Steam Tug Brent Trust

www.steamtugbrent.org

Email: info@steamtugbrent.org

Steam Tug Brent of 1945

Steam Tug Brent (@steamtugbrent)

NEWSLETTER APRIL 2021

Photos Mark Ranger

Dear Brent Supporters

This spring has seen many days

with beautiful clear blue skies.
The look belies the feel of the
day; there have been cold east
winds for much of the time.
However the starlings aren’t
daunted, they are still seeking
places to nest in the Brent’s
bow!

We have not carried out any work on board yet this year, but are planning to start back in May
when the lockdown restrictions are eased. Prior to that one or two of the volunteers will have a
scrub round to remove the green lichen and detritus of the last 18 months from her decks. We are
keen to get back into the routine of working on board and there is a lot to do!
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Whilst there has been no action on board, behind the scenes there has been a hive of activity with
meetings relating to the Heritage Harbour initiative and activity relating to our plans for securing a
secure future for Brent.
The UK Heritage Harbours
(extracted material from UK Heritage Harbour Newsletter 1
March 2021)
A joint initiative by the Maritime Heritage Trust
(MHT) and National Historic Ships (NHS) Shipshape
Network; with strong support from the European
Maritime Heritage (EMH), proposes that historic
ports and harbours in England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland become officially recognised as
‘Heritage Harbours’. The developing Heritage
Harbours recognise the great value in sensitively
developing their, often superb, historic buildings;
waste land; mooring; and maintenance facilities for
both local and visiting historic vessels and are
identified within the NHS Shipshape Network
regions. After The Medway, HH1 and Faversham and
Oare,HH2, Maldon, HH3 was the third port to take
up on the initiative.
A full public meeting was held, at the Maldon Little Ship Club (MLSC), mid-September 2019, during
the Maldon Heritage Weekend.

(Extract from the National Historic Ships Website)

“Drawing on similar initiatives in Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany,
we seek to recognise the value ageing ports and harbours still have today. Often located in urban
areas, there is potential to breathe new life into existing historic buildings; moorings; maintenance
facilities; and waste land. We think that a 'Heritage Harbour' should reflect the story of an area’s
maritime heritage; offer a safe haven for local and visiting historic vessels; and connect with the
local community………..

Aims and Objectives

We want to preserve and connect people with the UK's maritime heritage by helping local and
travelling historic vessels to find moorings; facilities; and support within designated 'Heritage
Harbours'. To achieve this, we must:

 develop a consortium across historic vessel owners; local government authorities; statutory
port authorities; developers; and educational groups
 connect with local communities to identify benefits of having Heritage Harbour status
 develop a criteria for Heritage Harbour status
 identify ports and harbours of historical significance across the UK that fulfil the criteria to
be designated as a Heritage Harbour
 promote the benefits and activities of Heritage Harbours.”

In the April issue of Maldon and Heybridge Life, Chair of the Maldon and Heybridge Heritage
Harbour Association (MHHHA) Dr Andrea Raiker detailed the development of the MHHHA, from
Reg. Charity. No. 1139414. Reg. Office. 12 The Hythe Maldon Essex CM9 5HN. Tel. 01621 855058. Reg. Company.
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the inaugural meeting, when we heard Brian Corbett explain the UK Heritage Harbour Initiative, to
the many faceted organisation that the MHHHA is developing into today. Driven by Andrea’s
enthusiasm and expertise and with support from Maldon District Council, Maldon Town Council,
local maritime businesses and organisations, the MHHHA continues to develop and flourish.

You can read Andrea’s article at www.regionallife.co.uk/maldon-life-back-issues April 2021 P.76

The UK Heritage Harbour newsletter can be found at

www.oga.uk/areas/east_coast/news/medway_heritage_harbour.html

London River Connections

Earlier in the year on our Facebook page @Mand3HA, Brian Corbett posted;

“LONDON RIVER HERITAGE HARBOUR

The big challenge for the Heritage Harbour community in 2021 is to establish a London River
Heritage Harbour. Many historic craft, with close ties to our capital, are no longer able to find a
safe haven, or satisfactory maintenance facilities, on the Thames. A suitable haven is required
where the diverse historic vessels, which play such a major part of the history of London and the
river, can lay alongside a wharf to enable the public to visit at festival times.
The last great opportunity for such a safe haven can be found in the Royal Docks development
area. All support will be welcome. Brian”

It would be lovely to see more historic vessels visiting the Thames.

