Dunkirk Little Ship - "Challenge"

The aptly named Challenge was the last steam tug to serve on the Thames and was based on the river all her working life. At the time of Dunkirk she was naturally called to help in Operation Dynamo, towing some of the Little Ships across the Channel to save fuel and herself rescuing some of the 385 000 troops from the advancing German army. By 1993 she had deteriorated badly and would have been scrapped but for the intervention of the Trust. Thanks to the generosity of Sun Tugs, whose name earned great distinction at Dunkirk, and the Port of Tilbury, Challenge was moved to Tilbury Docks where a team of volunteers led by Ian MacDougal has put in more than a thousand man- and woman-hours to restore her. The volunteers include a team of Duke of Edinburgh's Award qualifiers, meeting the second objective of the Trust, which is to promote the skills necessary for re-building and preserving old craft. Everyone concerned felt the thrill of hearing the steam boilers of Challenge turning her engines once more. Now it is planned for her to become a living memorial to the age of steam and the history of Dunkirk, a suitable site is currently being sort for her.
To find out more go to:
www.dlsrt.org.u...
The aims of the Trust are:-
First, to acquire Dunkirk Little Ships in danger
of destruction and remove them to a place of safety.
Second, to encourage the boatbuilding and conservation skills
necessary to restore the Little Ships to a high
standard with a view to ensuring their continued useful life.
THE DUNKIRK LITTLE SHIPS RESTORATION TRUST
Registered Charity Number 1021088

[@MikeSilvaAviation]

A modest working ship, that became a fighter, a survivor and a star! Any nation would be proud to have such ship. Congatulations.

[@angelsone-five7912]

Excellent, I hope the Challenge and the trust continue for many many more years to come.

[@STEEVB51]

Fabulous vessel - that should never die - also, an excellent presentation/narration job - top marks sir

[@keithletchford5886]

I was a youngster in Gravesend after the war and spent many hours watching the then mainly steam tug fleet at work. It's wonderful to see this survivor spared from the fate of most of them.

[@Alphaskeptic]

My uncle was taken off the beach at Dunkirk. We shall remember them.

[@anthonyspanos6161]

Excellent subject and narration

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

Truly an exceptional historic tugboat, thank you for the great video Cheers

[@ddaymen11]

great video, I'm glad to see such an important part of History preserved

[@oggarage9388]

She is so beautiful ❤❤️👀❤❤

[@goldie103103]

A friend of mine actually worked in the boiler room of this when it went to the boat show.

[@JimTLonW6]

It would be rather good if this tug could get the job of turning Waverley when they are in the same area. Some Dunkirk boats can be seen at the Thames Traditional Boat Rally in Henley, which is usually in July.

[@MrThathurt1]

Tis a shame the original boiler was cut up like that, although I imagine it was the only way to get it out. Still, tis a shame.

[@ramseybarber8312]

The boiler was in a very bad state, It took 3 days of gentle firing to bring it up to pressure because of leaking fire tubes and the base of the boiler was very wasted also she used heavy oil which created a lot of black smoke,it was really looked into to try and save but costs and emissions said no.

[@niels6101]

what he means is that the boiler could be lifted out as one part and visually restored as a museum piece or something like whats happening to the german/Dutch tug "Noordzee"