Harland and Wolff - Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

Portwey is the only Twin screw, coal fired steam tug now active in the United Kingdom.

Built by Harland and Wolff on the Clyde in 1927, she was first owned by the Portland and Weymouth Coaling Company (hence the name) and worked along the south coast of England, being based at Portland.

During the second World War the tug was controlled by the U.S. Army and was based at Dartmouth, part of her duties being to tow in damaged craft, on one occasion narrowly missing being hit by a bomb.

In 1951 she was sold to the Falmouth Dock and Engineering Company where she spent the rest of her working life, helping, during this time, with the construction of the Lizard and Anglesey Lifeboat Stations.

In 1962, destined for the scrap yard at the end of her working life, she was bought by Richard Dobson, who, with a group of dedicated friends, restored the tug to her former glory and maintained her for the next 15 years.

In 1982 they were no longer able to continue this work and the tug steamed to London and was donated to the Maritime Trust. The Steam Tug Portwey Association took her on Demise Charter from the Trust and continued the restoration, preservation and operation, steaming in the Thames and Medway during the year.

She is now based at West India Dock, London.