TCC FLOATING CRANE

[HSA31]

The floating crane was in regular use on the river in the post war years,loading heavy lifts and on at least one occasion lightening a ship stranded in the river. Where she ended her days however seems a bit of a mystery.

[Whickham]

I believe that she may have been built on the Tyne by Palmers Hebburn during the war. Built as MOWT No 4 in 1942, using mainly prefabricated parts provided by other companies.

[northeast]

And a fine pair of tugs in attendance, a nice contrast between designs and companies.

[Whickham]

The final demise of the TEES FLOATING CRANE has been provided by member Teesships and has now been added to her record on Tyne Built Ships.

http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/M-Ships ... 41943.html

[Hornbeam]

Most Engineers are nosey and they want to know how things operate, we had cause to split the bearings on the top tumbler of No 10, the TCC had two floating a smaller one and this one, the smaller crane was out of action and this one arrived alongside, a bit of over kill but she was the only option. I had seen her moving around the river and asking questions about her found she was wartime built which had me interested. Most of the time she was laid up quietly rusting away with the occasional lift of the McLean metal boxes from the Decks of Cargo Vessels which could not get under the Sheerlegs opposite the Furness Yard.
She had a coal fired Cochran upright type Boiler and a small Diesel engine to provide the lighting, the cooling for this engine was provided by two large drums of fresh water coupled together. I often wondered why they kept this crane and it was only in later years when I worked for the M.O.D. that the importance of her came to light and why she was positioned on the Tees.

[teesships]

50 YEARS AGO TODAY!

TEES FLOATING CRANE in Middlesbrough Dock - 31 August 1972:

Enlarged from this composite view also featuring SUSANNE SCAN (q.v.)

Ron M

[teesships]

50 YEARS AGO TODAY!

Middlesbrough Dock - 1 September 1973:

Ron M