Mersey Memories:

"Wallasey and the Mast of Pegu"

Text & Photographs © George Pennington

 I started my employment with Alexandra Towing Company Limited in May 1976. I had been fascinated with tugs since I was a young child.

I had many memorable adventures on my trips around the land and overseas but there was one which happened close to home that was to stick, not only in my mind, but in the annals of Mersey Shipping History.

On the morning of Friday 27^th March 1987, I reported aboard the tug ‘Romsey’, of which I was a crew member. The weather that morning was looking rather bleak with a good stiff Westerly breeze blowing, causing quite a bit of spray to be blown around the dock.

Towards lunch time, the wind had increased considerably and we were told by the office to precede to West Alexandra dock and standby the ‘RFA Argus’, which was undergoing a refit at this berth. She was pulling away from the berth on her moorings and because the accommodation block was acting like a large sail, this in turn was causing her to move. We lay alongside as a precautionary measure after both masters agreed this course of action, with us ready to move at short notice.

That afternoon, Mersey Radio began issuing storm warnings with winds increasing W – NW 9 – 10 poss. 11. We were certainly in for a bad night should these winds materialise.

One of the fleet, ‘Wallasey’, got underway. We knew she was due to sail for Scotland in the near future but did not expect her to go out into the weather that was being forecast.

The wind increased rather quickly and soon Mersey Radio was issuing storm warnings and the wind speed indicator at times was showing winds in excess of 50 knots. Vessels were reporting in and heading for shelter off the Anglesey coast.

‘Wallasey’ left Gladstone lock and began her outward journey. Regular updates to the office were made as to the weather they were experiencing on the journey down the channel.

At 16.10 Hrs, the company channel hissed and the words “Town, Wallasey, Mayday” were heard. Then there was just a carrier wave running over the radio channel. At this time I was in the wheelhouse of the ‘Romsey’ and alerted Liverpool Coastguard, who in turn put out a Mayday Relay asking for all shipping in the vicinity to report any sightings. Despite repeated calls from the office nothing was heard from the ‘Wallasey’. A ship in the general area gave the weather conditions as the wind being at W – NW 9 – 10 with sea conditions of very heavy sea and confused swell.

After about ten minutes, a further Mayday Relay was broadcast by Liverpool Coastguard requesting vessels in the immediate area to report any sightings of the ‘Wallasey’. The B & I ferry ‘Connacht’ replied stating that they were heading for shelter at Anglesey, however they had lost a target on their radar.

At 16.35 Hrs, the P & O ferry ‘Buffalo’, informed Liverpool Coastguard that the tug was well out of the main channel and appeared aground. They also stated that the crew were mustered on the boat deck, the life raft was in the water and the crew were trying to send up flares, however due to the strength of the wind, these were being blown sideways and not gaining height. Another passing vessel which was in bound, a Chinese bulk carrier could not render any assistance.

Liverpool Coastguard continued to monitor the situation and informed the ‘Buffalo’ that a helicopter from 22 Sqdrn, RAF Valley was en route.

Two of the companies other tugs which had been moving from Birkenhead to Liverpool, at the time the assistance call came out had made their way down the channel. The ‘Collingwood’ and ‘Bramley Moore’ quickly established comms with the ‘Wallasey’, albeit on the private channel.

Just prior to 17.00 Hrs, the helicopter arrived on scene and the winch man was placed on board ‘Wallasey’. After a short period of time ‘Wallasey’ was in communication with Liverpool Coastguard, who at 17.25 hrs ordered the evacuation of the ‘Wallasey’. Within ten minutes the operation was complete and the crew were landed safely although rather wet at Liverpool MRSC

17.50 Hrs, Liverpool Coastguard cancelled the Mayday Relay and announced ‘Seelonce Finee’.

Just before you thought it was safe to go back in the water, there’s more:

In order to monitor the ‘Wallasey’ and make a possible connection to tow her back to the docks, the company dispatched the ‘Indomitable’ to monitor the situation.

The night was dark and the winds subsided slightly from what they had been. It was during the early hours when over the radio the crew of the ‘Indomitable’ informed Mersey Radio that the ‘Wallasey’ was underway, having refloated herself on the rising tide. The shut down system for the main engine had failed in the grounding and she still had power. ‘Wallasey’ began her own journey up the river outside the main channel. A Liverpool land mark which had stood on the Mersey for nearly half a century was demolished by the marauding tug, the mast of the ‘PEGU’. *

The tug eventually came to rest at the rear of Altcar Ranges, Hightown where she stayed for a number of days before being refloated and towed to Clarence Dock for repairs.