LIFEBUOY - TUSKER PORT ADELAIDE

Tug Tusker's History

In July 1954 Rich & Smith Ltd. of Port Adelaide, South Australia, commissioned Alexander Hall & Co. of Aberdeen, Scotland, to build a large coastal, harbour & salvage tug, to be named TUSKER. She was launched on 11th April 1956, but not completed until 1958 due to mechanical repairs that had to be carried out on the gearbox. Apparently the wrong gearbox oil had been used, which resulted in mechanical failure of the main engine drive couplings. So she languished in Aberdeen's Victoria Dock for 3 years while the repairs were undertaken. All manner of delays, from dock worker strikes, to disputes over the apportionment of blame, contributed to the late completion date. [1]

The naming ceremony was carried out by Miss Xenia Barr Smith, daughter of T E Barr Smith, a director of the Adelaide Steamship Company Ltd. [1]

Tusker sailed from Aberdeen on 2nd February 1958 and arrived at her new home port of Port Adelaide on 29th March. [1]

After a career of some 22-yrs in Australia, Tusker was sold to Canadian company, McAsphaldt Industries, who kept the Tusker name. It is understood that she undertook barge towing work in the Great Lakes region until 2001, when she was sold to a Nigerian company, and renamed Bode. Not long afterwards she was wrecked in local African waters. [1]

Tusker's Lifebuoy, Life Ring, or Life Preserver

Tusker's lifebuoy dates from 1958, when the tug sailed from of Aberdeen to Port Adelaide, South Australia.

The lifebuoy is of cork, canvas and rope construction with a distinctive red and white colour scheme which indicates that it complied with the British Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules, which came into force on 1 May 1958. It's in original (all faults) condition, with the canvas showing a couple of significant tearing defects on the back side (see detailed images).

The dimensions are in accordance with the Tenth Schedule REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFEBUOYS Rule 28 from the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules, 1958:

"(4) The inside diameter of the lifebuoy shall be 18 inches and the outside diameter 30 inches. The major axis of the section shall be 6 inches. The minor axis of the section shall be 4 inches."

[1] https://doriccolumns.wordpress.com/harbour-history/dock-gates/tusker/