Draft:THPV Bembridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
THPV Bembridge is a historic British cruising pilot cutter built in 1938 for Trinity House and registered on the National Historic Ships register (No. 2395). She is notable for her participation in the Evacuation of Dunkirk (1940) and the Normandy landings (1944), and is now moored in Szczecin, Poland, where she serves as the floating headquarters of Magemar Polska.
 | Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit or make changes to this draft, simply click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about either yourself or your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by Bearcat (talk | contribs) 2 seconds ago. (Update) |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | THPV Bembridge |
| Owner | Trinity House |
| Operator | Trinity House |
| Builder | Smith's Dock Company, South Bank, Middlesbrough |
| Yard number | 1040 |
| Laid down | 10 March 1938 |
| Launched | 14 July 1938 |
| Commissioned | 6 October 1938 |
| Status | Moored in Szczecin, Poland; floating headquarters of Magemar Polska |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cruising pilot cutter |
| Displacement | 412.61 tons |
| Length | 142.3 ft (43 m) |
Design and construction
Bembridge was designed by Sir William Reed of Smith's Dock Company in early 1938, commissioned by Trinity House London as the first motor cruising pilot cutter in the history of British pilotage.[1] She was built at Smith's Dock, South Bank, Middlesbrough (yard number 1040, contract number 504) as a steel twin-screw motor vessel of 412.61 tonnes and 142.3 ft (43 m) length overall.[2]
Her keel was laid on 10 March 1938, she was launched on 14 July 1938, and officially commissioned at Cowes on 6 October 1938. She was the first Trinity House cruising pilot cutter fitted with an oil engine, manufactured by British Auxiliaries Ltd of Glasgow.[3]
Service history
Trinity House service (1938–1970)
From 1938 to 1947, Bembridge served in the Isle of Wight District, based at Cowes, operating at the Nab and Needles pilot stations.
During World War II, she took part in two major operations. Between 26 May and 3 June 1940, she participated in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk. In 1941, she sustained a direct bomb hit during a German air raid, but the bomb passed through without exploding and caused no critical damage. In June 1944, she participated in the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune/Overlord), during which she lost part of her aft superstructure and main deck.[2]
In 1947, Bembridge was transferred to the London District, where she served as a cruising cutter alternating between the Dungeness and Sunk boarding grounds. Her accommodation for pilots was also increased from six to eighteen. In 1967, she was anchored off Folkestone as a mother ship and communications station during construction of the new pilot station. In 1968, the Pilot Authority determined that cruising cutters could be replaced by more economical shore-based fast motor launches, and Bembridge was taken out of active service. She subsequently served as a mother ship off Ryde Pier in 1970 before being formally withdrawn from Trinity House service.[2]
Post-Trinity House ownership (1971–2009)
In 1971, Bembridge was purchased by the Principals of Arundel Priory with the intention of operating her as a training ship for underprivileged children. In June 1972, she was purchased by Cosag Marine Services and fitted out as a survey ship for North Sea oil exploration. She participated in initial surveys of the Forties Oilfields and acted as a navigational control vessel during the laying of the oil pipeline from the Ekofisk oilfield to Teesside.
In 1976, she was sold to Essex Yacht Club and moored at Benfleet, where she remained until 2004. She was then taken to the River Medway where plans were made to convert her into a floating restaurant, but these were abandoned and she was left to deteriorate.[2]
Acquisition by Magemar Polska (2009–present)
In January 2009, Bembridge was purchased by Magemar Polska, a Polish maritime logistics company based in Szczecin, after company manager Rafał Zahorski discovered the vessel deteriorating on the River Medway. Although engineless and in poor internal condition, the hull remained structurally sound.
In February 2009, she was towed across the North Sea to Poland by the Polish tug Argus. Despite encountering a gale during the passage, she arrived safely in Świnoujście after five days. She was subsequently moved to Szczecin, where an extensive restoration project was undertaken.
Following completion of the restoration, Bembridge is moored in Szczecin harbour, where she serves as the floating headquarters of Magemar Polska, the Polish division of the Belgian logistics group Magemar. She is open to visits by appointment, serving as a living monument to British pilotage heritage and World War II maritime history.
Heritage status
Bembridge is listed on the National Historic Ships register of the United Kingdom under registration number 2395.[1]