Brent at The Clipper Regatta 1974

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Brent’s long term plans

As many of you are aware, the Brent Trust is seeking to gain planning permission for a jetty for the
berthing of Brent and a lighter close to where her existing mudberth is. It is a long route from the
initial idea to being fully prepared to apply for planning permission.

In the newsletter of April 2019 outlined our plans for securing Brent’s future in Maldon. Two years
on we are still quite away from achieving this.

This design for the pontoon is

one of six suggested in the
feasibility study and is our
preferred option. Rather than
being piled, the pontoon is held
in place by four radial arms.

We are still very much in the same situation as we were last November when we hoped that we
would undertake a Bathymetric Survey to enable mapping of the riverbed this spring. Covid
restrictions, affecting Captain Ian Chapman’s training for the task, mean that the survey will not
take place until the summer. Mapping of the riverbed is necessary to inform the design of the
jetty and the dredging requirements. Ian is now booked into the Hydrographic Survey Course, for
the 7th and 8th June. Following this, we will hire the survey equipment and on a suitable spring
tide, he will undertake the survey. The results will be sent to the marine engineering company,
who carried out the feasibility study, for analysis.

This is the equipment we intend to use to undertake the survey. Sonarmite’s Echo Sounder
provides an excellent solution for surveying, measuring and identifying the physical features of
seas, lakes, rivers and estuaries.

There are several other studies which need to be undertaken for which we will be seeking funding
over the coming months.
Reg. Charity. No. 1139414. Reg. Office. 12 The Hythe Maldon Essex CM9 5HN. Tel. 01621 855058. Reg. Company.
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 Ian has also drawn my attention to a new
publication. Mike Keulemans was Ian’s lecturer
when he was at officer school, Southampton
University.
“Never to Sail,” tells the story of the royal
yacht H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert III. We all
know of H.M.Y. Brittania but not many people
know of her predecessor.

Mike Keulemans’ first book, “One ship,

two rivers, many young crews,” in
which Ian has a mention, tells the story
of St Paul’s Trust and the experiences
provided for young people on the M. V.
Loach.

Loach was built in 1968 for the London

and Rochester Trading Company.
Loach served the company until
November 1984, when she was sold to
the St Paul’s Trust Centre and
converted to a training ship.
In July 2010 she was resold to
Wharfcross Ltd to be reconverted into a
working vessel. She has returned to
cargo carrying.

Reg. Charity. No. 1139414. Reg. Office. 12 The Hythe Maldon Essex CM9 5HN. Tel. 01621 855058. Reg. Company.
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The London and Rochester Trading Company’s coasting barges, the Loach, the Lodella, the Rogul
and the Roffen in their red hulled Crescent Shipping livery used to bring grain to flour mills on the
east coast including Maldon, during the 1970s and ‘80s.

One of their larger vessels,

Libation can be seen here at
Green’s Flour Mill (now
Carr’s Mill) unloading grain
in the 1970s.

Below, Rogul loaded with

grain for the mill.

Carr’s mill is still milling flour, but now the grain arrives by lorry. The coasters stopped bringing
grain by water some 25 years or so ago. We would like to see a return to river borne freight in
Maldon.

From the archive

Images of TIDs at work in Chatham Dockyard.

From the War and Peace collection.

Reg. Charity. No. 1139414. Reg. Office. 12 The Hythe Maldon Essex CM9 5HN. Tel. 01621 855058. Reg. Company.
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The Summer Ahead
Like everyone, we are looking forward to getting back to normal life; holding our open days, which
will be held on the last Sunday of the month and on other high days and holidays, details yet to be
confirmed.
We are excited to at last be able to hold our Art Event some eight months since originally
scheduled.

Here’s to a lovely summer when we can all get out and do the things we love doing.

On behalf of the Trustees and Brent crew

Good sailing and good days ahead.

Best wishes
Janet

Trustees:
Richard Albanese, Janet Hall, Chairman, Dr Andrea Raiker, Mari Riva, Mark Heard, Captain Ian Chapman
Volunteer Team: Janet Hall, Amelia Hall, Tony Kirk, Penny Kirk, Tony Seaman, James Morgan, Richard Cooper,
Mark Watsham, Ian Chapman, Ray Binning, Sue Stewart, Mari Riva, Sheelagh Swain, Mark Heard, Alec Hopkins,
Roger Pond, Reece Dalsania, Doug North, Sue Hawkins, Freda Kelly S.

Reg. Charity. No. 1139414. Reg. Office. 12 The Hythe Maldon Essex CM9 5HN. Tel. 01621 855058. Reg. Company.
07404307