Although this photo shows barge BUMBLEBEE I and her tug WESWEAR coming into the Tyne, in my mind they were more associated with the Wear. I think they took over from Carney's fleet to dump colliery waste from Wearmouth Pit out at sea. Were there 3 Bumblebees?



See WESWEAR at: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=21764

A swarm of BUMBLEBEEs?
I saw one laid up at 's-Gravendeel in June 2006 but just recorded it as BUMBLEBEE and now I can't find the photo!

That sounds like the sort of thing I would do. I expected better from you.

Have you tried asking Arthur?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rpBAZEVHmI

There were FOUR Bumblebee's because BB4 ran aground on Whitburn Steel during a Gale on the evening of December 7th 1990. She was refloated some time later but two crewmen on the Barge were winched to safety. I think the tug suffered some damage as well but not 100% sure.

They loaded waste at Harton Staith and one was dumped whilst the other one was being loaded etc....

Bumblebee 4 aground at Whitburn on 16 December 1990.

Weswear with Bumblebee 1 & Bumblebee 2 at Harton Staiths on 29 July 1989.

Bumblebee 3 & Bumblebee 4 at Harton Staiths on 29 July 1989.

Even a humble barge can be photogenic in the right conditions - Bumblebee 4 on 1 January 1993.

Nice one Dennis. Was that a humble barge or a bumble barge?