VANQUISHER in Tilbury Docks in 1964
Jack Willis
VANQUISHER was owned by Elliott Tugs and at 294 tons was the largest regular tug on the Thames. I understand that she worked as the temporary Tilbury Ferry when emergency repairs were completed on the regular service. She was licenced to carry 86 passengers.
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I was on my dad’s tug sun xx11 that day alan dartnell is my dad he was deckhand at the time finished up being captain on the formidable
In January 1976 the tug Vanquisher was sunk by Jervis Bay in Tilbury Docks New Entrance, but not by colliding with her. Vanquisher was on Jervis Bay’s stern line, helping the ship stern-first from the locks into the river. Once the ship was clear of the lock entrance she was turned by the tugs then went ahead on her engine. Vanquisher was caught across the ship’s wash as Jervis Bay’s propeller turned ahead, she was unable to get round, there was too much weight on the manual release hook for it to be released and the tug was rolled over and sank. Fortunately no lives were lost,
Unlike in 1954 when in almost identical circumstances and in the same place, P&O’s Arcadia sank the tug Cervia. Despite their valiant efforts to release the towing hawser the Cervia capsized. Captain Russell and five of her crew died. Another tug, Challenge, managed to rescue three of the crew.
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