SS Northern Star & Last Coal Fired Tug Watercolour Poster

SS Northern Star & Last Coal Fired Tug Watercolour Poster.

SS Northern Star Liner built by Vickers Armstrong for the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line, built 1962, displacement 24731 tonnes.

She is depicted here gathering speed for her exit from Cape Town harbour in the mid 1960’s with a Pilot Tug H. Sawyer standing by. This Tug was one of the last coal fired driven in the world at the time and was built by W J Yarwood & Sons Ltd ship builders and iron founders Northwich in 1952.

sadly SS Northern Star was not a great success due to the large miles travelled and poor maintenance.  she had mechanical issues for most of her life and was withdrawn after her summer cruise programme. Her poor mechanical condition made her unattractive to other operatives so she was sold for scrapping on 11th December 1975, she was only 12-13 years old.

However people were pleased with her service and sea keeping on long journeys.