MV Bateleur

ex Sea Queen, Hermes (4)

Courtesy of Ted Ingham

Steel single screw motor vessel built in 1956 by F Schichau GmbH, Bremerhaven (Yard No 1668) as a salvage tug

Technical Data

• Length: 38.51 m (overall) 34.80 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 8.39 m
• Depth: 4.50 m
• Draught: 3.912 m
• Tonnage: 293 – 287 gross/16 net/ deadweight
• Engines: 2 x Oil 4 SA 6-cylinder Klockner – Humboldt-Deutz diesel
• Power: kW/1420 bhp
• Bollard Pull: 18t
• Speed: 13.5 knots
• Call Sign: DEPU, GVAW, ZGKQ
• IMO Number: 5149162
• Official Number: 364689 (LR 1978 -79)
• Port of Registry: Bremerhaven/Fed Rep Germany 🇩🇪, Bristol/United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Georgetown/Cayman Islands 🇰🇾

History

1956: Completed for Bugsier Reederei und Bergungs AG, Hamburg

© Fotoflite

1960’s: Stationed at Dover.

© “ToptoToe” (Left) and © Gordon Wise (Right)

April 1975: Laid up in Bremerhaven

March 12th 1976: Sold to C J King & Sons (Tugs) Ltd, Bristol and renamed SEA QUEEN.

Courtesy of Chris Howell

1980: Owner taken over by Consolidated Marine Contractors Ltd.

1980: Sold to Eagle Tugs Ltd, Guernsey and renamed BATELEUR. Manager; Shipmarc Lyd, Mombasa.

October 6th 1983: Capsized and sunk near Sainte Marie Island (Madagasker 17.00 degrees – 49.56 E).

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Chris Howell, Ted Ingham, “ToptoToe” and Gordon Wise for their assistance in producing this feature.

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