On the Wear

Hello Stephen and hope you are well !

I think the Svitzer Redbridge has to be one of the worst looking tugs we have had on the Tyne, if it was not for her wash it is hard to tell if she is coming or going !

Here she is coming back from Sunderland last weekend passing me offshore Souter


and again towing out the Planet Ace same day


Better looking Svitzer Sun also passing me

Ey up, now look here, that fine tug was built in Hull, are you far-northerners suggesting we don't know the sharp end from the blunt end?
She's got her 'funnels' aft of her bridge, like any good ship
.... or did we put them forward of the bridge?
.... damn!

Well its not an easy thing to decide, George....... cause she is somewhat round at either end.

If we assume the Port of Registry is at the Stern, then the funnels are forward of the Bridge, so she is proceeding 'Bow' first in Mikes Pictures.

However when she is on the River she spends more time going backwards, as in Stephen's Picture.

All in all a very confused tug!!

Svitzer Redbridge seen here working in the Port of Tyne, North East England on 16th August 2012, photographed from Western Quay, North Shields.

Western Quay King wrote:Svitzer Redbridge seen here working in the Port of Tyne, North East England on 16th August 2012, photographed from Western Quay, North Shields.

Svitzer-Redbridge.jpg

And yes in this picture she is sailing ahead - backwards!

I think she likes sailing backwards best.............

magoonigal wrote:I think she likes sailing backwards best.............

Evidently when she is under no pulling strain she is easier to navigate when travelling stern first - Twin Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD)

SVITZER REDBRIDGE assisting ACERGY OSPREY inbound to the Port of Tyne, North East England on 1st October 2012 – photographed from Western Quay, North Shields.