Steam Tug

Foggy start to today but happy to see the sun return during the morning! Took a little walk round Maldon this morning and took this pic.

Berthed at Maldon, Steam Tug 'Brent' has always been a waterfront attraction; tourists and residents alike take an interest in her. She has featured on postcards, in paintings, in photographs and in books and is also featured on the famous Maldon Embroidery. Her wider importance is recognised; she is on the National Register of Historic Ships (no. 3).

She has been based at The Hythe in Maldon since 1971. Prior to this she spent all her working life in London.

Brent is the last surviving steam vessel of the Port of London Authority's fleet and one of only three surviving steam vessels left, of the many which were once in use on the River Thames and in the London docks' system. She is also one of only three steam TID class tugs left in Britain, of the 182 built for the Admiralty, as part of the War Effort. Built in 1945, she did not see war service and under a government scheme to replace war damaged craft, was sold to the Port of London Authority.

From the mid 1960′s onwards, the era of steam driven ships or boats began to draw to a close, with most vessels in the UK and around the world being sent to shipbreakers. Within 15 years, commercially working steam engined ships had become more or less extinct. The 'Brent' ceased working in 1969 and lay waiting to be scrapped for two years. In 1971, Ron and Janet Hall purchased 'Brent' at her scrap value, and under her own steam, brought her to Maldon.

She is now under renovation and it is always nice to see a piece of history being cared for and restored