Riverman | National Historic Ships

Registration number 3803

Status Registered

paula.palmer

Previous names

1955 - 1962 BRENTONIAN
1962 - 1974 BARGEMAN
1974 - 1995 RIVERMAN
1995 - 2005 ROSS END

Details

Function Service Vessel

Subfunction Tug

Location Chatham

Vessel type Tug

Current use Private use

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Harris, P K & Sons Ltd, Appledore

Built in 1955

Hull material Steel

Number of decks 1

Number of masts 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

16.33 feet (4.98m)

Depth

5.75 feet (1.75m)

Length: Overall

56.75 feet (17.30m)

Tonnage: Gross

37.00

History

RIVERMAN was built as BRENTONIAN in 1955 by P.K. Harris & Sons Ltd, Appledore. She originally had an Oil Lister 4SCSA 6cyl (8.75 x 11.5in), 330bhp, 1 screw She was delivered to Clements, Knowling & Co Ltd of London. In 1962, she was purchased by UTC – United Towing Co Ltd and moved to Hull, where she was renamed BARGEMAN.

In 1974 she was renamed RIVERMAN and in 1978 she was transferred to HT – Humber Tugs Ltd, operating out of Grimsby. In 1995, RIVERMAN was sold for breaking up but then resold to BMC Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd and moved to Burntisland, where she was renamed ROSS END.

In 2003, she was sold to W. Barbour, who laid her up, and she was then sold in 2005 to J Loveday of Lowestoft, who renamed her RIVERMAN. Not much is known about her life after that, having been spotted in 2013 at Chatham. She was purchased by her current owner in 2023, and is currently undergoing work to convert her to a private yacht.

Key dates

1955
Built as BRENTONIAN in 1955 by P.K. Harris & Sons Ltd, Appledore and delivered to Clements, Knowling & Co Ltd of London
1962
Purchased by UTC – United Towing Co Ltd and moved to Hull, where she was renamed BARGEMAN
1974
Renamed RIVERMAN
1978
Transferred to HT – Humber Tugs Ltd and moved to Grimsby
1995
Sold for breaking up but then resold to BMC Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd and moved to Burntisland, where she was renamed ROSS END
2003
Sold to W. Barbour and laid up
2005
Sold to J Loveday of Lowestoft and renamed RIVERMAN
2023
Purchased by her current owner and began undergoing work to convert her to a private yacht