During the First World War the Admiralty ordered 64 Saint-class ocean-going tugs. The number was reduced to 46 because of the end of the war. John Cran & Somerville Ltd in Leith on the Firth of Forth built St. Boswells as yard number 116, and completed her in October 1919.[1]
St. Boswells' registered length was 135.4 ft (41.3 m); her beam was 29.0 ft (8.8 m); her depth was 13.6 ft (4.1 m); and she was assessed as 463 GRT.[2] She had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine that was rated at 107 NHP,[2] and gave her a speed of 12.5 knots (23 km/h).[3] The Admiralty registered her in London. Her UK official number was 143450 and her code letters were KCRD.[2]
Santa Theresa broadcast a distress signal, lowered a lifeboat, and rescued six survivors, one of whom was injured. The tugboats Stortemelk II, followed by Texel and Wodan went to her. The Dutch lifeboat Brandaris tried to reach her, but could not get further than the Schuitengat [nl] due to engine damage. After a salvage contract had been made with Rederij Doeksen [nl], Stortemelk II and Texel towed Santa Theresa to the Nieuwediep.[8][9][10][11]Santa Theresa was towed into Hamburg on 27 June.[5]
Wreck
On 14 September 1991 a team of divers dived to St. Boswells' wreck. There was little left of the ship. The stern was still there with the fallen triple expansion steam engine and thirteen-foot (4 m) bronze propeller. In 2010 the Friendship shipping company tried to salvage the propeller, but was unsuccessful.[11]
References
^"St Boswells". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2024.