Hornbeam wrote:Taximan, interested in ML 288, any photos per chance or failing that a description especially a good guess at Length if you could please. For a many years I have been trying to trace a Launch which was left amongst others to go derelict at the wooden jetty just along from the Quay at Stockton.
If anyone else has any photos of this particular area in the 1950’s I would be obliged. Thank You.
Sorry I cant help with a photo of ML 288 but there is one on line somewhere on a site something to do with Stockton, however it is not a very clear image. She was an open boat, perhaps a little over 35 ft long and was always loaded with several cylinders of calor gas which was used to replenish the buoys & beacons along the river. while I was working in the river gang the launchman was Jimmy Robson and his mate was a bloke called Allan Jefferies. If I recall correctly she was powered by a Thornycroft Diesel. When not in use the boat was moored inside a barge with a similar launch 'ML300' Launchman 'Tommy Nolan' which was used to assist the floating crane or worked with the survayers before the got their own purpose buit craft. The barge was the one with the spare Tees Fairway buoy on deck which was moored near the old Salt Union dolphins on the Port Clarence side.
ML 288 sank one night during a gale while moored at the barges opposite the Graving Dock. she was replaced by a new larger boat which had been bought a little while previously for use with either No 9 or No 10 dredger.
Below is ML 300 with launchman Tommy Nolan. ML 288 was very similar but with a transom stern and was slightly longer. Both boats had identical engines