Steam tug 'Challenge' crashing into bridge at St Katharine Docks

The Steam Tug Challenge (www.stchallenge...) was the last steam tug to have worked on the River Thames and is best known for the role she played in the evacuation of troops from the shores of Dunkirk in 1940. Here she is pictured not having much luck trying to enter St Katharine Docks, London (www.skdocks.co..... Fantastic vessel though.

[@steventhun1813]

Just to clear things up ! I am the guy standing in the bow of the ship! So as it happened, we just picked up a master tug captain as an award of his work trough the years(aggainst the will of the captain but forced by the DLSRT) and they alowed him to navigate the ship without prior training! On board in the engineroom was attending Clive Purser marine engineer and project manager of the restauration project with a well capable crew! The embarrasment is on DLSRT NOT THE CREW! Rest in peace Capt Bob!

[@ohwell2790]

Steve thank you for the explanation.

[@stephenburnage7687]

Having been around boats for the last 20 years, I have come to the conclusion that some of the most unreliable captains (or pilots) out there are the ones who have a lifetime of experience and think "I have seen it all before". Skippers like me, with a mere twenty years of experience, are inherently cautious and would have waited for the bridge to fully open.

[@EnterpriseXI]

its fine. when the ship comes back just hit the bridge from the other side and bend it back

[@project2728]

Top Hat: That's Real Zero Thinking Dummy.

[@FriskDreemurrOfBiggCityPort]

Me: I’m just gonna go.

[@RailRocketRicky]

Warrior, you are not only the clumsy tug!

[@boataxe4605]

It’s so simple, never start to make way for a bridge until it’s already high enough to clear!

[@thomaswalsh8726]

Izzy: "I think she's less risk then you tow me, eh Warrior? Ha ha ha."

[@Boskov01]

Challenge must've been a Z-Stack.

[@thebrearlycrestmf9165]

All he wanted was the Duchess contract.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

Nah ol' Challenge's from his own fleet, he just couldn't stop that's all.

[@UA-51]

Real-zero thinking 💭!

[@derekheeps1244]

ItS My WaTeR

[@stardustcrudrawerofficial7842]

every comment is a reference to TUGS

[@KiwiPowerNZ]

Let me guess, they didn't bother raising full pressure before departing for a short trip? Then murphy's law they needed a full astern and there wasn't any pressure there to use?

[@WhyAyeMann]

your probably dead on

[@boataxe4605]

Maybe, but they never should have been in a situation to need full astern, you should never commit to going under a bridge until it’s fully raised.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

This Tug was one of the "little ships" of Dunkirk, and it almost met its maker to a bridge.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

More like the bridge met it's maker to Challenge. Challenge can't be defeated by some puny bridge you know.

[@hmsWarspite7]

A v1 doodlebug couldn't kill challenge. The bridge stood no chance

[@abmbarry]

..."Very poor seamanship indeed!"

[@oquendo0021]

I literally justed Finished tugging myself.

[@s0nnyburnett]

Nothing like a good tug job.

[@jacobmutti1528]

That must be Warrior from tugs

[@LANDSEAAIRCANADA]

That old girl tough enough, still the skipper hopefully learned something on that fateful day... nice video

[@eddiejohnson5183]

Yeah. I'm sure his meeting with the MCA went well, and he's now a deckhand on a pedalo.

[@justanotheraviator2357]

Probably couldn't get the engineer to reverse the engine. Skipper can move the telegraph all he wants but it ain't up to him.

[@RailwayTugboatStudios]

That tug looks like Ten Cents from TUGS.

[@jdemo7167]

Why do the English hit their bridges? Must be a cultural thing I am not aware of.

[@lukeslocomotives8521]

Why did the captain not order the engine crew to reverse the engine??? Was the captain banking on the bridge opening in time. Also, That's real zero thinking dummy - Top Hat

[@hmsWarspite7]

So from what has been passed along from the old crew. They went to put her into reverse but the hp piston stopped tdc and wouldnt move and the lever that turns the engine to let the hp piston move from tdc or BDC didn't work. That is no longer the case and the lever works

[@sixmagpies]

Yes, going far too fast for ages. Not much experience, or recent practice, with direct drive one suspects.

[@Timmygobang]

What a plonker!

[@bagwan98]

Unprofessional, master of tug should wait for bridge to bloody well open.. Probably a great bullshitter though!

