The GOLDEN CROSS at Hartlepool on 8 September 2000. And, as she was when originally with Tees Towing: (Photo: WSS Teesside Branch Weller Collection)
Tees Towing Co. Ltd., Middlesbrough, 132gt, completed by Scott & Sons, Bowling, 7-1955.
1968 Dunheron (British), c1997 Golden Cross (British) Still in service.
Ron

Trials photo

As DUNHERON in Tees Dock 26.11.76

Presently aground and listing to starboard at the mouth of Loch Goil, where she has been laid up for quite some time now.

Not looking good for her then.

Seems she has broken away from her mooring buoy more than once in the past, presumably there is no-one on board. Still displaying her 'HMRT' Her Majesty's Rescue Tug logo!!

Relayed from Clyde Maritime site .....

The Helensburgh Lifeboat attended, below is from their news centre



At 1139 hours On Friday 3rd May Helensburgh RNLI Lifeboat was launched to respond to two back-to-back incidents.

The first was to a vessel aground on the Cockle Bank at Port Glasgow which had two persons on board; although no request for assistance had been received from the crew of the grounded vessel, the Coastguard wished to confirm that they were ok. As the grounded vessel, a white hulled cabin cruiser, was several hundred metres outside the navigation channel, and due to the state of the tide, two lifeboat crew members had to wade across the sandbanks towards the grounded cruiser. Once it was established that the two men on board did not require any assistance, the lifeboat crew members returned to the lifeboat.

The lifeboat then attended the second incident, a tug reported to be sinking at the mouth of Loch Goil. The tug was low in the water and clearly taking in water. It was unmanned and on a mooring. As the lifeboat crew was not able to gain access to the locked vessel they were unable to investigate the cause of the problem or take any action. It was therefore agreed that the lifeboat would return to base and that a commercial salvage operation would be undertaken later.

At 2206 hours the same day the Lifeboat was again launched after Belfast Coastguard received a report from a resident of Rhu village that there was a fire on board a yacht in Rhu Bay. Despite a thorough search of the area, during which a number of illumination flares were fired, nothing untoward was found. The conclusion was that this was a false alarm with good intent. The lifeboat returned to base and was reported ready for service again at 2300 hours.
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From Paul's pics it looks like she was beached near on low water, with a bit of water in her already and sunk to her deck was level with the water.
I am reliably informed at high water only her funnel and wheelhouse can be seen.
To me it sounds like she was holed on her last visit to Ardentinny beach and been filling up slowly ever since. Seems strange that the MOD put her on one of their moorings and she was left there. I wonder if the owners visited to inspect her or if they were doing anything to repair her own mooring at Ardentinny.

Owners website is bringing up '404 Not Found' so I wonder how all the sponsors will find out.

Salvage was due to start 20 October under control of the Queen's Harbour Master for the district.

Latest report

TUG GOLDEN CROSS UPDATE
Updated statement from QHM Clyde effective 25 Oct 13
 Initial attempt at lift on 24 Oct unsuccessful, salvage operations suspended due to severe
weather. Operations on site will re-commence 1 Nov with next lift attempt planned for 6
Nov.
 All matters regarding liability are now being dealt with by MoD and owners’ legal
representatives.
 A notice to mariners will be re-issued to cover all aspects of this operation once operations
resume.
 Further updates will be issued from QHM Clyde once salvage is complete
C D Lightfoot OBE MSM AFNI
Queen’s Harbour Master Clyde

The old girl has been refloated and has arrived at Rosneath for breaking.
End of a long saga and a colourful life in her later days.

Further views of Golden Cross in Hartlepool Marina September 2000