Neville
I asked John Puddy, Chairman of Steamship Freshspring Society who lives near Bideford quay, about the tug.
Here is a copy of the email I received about the tug.
Hi Lucy,
The tug is Ionia.
She is privately owned and lived on by a family.
She last moved about 12 years ago when she tried to pull a ship off a bank in the Torridge.
She is very neglected unfortunately as she is a real classic.
John
There is a photo and interesting article about the history of this 1950s tug built for the Thames. Label below.
htpp://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3436072
Also this article with specs including c/s. label below.
IONIA - IMO 5162449 - Callsign GHGX - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker
There is a S/N thread on Ionia with 3 posts from 2014. Gives link to photo.
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showth...#/topics/31786
John Puddy - Steamship Freshspring Society
Contact details.
John Puddy (Chairman)
Steamship Freshspring Society.
Head office: Little Cleave, Lower Cleave, Northam, Devon. EX39 2RH
Tel: 01237479730
Mobile: 07941464542
email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.ssfreshspring.co.uk
Reg Charity: 1151907
This official opening for S.S. Freshspring is 30th June.
There are volunteers working, I think, Weds and Sun. If you want to go aboard before official opening you will need to ring John Puddy in advance.
Lucy