Steam Tug Alwyn Vintcent.

Living close to the sea, as we do (she said grinning!), things nautical tend to mean a lot more to us than to landlubbers! I have mentioned the huge ore carriers that pull into Saldanha, we often see them as the head their way into or out of the harbour, and we cross our fingers that they pass our rocky shore without mishap.

I think my favourite vessels ever are tugs! They are gutsy and noble. They bully and snap at the towering iron ore carriers, bustling and shoving, heaving and holding, like a Daschund at the heels of a Great Dane. We have several stationed at Saldanha and we love to watch them at work. Now, these are modern tugs with all the technology necessary to help them in their daily tasks.

But have a look at this tug, pictured below.

Alwyn Vintcent in 2008 (Thanks to the official website for the photo.)

This is the (SteamTug) Alwyn Vintcent, the last remaining steam tug in South Africa, and as I write this, she has just completed her final journey.....................a 408 km road trip inland to Villiersdorp! At an estimated cost of R500 000, or R1200 a kilometer! And the mayor of Villiersdorp was so excited to welcome her that he is planning maritime public holidays in her honour.


She was built in 1958, in Italy, one of five identical 90 foot steam tugs to be used as towing lighters and for general work within the ports. Two of them, (one being the Alwyn Vintcent), had clear aft decks suitable for use when transferring passengers from ship to shore. On the 26 May 1959 she arrived in Cape Town and after her sea trials she was sent to Mossel Bay. In 1983 she was replaced by a diesel tug and retired. In 1988 she was bought and restored by the SA Maritime Museum and in 1991 she was back in service carrying people round Table Bay.

From a postcard provided by G Bashford

Finally in 2000 she was de-commissioned and in April 2008 she was sold to an Australian business man. However, he was not able to move her to Australia and she remained moored at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Sadly, thanks to vandalism and lack of regular maintenance work she began to deteriorate and rust. Apart from this, she was taking up valuable mooring space, her berth was needed and she was on the point of being scrapped, so much so, that one more signature would have sealed her fate. Fortunately her plight came to the attention of the Tractor and Engine Club of Villiersdorp and they managed to raise the money to buy her in late 2010.
The last year was spent preparing her for the road trip from Table Bay to Villiersdorp. Her superstructure and boiler were removed before the journey, and the route was carefully planned to avoid low bridges and electricity wires. A journey of approximately 200 kms became over 400 kms as sharp turns and narrow roads had to be avoided too. We kept up to date with the timing of the move via the website (www.alwynvintcent.co.za)  and saw the following information:

‘Monday 25 June: The AV will leave the Waterfront and Port and arrive in Villiersdorp on Thursday, 28 June or Friday 29 June 2012.
The Route: Cape Town – Saldanha – Malmesbury – Mooreesburg – Riebeeck West – Hermon – Gouda (Nuwekloof Pass) – Wolseley – Worcester – Villiersdorp (+/- 420km).
The Alwyn Vincent will be staged onto 1m high steel support stools at Dennis Viljoen Ingenieurswerke and the trailer removed from underneath. She will be lowered and positioned on the ground.’
Acknowledgements to Ship Society of SA and Captain Steven Bentley

Saldanha! She would be in our part of the world and we could go and see her and cheer and wave!

Monday morning we contacted the engineering company involved with her move and made sure that all was on track. It was, she was on the trailer and ready to roll and at the probable speed of around 30 kph, the estimated TOA on the highway near us was around 2 p.m.! Perfect! That meant that after lunch we would mosey down the road and sit and wait for her.

Well, I phoned the engineering company again at about 1 p.m. to enquire about her progress, only to be told that she had passed the Darling turnoff about 15 minutes previously and was doing a good 60 k.p.h!! That meant we had about 5 minutes to get to the Engen garage about 25 kms from us! Lunch forgotten, we grabbed cameras, car keys and the dog and headed off, hoping to either catch her, or simply follow the route until we found her!

Parked at a layby, beautiful!

And we found her! At a layby on the road just a few kms from the Engen garage. I leaped out and took a photo just as she pulled off again!

As I leaped out, she moved off!!

Never mind, we followed and overtook her and were ready with cameras pointed and clicking as she arrived at the turnoff to Langebaan Weg at the garage.

We followed her and overtook her!

What a sight. She brought a lump to my throat, and a tear to my eye.

We rushed ahead to park and wait for her.

We were lucky enough to talk to one of the people who had been involved in her 'rescue' from the beginning. Andy Selfe, Project Manager and self-confessed preservation dynamo was as excited as a child with a new toy! Although he hadn't slept for about two days, the adrenalin was keeping him going. That, and copious amounts of coffee!

We waved and cheered as she headed away.

We watched her turn the corner and head off out of sight. I wonder if they will smash a bottle of bubbly on her once she is positioned in her new home? I hope so.

God's speed, Steam Tug Alwyn Vintcent.