Sponsors
National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors
MARY SCOTT was built as a Norfolk and Suffolk class lifeboat by J Samuel White & Co. of Cowes, Isle of Wight in 1925. She is of double diagonal mahogany construction and her current engine is a Lister diesel model MG616 installed in 1954. She served at Southwold, Suffolk, and later in the Relief Fleet.
During the second World War the vessel took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, bringing back 160 men from the beaches. Subsequently she served as a lifeboat, assisting in many rescues until 1953 when she was sold out of service and renamed ATAMUA by her new owner. With some changes of ownership she operated as a leisure craft until 1990. Between 1995 and 2007 she sat neglected and was then bought by her current owner and started a restoration project. This is continuing but in 2010 she returned to Dunkirk .
The owners have made two Dunkirk returns and Ipswich, Ramsgate, St Catherines commemorative cruises. They have also taken her to the Chatham River Festival for three years and also spent six months in 2015 taking her down the French canal system to Decize, through the Ardennes to Belgium, through Mass spending six weeks in Amsterdam and then back across the North Sea in late October. She has also sailed to Belgium twice, the first being in 2017 to be a guest at anchor at Sea Festival Ostend and the second in 2019.
In August 2020, they returned to Southwold where MARY SCOTT was first launched as one of the first motorised lifeboats in 1925. She also spent three weeks in the rivers and creeks of the east coast.
After being in Gweek, now based in Kent.
Update, October 2023: Vessel for sale
A Sustainability Grant of £500 for dry docking was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors