Keeping a good ship afloat
Without this remarkable boat the Auckland Harbour Bridge may have been swept away in a storm.
Now the nearly 90 year old steam tug, on display at the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, is one of the most notable examples of the challenges that custodians of vintage boats face in keeping them afloat.
A twin screw, coal-fired steam tug, the William C Daldy was built in Scotland in 1935 for the Auckland Harbour Board, becoming even more famous when for 36 hours the Daldy held the huge main span of the Auckland Harbour Bridge in place when a storm passed through during a dicey phase of its construction.
And even today the Daldy - which has a bollard pull of 17 tonne - is one of the strongest ocean going steam tugs floating.
“New Zealand has a remarkable fleet of classic boats sailing and active on the water,” says Auckland Wooden Boat Festival Co-Director Michelle Khan. “The classic boat community really gets in behind these boats to keep them afloat and operating, and the William C Daldy is a great example of that.”
Keith Ingram has helped to advocate for the William C Daldy for more than 20 years, only recently retiring from the William C Daldy Preservation Society.
“The Daldy is the last of its type alive and surviving in the world today. It’s also the largest of its class. It’s too good to lose. Everything onboard is run by steam. Nothing, no diesel, no nothing else on board. She’s all original,” he enthuses.
But the struggle in keeping the boat operating is immense: it ideally needs a high profile berth in a central location where people walk past it, and buy tickets or book charters.
Everyone in the Preservation Society hopes it will be returned to Hobson Wharf - keeping its few puffs of smoke away from apartments and restaurants, but close enough to all the action of the Viaduct Harbour to be admired by everyone- and convenient for the volunteer army to get to too.
It needs continuous funding to keep its maintenance program on track. Each haulout on a commercial dry dock costs around $150,000. The Society recently removed asbestos lagging, which cost over $100,000 by itself. Coal costs $500 per tonne (the ship take 30 tonne), and while it’s well maintained and in great condition, the hull requires an ultrasound survey soon to stay in service carrying passengers.
“The ship is in a remarkable state,” says Ingram. “There is a list of jobs to be done, and it costs money. But the ship is in far too good a state to lose.”
Fundraising - both through raising sponsorship and grant applications, is a big job in itself that requires business and communications skills and above all else, time and commitment. Charters are profitable - but the boat needs to be berthed in a suitable location for passengers to embark.
Incredibly, the ship’s liveaboard caretaker and chief engineer, George Armitage, is one year older than the Daldy. “He is amazing and we will always need younger people to learn about the ship and contribute energy and enthusiasm before he retires.”
The William C Daldy Preservation Society has had wonderful support from volunteers and maritime company sponsors alike. Recently Ken Pointon and his team from the Auckland Steam Society repaired the funnel base and Kaz Aremka our marine surveyor has generously given his time and advice to assist keeping the tug in survey.
But now we need more volunteers and donations to return this iconic part of Auckland’s maritime history tip top condition and steaming again on the beautiful harbour.
Keen to contribute, book a charter, or just curious? Learn more about the ship: