Past and PresentPort of Dover

MV Diligent – Past and Present

MV Omni St Laurent

ex MV Diligent

Roy Thornton Collection

Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw diesel engined tug built 1957-8 by P.K. Harris, Appledore. (Yard No 107) for the Dover Harbour Board.

Technical Data

  • Length: 27.52m (99.27 ft)(overall), 26.8m (88 ft) (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 7.60m (24.11 ft)(Extreme)
  • Draught: 3.04m (9.97 ft) maximum
  • Tonnage: 161 gross, 30 net
  • Engines: 2 x 8-cylinder 22.292 reverse reduction geared Lister/Blackstone & Co diesels
  • Rated: 1,040 bhp
  • Speed: 12.5 knots
  • Bollard Pull: 21 tons
  • Call Sign: MXXG (@ 1974), VOPN (1989 – )
  • ID Number: 5090012
  • Official Number: 185700
  • Registry: Dover (1958 – ), Sorel P.Q. Canada (1989 – )
  • Sister Ship: Dominant

History

July 2nd 1957: Launched. Named by Mrs RW Cook, the wife of the Harbour Master and did trials in Cardiff during the week before she arrived in Dover.

December 15th 1957: Completed and delivered to the Dover Harbour Board at Dover. She initially went straight into the Granville Dock.

© Ted Ingham  Roy Thornton Collection

© Ted Ingham (left) and the Roy Thornton Collection (right)

© John Hendy

© John Hendy (11/08/1984)

© Kevin Hoggett  © Kevin Hoggett

New © Kevin Hoggett

1984: To Frank Pearce (Tugs) Ltd at Poole

© Mike Sartin  © Mike Sartin

© Mike Sartin (both)

1984: To S. & H. Towage

© Brian Fisher (Tilbury 1986)  © Brian Fisher (Tilbury 1986)

© Brian Fisher (Tilbury 1986)

1989: To Les Remorquages Sorel Inc, manager Les Services Maritimes Genco Ltd at Sorel, PQ (Canada), renamed OMNI ST-LAURENT

2002: To Le Ocean Groupe Inc at Quebec

© Kent Malo  © Kent Malo

© Kent Malo

2008: Still in service.

September 23rd 2019: Sank at the Stephenville wharf in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She was docked when she sank, although the exact cause is unclear. No one was on board at the time.

© Provided by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

© Provided by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation


All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. We would like to thank: Brian Fisher, Kevin Hoggett, Ted Ingham, Kent Malo and Mike Sartin for their assistance in producing this feature.

Special thanks go to World Ship Society (East Kent Branch).

 Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

5 Comments

  1. I would be grateful for use of the Roy Thornton photos of tug Diligent to add my model plan I am drawing of this tug for a UK model magazine. Naturally full ack. of source would be included.
    Many thanks,
    Jim

    1. Hello James,

      No problem.
      I’ll dig out the original prints, scan them at a higher quality and send them on!

      Rgds
      Nigel Thornton

      1. I am a very grateful for your cooperation, I can send you a few Clyde tugs in recompense.
        regards, and all best for 2013
        JiM

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