Registration number 2279
Status Registered
adminnhs

Details

Function Service Vessel
Subfunction Tug
Location Stourbridge
Vessel type Tug - Inland/Canal
Current use Private use
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Harris Brothers, Netherton
Built in 1941
Hull material Steel
Rig None
Number of decks 1
Propulsion Motor
Number of engines 1
Primary engine type Inboard diesel
Boiler type None
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam
7.00 feet (2.14m)
Depth
3.00 feet (0.92m)
Length: Overall
51.00 feet (15.56m)

History

Built in 1941 by Harris Brothers of Bumblehole, Netherton, HELEN is a canal tug of riveted steel construction with a Bolinder diesel engine model 1053. She was built for Joseph Holloway & Co. Ltd of Oldbury to pull coal boats around the Birmingham Canal Navigations. This traffic stopped in the mid 1960s and she was bought privately to pull passenger boats on the Caldon Canal. During this time she was lengthened to 51 foot and a higher superstructure put on. 

HELEN changed hands in 1999 and was bought by her present owner in 2007. He repainted the vessel in her original Holloway livery in 2011. HELEN is one of the few remaining Birmingham tugs built by Harris Brothers.

Key dates

  • 1941

    Built by Harris Bros of Bumblehole, Netherton as a Canal Tug for Joseph Holloway & Co Ltd

  • 1941-45

    She pulled coal boats around Birmingham Canal

  • 1945

    She was sold to Leonard Leigh Ltd

  • 1965

    She stopped working when coal traffic stopped

  • 1970

    She was bought privately and pulled a Passenger Boat on the Caldon Canal

  • 1999

    New owners

  • 2007

    New owners

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

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