 South African Pilot Boats.
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One of the many joys of going down to Durban had always been to take a Pilot out to one of the ships on the Pilot Boat. I first went out in February 1986 on the John Cox to take a pilot to the Unicorn Line cargo ship Range and it was a trip to thrill me to death. I never expected that these trips would become regular features of the many Durban trips I went along on.
Durban had 2 of these vessels, the John Cox and the R.P. Jackson and I spent many a pleasant hour getting wet, being thrown around and staring in awe at some of the ships as they came into the bay and dropped off or collected a pilot. Photography has always been a problem off these vessels, a hand for the camera, and one for the ship is the rule. Alas a helicopter has replaced my dear old pilot boats, although I hear they still do night duty, somehow it is just not the same. I doubt if I will ever stand on those bucking decks again, but will always remember the thrill of coming alongside those walls of steel and watching the swaying jacobs ladder and the pilot who would soon be entering into that floating community of a ship.
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The John Cox.
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The R.P. Jackson.
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Originally built by Globe Engineering in 1972, the John Cox and RP Jackson are twin screw diesel powered pilot boats. Each is 27,0 metres long with a beam of 5,4 m and a draft of 3,57 m. Note the white painted funnels and the old South African flag which means these shots were taken before 1994. Both vessels underwent a refit in the early 90's and the superstructure was altered considerably and they were given more powerful engines as well as "fly by wire" steering. Recently the Jackson was renamed Inyoni and the Cox Ballito. The Inyoni was transferred to Richards Bay where she was earmarked for disposal in 2001.
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The RA Leigh was a pilot tug from the glory days of South African Harbours, she was in service long before I became aware of the tugs and harbour craft. When I encountered her she was under private ownership and spent long lonely years rotting at her mooring next to the JR More at the Port Natal Maritime Museum. Then they moved her up to the container berth and when I last heard she had had her superstructure cut down and after that.... I dont know. Built by Richard Dunston, Thorne. She was 102 ft long with a beam of 21 feet and powered by twin triple expansion engines. Her sister ship was the SG Stephens. After being withdrawn from service in 1983 she was earmarked for sale to a crowd of Australians who intended sailing her "Down Under". This never came to pass and the Leigh never left Durban harbour again.
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The William Weller, which I photographed in Port Elizabeth in 1990 had been preserved and reported to be under care of the sea cadets. However, things did not go well for her and she gradually deteriorated and was put up for sale and was finally broken up in Port Elizabeth in 2000. One of 5 sisters built by Cantieri Navali e Officiene Meccaniche de Venezia, she was 83 feet long with a beam of 20 feet. Powered by single expansion steam engines, the sisters (Willam Weller, Alwyn Vintcent, SJ Harrison, Cecil G White, JE Eaglesham) entered service in 1959.
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The Alwyn Vintcent, ended her days in Cape Town harbour. She had been bought by the South African Cultural History Museum in 1988 and returned to Cape Town in 1989 where she was restored and recommissioned in 1991. She was then used during the summer months to take tourists out into Table Bay and around the Duncan Dock and the old Victoria Basin. Operating costs and an ever declining steam plant resulted in the installation of a Caterpillar diesel alongside her old plant. Her days as an excursion vessel ended in 2001 when she was decommissioned. Sadly she was not able to compete with more trendy (and safer looking) excursion boats and by late 2006 she seemed to have been abandoned to the seagulls and it was expected that she was to be scrapped unless a suitable buyer came along.
In April 2008 she was sold into Australian private ownership and was destined to be taken to Australia to be put back into service. Preservation was started but the owner suffered health problems and seems to have forgotten about his charge so the future of this vessel is no longer secure (Oct 2009). More information is available at S.T ALWYN VINTCENT
. One of 5 sisters built by Cantieri Navali e Officiene Meccaniche de Venezia, she was 83 feet long with a beam of 20 feet. Powered by single expansion steam engines, the sisters (Willam Weller, Alwyn Vintcent, SJ Harrison, Cecil G White, JE Eaglesham) entered service in 1959.
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The Cecil G White, seen here in private hands undergoing conversion to a fishing boat, was built at Cantieri Navali e Officiene Meccaniche de Venezia in 1959. She served as a pilot boat before being withdrawn from service and sold into private ownership, reportedly in 1982. This photo shows her still under conversion in the late 1980's. Her wheelhouse was donated to the East London Museum in 1983 where it can still be seen today.
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Of all places, Pietermaritzburg had its own pilot boat. The JE. Eaglesham was partially dismantled and put on a low loader and taken from Durban and moored high and dry at Midmar Dam, we saw her in 1987 en route to Durban just before the floods. It seems as if this venture was a failure as she was sold for a pittance and broken up. |
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The Blue Jay, a twin screw work boat, was used as a pilot boat in Port Elizabeth, and is seen here coming out to the MCV Berg. She was often used for day trips in and around the harbour. She had a sister in Durban called Reier which was used as a sort of mini dredge. Both have been transferred from these ports, Reier to Saldanha Bay and Blue Jay to Cape Town.
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| In East London the HTV Horner served as the resident pilot boat for many years which is where I saw her in 1990. She has since been withdrawn from service and is no longer on the fleetlist of Portnet.
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The Ulundi is the oldest surviving pilot tug in South Africa. Built by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith, she is 75,4 long with a beam of by 18,1 ft. She was powered by a direct acting compound expansion engine and was in service from 1927. After being withdrawn she was earmarked for the fledgling Port Natal Maritime Museum. Placed on a cradle next on the quayside, she has had doors cut into the side of her hull.
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The work boat Fury, was formerly the pilot boat SJ Harrison. She was commissioned for offshore duty at Durban. I believe she is no longer in operation. Photo courtesy of Terry Hutson
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The AM Clark, seen here in private hands, served as a pilot boat possibly in Port Elizabeth. She was one of three sister ships, the others being L.L. Varley and C.A.E. Deacon. They were built locally in the the early 70's and served as pilot boats in our ports. (Deacon in CT, Varley in Walvis Bay), they were withdrawn from service in the late 1980's although at the time of writing, the Varley was still in service in Durban as a tow behind dredger.
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The pilot boat Orient seen in Port Elizabeth in July 2004. She was formerly the W.A. Willets, Built 1995 by Sterling Marine, she is twin screw, powered by 2 caterpillar diesels. Photo courtesy of The SA Transport Website
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An early pilot boat in Durban with whalers in the background. Photo courtesy of Pete Bower
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