Previous names
- 1948 - 1959 Ierland
- 1959 - 1962 Contractor
- 1962 - 1964 Phoenix
- 1964 - 1976 GW 94
- 1976 - 1998 Accomplice
- 1998 - 2006 Red Duchess
- 2006 - 2007 Duchess of Troon
Details
Construction
Dimensions
History
The tug boat KNIGHTON was built by Scheepswerf Gebroeders Fikkers of Martenshoek, the Netherlands in 1944, and finished in 1948 by NV Boele & Oosterwijk, Rotterdam. She was originally known as IERLAND and owned by A Jonsten of Millingen, the Netherlands. She was originally fitted with a 390 bhp 4 stroke 6-cyl MWM oil engine.
In 1953, she was sold to Anglo-Iranian Oil Co Ltd, London, which then became British Petroleum. She was owned by them until 1959, when she was purchased by N.V. Handel-, Exploitatie- & Administratie Maatschappij, the Netherlands, being renamed CONTRACTOR. In 1962, she was renamed PHOENIX.
In 1964, she was purchased by George Wimpey & Co Ltd, London for operation in Nigeria, and was renamed GW 94. In 1967, she was transferred to Wimpey (Marine) Ltd, London, being based at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.
In 1975, she was acquired by Husbands Shipyard Ltd, Southampton, who renamed her ACCOMPLICE the following year. At this point, she was re-engined with 660bhp 4 stroke 8-cyl Lister Blackstone diesel engine.
In 1998, she was purchased by Taylor & Taylor of Troon and renamed RED DUCHESS. In 2006 was sold to Trans-Euro Navigation and renamed DUCHESS OF TROON, being based at Oban. In 2007, she was purchased by Griffin Towage, Poole, who renamed her KNIGHTON. Sometime after 2016, she was purchased by Whitstable Marine Services.
In July 2020 purchased by Richborough Marine and chartered to Whitstable Marine in 2022.
In 2024, she was purchased by Marine Services Transport Boat Charter Ltd, her current owners. She is now available for commercial charter as a tug boat and can be used to carry up to 12 passengers.
Significance
- What is the vessel’s ability to demonstrate history in her physical fabric?
Evidence for designs, functions, techniques, processes, styles, customs and habits or uses and associations in relation to events and people. How early, intact or rare these features are may impact on significance.
The tug KNIGHTON was built by Scheepswerf Gebroeders Fikkers of Martenshoek, the Netherlands in 1944, and finished in 1948 by NV Boele & Oosterwijk, Rotterdam. All key features of form and function remain intact. She was originally fitted with a 390 bhp 4 stroke 6-cyl MWM oil engine but, in 1976, she was re-engined with a 660bhp 4 stroke 8-cyl Lister Blackstone diesel. KNIGHTON has been kept in operational condition as an active tug for her entire life with regular maintenance work undertaken, giving her a high level of originality.
- What are the vessel’s associational links for which there is no physical evidence?
Associations with people or places. Off-ship research.
KNIGHTON has strong international associations from her working career, which saw her built for a company in the Netherlands, before being owned by British Petroleum, then later being used for operation in Nigeria. She also worked around different areas of the UK, including Scotland, the East and South Coast. KNIGHTON was recorded on the National Register of Historic Vessels in 2024.
- How does the vessel’s shape or form combine and contribute to her function?
Overall aesthetic impact of the vessel, her lines, material she was built from and her setting. Does she remain in her working environment?
KNIGHTON has the features of a coastal tug, with a raised bow for ship handling and higher bulwarks to cope with conditions at sea. She was designed to be manoeuvrable and fitted with accommodation for four crew members. She remains in operational use as a commercial charter vessel based in Essex.
Sources: Vessel owner
Author: NHS-UK
Key dates
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1944
Construction starts by Scheepswerf Gebroeders Fikkers of Martenshoek, the Netherlands
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1948
Launched after construction finishes, final stage by NV Boele & Oosterwijk of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Named IERLAND and owned by A Jonsten of Millingen aan de Rijn, the Netherlands
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1953
Purchased by Anglo-Iranian Oil Co Ltd, London, soon to be British Petroleum
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1959
Purchased by N.V. Handel-, Exploitatie- & Administratie Maatschappij, the Netherlands, and renamed CONTRACTOR
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1962
Renamed PHOENIX
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1964
Purchased by George Wimpey & Co Ltd, London, for operation in Nigeria and renamed GW 94
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1975
Purchased by Husbands Shipyard Ltd, Southampton, who renamed her ACCOMPLICE the following year. Re-engined with 660bhp 4 stroke 8-cyl Lister Blackstone diesel engine
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1998
Purchased by Taylor & Taylor of Troon and renamed RED DUCHESS
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2006
Purchased by Trans-Euro Navigation and renamed DUCHESS OF TROON
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2007
Purchased by Griffin Towage, Poole, and renamed KNIGHTON
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2016
Purchased by Whitstable Marine Services
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2024
Purchased by current owner
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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