at Bideford Harbour.
Key dates
1960: Built by Henry Scarr Ltd as a tug for William Watkins Limited
1960: Saptember, delivered to William Watkins Ltd London
(GBR flag, regd London, ON 301193, c/s GHGX)
1966: Manager Ship Towage (London) Ltd London
1969 27/01: To London Tugs Ltd London
1973: Fitted with gear box to replace original direct drive
1973: Kort nozzle fitted
1975:January: Taken over by ATCL - Alexandra Towing Co (London) Ltd
1987: Sold to Falmouth Towing Co. Ltd
1988: Renamed ST MAWES before working out of Falmouth
2001: Sold to Mr Anderson, London and intended to be renamed IONIA, but placed in lay-up, initially at Rochester for a few months then to Bideford where she continued in lay-up as ST MAWES.
2005: Sold to Exploring Life Ltd., Buckfastleigh and renamed IONIA.
3.2009: Sold to Rachael Swain, Bideford and still laid up, as intended floating café.