[@steve1978ger]

yeah, yeah... we know everyone with a youtube account is also a master mariner

[@HesJustSteven]

@@steve1978ger It's not rocket science though so I don't know why you're so pressed over his valid opinion...

[@charleyzimmer2505]

Well, she certainly was a Challenge for all the people who have to fix that bridge.

[@mr.quinnsextras1753]

That wasn't much of a crash. (thank goodness)

[@MrBugsier5]

well, it bent the right Bridge part....

[@thorpeboat]

This tug looks similar to the steam tug Forceful that is in Brisbane Australia 🇦🇺

[@EastEndEnquirer]

Oh yes it did! The bridge it hit was knocked about one foot out of alignment and will need to be taken away for repair.

[@cyberp0et]

No bridges were harmed during the filming.;)

[@youdrilledoutmydick3]

"That's real Zero thinking, dummies."

[@thebrearlycrestmf9165]

High Tide: But the bridge was too close to the water, and the Goods Train was never there, and Zebedee just rammed the bridge.

[@FriskDreemurrOfBiggCityPort]

Nice job, idiots. I’m gonna have to get a repair crew. Its my duty as an ambassador.

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@thebrearlycrestmf9165 Uhh, i think it's actually Warrior this time.

[@thebrearlycrestmf9165]

It was a tugboat with a face, let's just leave it at that

[@ukaszwalczak1154]

@@thebrearlycrestmf9165 Uhh, sure.

[@brookbilney761]

Could have been a lot worse than that. At least the skipper had the mind to put over a bit even if he couldn’t get reverse engines quick enough.

[@MaskedVengeanceTV]

Ah they don't make them like they used to. If That was a fiberglass bow, it would have crumpled the bow. Lovely lady jacked that bridge up

[@ttm2609]

James O'Brien always answers her helm or her telegraph!🤔

[@damaddog8065]

So what did that pilot smoke for breakfast?

[@DerelictDan69]

The crew is challenged

[@thebrearlycrestmf9165]

This was uploaded on 9/11.

[@chloealexa189]

Idiot Captain had much time to slow down or hit reverse. If there was steam for forward there was also enough to stop, or they wouldn't be moving.

[@colinmcdonald8521]

Full astern, you berk!!!!

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

Good job it wasn't the previous Dutch style bridge......

[@ethanspaziani1070]

What the fuck was that screeching at the end

[@johnwright291]

I hope the owner had insurance or a big bank account.

[@1320fastback]

Look. Out. The. Front. Window. It. Is. Literally. Right. In. front. Of. You.

[@petersullivan5727]

Are they all drunk ?

[@ColonelBummleigh]

I know I am.

[@timmayer8723]

The captain just lost his pilots license.

[@penname1001]

Steer the stem into nice soft bridge, save the stack. 😉

[@ramo7963]

vapeur ?

[@stephenspouse8587]

I know the skipper he been on thames tugs for many years towing big ships and also towing at sea. main reason for collision was the tug moved forward but could not avoid hitting the bridge as tug had no gears to stop quickly. most comments on here are just ignorant "nuff said

[@MrBugsier5]

bullocks, astern or forward is not really different whit a steam engine than a gearbox tug, this was tottaly a masters fault,, way to early steaming towards a stil opening bridge, The only one to blame here is the master, or the one in the engine room not reacting to the telegraph, In my opinion, Masters fould here,!

[@jimsonbrown9768]

stephen spouse : the skipper is always responsible. Nuff said.

[@abmbarry]

.."NO! The only ignorant in this play is clearly YOU! 1/ The skipper is in command. 2/ The Tug is not responsible, it did not put itself into gear! 3/ The skipper is 100% at fault. Any disagreement simply displays a total lack of marine law. Take note Stephen Spouse!

[@ValleyRC]

This is the most ironic comment on this video!

[@tvideo1189]

Who was the idiot at the helm? That was the most amateur stunt possible.

[@powellriver100]

Took a lot off skill to pull something like that off !

[@fordlandau]

Just a kiss. That’s all

[@papabits5721]

DOH !

[@morriganravenchild6613]

Whoops!

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I challenge you into a steam tug crashing competition!

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[@edmctug8800]

No worries,, If that happened in the states you would be infront of a United Staes Coast guard Administraion Judge,, Who, How, Why. like a Spanish inqusition,, no harm no foul !

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