South
Eastern Tug Society
This is not the official web site of the MT. Kent.
These pages
are my tribute to the Kent and the volunteers who have worked very hard to
obtain materials and spares to make the Kent what
she is today.
For
information relating to the KENT or South Eastern Tug Society, please
contact Barney...........
Email:
Barney
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A Brief History.
The MT KENT was built in 1948
by Richards Ironworks of Lowestoft for J. P. Knight, Rochester.
The KENT began her life on the Medway berthing ships in the Port of Rochester and Sheerness. When the BP Refinery opened at the Isle of Grain it was the KENT who assisted the first British Tanker onto the berth. Over the years she was deployed in various locations with spells in Scotland, coastal and near continental towing.
In the middle 1980s the KENT was taken out of service after working almost forty years. The KENT was secured on the moorings off Ship Pier, Rochester where she was illuminated with flood-lights and used for advertising the company of J. P. Knight. In 1991 the KENT was towed from the moorings and secured on the buoys off Thunderbolt
Pier, Chatham Dockyard where she remained until 1995. In all this time there was no maintenance on board.
In October 1995 the SOUTH EASTERN TUG SOCIETY (S.E.T.S.) purchased the KENT from J. P. Knight for the sum of £1 on the understanding that she would be restored and preserved. A berth was found for her in No. 1 Basin, Chatham Dockyard (courtesy of Chatham Maritime), where the refurbishment was to take place. For the next 4years there was a LOT of hard work for the volunteers who had 13 years of rust and corrosion to clean and paint, plus inspection, repairs and preparation of the main engine and auxiliary engines.
In January 1999 the fruits of labour paid off with the first run of the KENT's main engine, she started on the third pull of the air start lever. I was not present that day but I would think it was a joyous occasion. A few weeks later she was under way in the basin for a trial run and a test for the steering gear. In May 1999 S.E.T.S. sailed the KENT on her first official trip from Strood to Sheerness.
Since May 1999 the Kent has
attended events at St. Malo, Ostend, Maassluis, Rotterdam, Dover, Great Yarmouth, Whitstable, barge races and regatta's on the
River Thames.
Credit goes to all the volunteers that worked on the KENT who have almost achieved
their objective of,
"Returning the KENT to her former glory".
26/11/03
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On the 3rd February 2003 the
MT KENT was identified as meriting inclusion in the National Register of
Historical Vessels of the United Kingdom.
On the 30th June 2004 the MT
KENT was added to the Designated Vessels List. This list recognises vessels that
are of substantial heritage merit.
National
Register of Historic Vessels
13th October 2007
In recognition of the contribution
to diesel engine heritage in the restoration to working order of her
main engine, the Motor Tug Kent was presented with the Heritage Award by "The
Institution of Diesel and Gas Turbine Engineers".
Heritage Award
Built..........1948
Official number.......118296
Length.......88' 0"
Gross Tons..............121
Beam.........22 ' 0"
B. H. P..................880
Draught.....11' 6"
Engine...........5 Cylinder British Polar
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KENT
Photo Gallery moved to
HERE
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