"KERNE"
foto : A.L. Knorr
KERNE
1913 VIKING, 1913 TERRIER, 1948 KERNE, 1987 ALEXANDRA, 1987 KERNE
UK Navy Dog-class tug (out of
6)
Registered: ON 181972
62,71 GRT, 1,25 NRT, L23,47m(21,79), B5,53m, D2,56m(3,05)
(77'(71.5')x15.1'x8.4'(10') or
77'0"(71'6")x18'1.1/4"x8'4.3/4"(10'))
steel, 1 scr 3-bl. 2.39m, T3cyl by "W.V.V.Lidgerwood, Speedwell
Ironworks" at Coatbridge (nr 397),
45nhp-400ihp-298kW, sp 10kn
boiler by "A. & W. Dalglish"
refit 1936 new boiler by Mr R.W.Wright (from the original drawings) fit
by H.M.Dockyard Chatham
1913 -xx/03: Launched by "Montrose
Shipbuilding Co Ltd" at Montrose
(for the "Orient Lighterage Co" at London, to be named VIKING)
1913: delivered to the UK Admiralty, for general dockyard duties in
Chatham, renamed TERRIER
1948 -15/03: To "J.P. Knight Ltd" at London with a bent propeller shaft,
shaft replaced and overhauled, renamed
KERNE
(KERNE is gaelic for 'Foot Soldier' or 'Warrior')
1948 -13/09: To "Straits Steamship Co Ltd" at Liverpool (subsidiary of
the "Liverpool Lighterage Co Ltd")
1949: fit with a non-folding taller funnel, enclosed wheelhouse and new
mast
1965 -30/04: To "Liverpool Lighterage Co Ltd" at Liverpool
1971 -xx/04: taken out of commercial service and laid up
1971 -10/09: for preservation to the founders of the 1973 formed "North
West Steamship Co Ltd"
(usually based at the Merseyside Maritime Museum at Liverpool or
at the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port)
1987: chartered to ", for their centenary celebrations, as ALEXANDRA,
afterwards re-renamed KERNE
KERNE
Steam Tug - Built 1913
Built as towing vessel by Montrose Shipbuilding Co in 1913. Laid down as
Viking, but name changed to Terrier while still under construction. When
completedm, delivered to Chatham Dockyard where she berthed ships and
towed cargoes. Received new bioiler in 1936 and her name was changed to
Kerne
(Gaelic for 'Warrior'). She was sold on soon afterwards to subsidiary of
Liverpool Lighterage Co in 1948.
Moved to the Mersey and underwent modifications to deal with rougher
waters.
Given enclosed wheelhouse and washports, a new funnel and mast. Over next
23 years she towed barges on the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. Taken
over
directly by Liverpool Lighterage in 1965 and she was only replaced in April
1971 after company taken over by Alexander Towage Co.
Notrh Western Steamship Co formed by steam enthusiasts to buy the vessel and
she has since been maintaned in full working order.
She is powered by a triple expansion double acting steam engine and can
reach 10 knots at 110 rpm.