Seems to be based on grand ideas but from observation, nothing has been done by way of inserting a mid-body to extend her (as seemed to be the project) and no way have they swopped old for new completely.
Must pop in there soonest to check her condition.

A completely new vessel built along similar lines, although somewhat larger was built at the shipyard. I spoke with one of the workers there some time ago and he said that she was to be used for survey work. As for Able One, sadly she is still languishing in the same corner of the dock that she has occupied for a number of years now. her funnel has been removed and she seems to be riding high in the water so I suspect the engine has been removed too. I may have a photo of the new vessel lurking in the depths of my computer somewhere and if I can ever coax it out I will post it on here.

Thanks for that Taximan, would certainly like to see the new vessel.

From recent exchanges on the Tugtalk forum it seems this is not ABLE ONE but ABLE THREE after all!
There may have been some swopping of names/hulls after a batch was bought from USA that had been based at Hythe.
This is from Piet van Damme:

.....you will find this is ABLE THREE, bought by the same owner, but left at Whitby; ABLE ONE moved to and pictured in the USA:

1955 ST 2113 CHARLESTON, 1995 ABLE THREE

(US Army ST tug Design 3004, 82 in all)
Registered:
72 GRT, 57 NRT, (70'(65.0')x19.5'x8.5')
1 fpp, diesel White Atlas Imperial, 600bhp

ST 2113 CHARLESTOWN
1955: Built by "C.W. Smith Shipyards Inc" at Pensacola, Fl.(USA)
1955: delivered to the "USATC - US Army Transportation Corps" at Fort Eustis, Va.(USA)
19xx: stationed at Portsmouth (GBR)
1992: retired
1993: sold by the US Army Depot at Hythe (GBR), to "Pounds Marine Shipping Ltd" at Portsmouth (GBR)
1995: resold to "Read Heavy Lift" (Gordon Read) at Newquay, Fl.(USA) but remained at Saxon Wharf, Southampton (GBR), renamed ABLE THREE
(by error identified as ABLE ONE by the sandblasters of Saxon Wharf)
199x: engine removed
199x: spotted lying at Whitby (GBR)
2005: still present, partly rebuilt
2014 -01/05: spotted remaining at Whitby (GBR) and seems to have been abandoned next to the Parkol Shipyard

ABLE ONE pictures in the USA to be found on:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23612601@ ... otostream/
http://www.pelicanpassage.com/images/sc ... -Atlas.gif

I have found the photo of the craft in question.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=1 ... hoto%2cJPG

I think this was a new build which took perhaps two years or so. The hull was modified with the addition of the bulb shortly before the photo was taken. At the time I took the photo the Able one (or three) was moored in her berth at the end of the shipyard's wharf, I remember looking at her around that time and I seem to recall that the word 'Army' was faintly visible on her stern. I will check on that next time I am on that side of the river.

ps sorry about the quality of the photo.

I just find it incredible that anyone would build such a replica vessel, if it was 1st April I would not believe it!!
To add further proof, where is this new 'survey vessel' now, that's looking exactly like a US Army tug?

I was down at the Harbourside this morning and noticed that the new Able One is now afloat. I took photos for anyone who may be interested.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=1 ... hoto%2cJPG

George, did I hear the sound of humble pie being eaten? Two ABLE ONEs almost on the same photo.

Thanks Taximan.

My pleasure

There is some interesting reading which seems to be relevant to (the old) Able One

http://www.usarmysttugs.com/uploads/3/3 ... photos.pdf

And a little more

http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/loc ... -1-7531945