This new page will be updated to show photographs of
many Hull tugs of the United Towing(Co.) Ltd, and Humber Tugs.
Most of the newer tugs were actually built at the Selby shipyard of Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd.
Before the last war, United Towing was formed from several small tug companies in Hull:-
-December 28th-1920:-
-United Towing Co.Ltd.:-
-H.Dukes-1 Share
-S.Harrison-1 Share
-W.H.Miller-1 Share
-John Dobson-1 Shhare
-T.C.Spink-1 Share
-John Watt-1 Share
-R.W.Wheeldon-1 Share
-Businesses Amalgamated:-
-City Steam Towing Co.
-T.Gray & Co.Ltd.
-S.Harrison
-The Humber Towing Co.Ltd.
-The Premier Tug Co.Ltd.
-T.C.Spink
-Troy Steam Tug Co.Ltd.
The older steam tugs that were left after the war survived for many years, but it was in the sixties, that the deisel
engined tugs really took over.
Tugs of the Ellerman-Wilson ship owners were bought and used for many years also
The age of the Steam vessels forced them to be updated, or scrapped.
Some of the steam tugs were converted, as they were valuable and workable. The owners of the tug
firms that had amalgamated, later took over other smaller towing vessels,and also bought the shipyard at Goole--Cochranes!
--Now the company could replace its oldeer tugs, and build tugs to it's own needs and design.
Some of the fleet, sadly,actually sank with deaths related to the sinkings. Some sank several times.
In 1961, the United Towing Co. Ltd. had only five deisel powered tugs, and many more steamers.
The list of tugs in 1967, however, is as follows.
Oceam Going Tugs:-
-Englishman-Built-1965-5000 H.P.
-Welshman-Built-1966-5000 H.P.
-Irishman-Built-1966-5000 H.P.
-Seaman-Built-191967-3500 H.P.
-Superman-Built-1967-3700 H.P.
-Yorkshireman-Built-1967-3700 H.P.
-Tradesman-Built-1964-2500 H.P.
-Merchantman-Built-1964-2500 H.P.
-Serviceman-Built1945( converted to deissel from steam)-2000 H.P.
-Masterman-Built-1964-1800 H.P.
-Headman-Built-1963-1650 H.P.
-Workman-Built-1963-1650 H.P.
-Foreman-Built-1959-1200 H.P.
-Airman-Built-1945-800 H.P.
-Rifleman-Built-1945-800 H.P.
-Guardsman-Built-1946-800 H.P.
Left-Serviceman
River and Dock Tugs:-
-Riverman-Built-1963-1125 H.P.
-Krooman-Built-1938 (converted to deisell from steam)-1125 H.P.
-Scotsman-Built-1929 (converted to deiseel from steam)-1125 H.P.
-Prizeman-Built-1925 (converted to deiseel from sream)-1125 H.P.
-Norman-Built-1929 (converted to deisel from steam)-1125 H.P.
-Motorman-Built-1965-920 H.P.
-Tugman-Built-1964-920 H.P.
-Tidesman-Built-1963-920 H.P.
-Trawlerman-Built-1963-920 H.P.
-Patrolman-Built-1953-675 H.P.
-Pressman-Built-1950-675 H.P.
-Dockman-Built-1949-675 H.P.
-Waterman-Built-1966-600 H.P.
-Keelman-Built-1958-405 H.P.
-Bargeman-Built-1955-405 H.P.
-Lighterman-Built-1954-405 H.P.
-Larger, and more powerfull tugs were buuilt as the oil industry needed high powered
tugs to transport oil rig platforms into the North Sea and elsewere
As the oil industry enlarged , so the trawling industry declined, until there was little work for such big towing companies as
the United Towing, and Humber Tugs, it;s sister company.
-The company no longer exists. Many suchh firms have disapeared from Hull in recent times.
Page Updated-July-1st-01