Bringing Her Safely Home: History is made as Dales Marine Services dock the TS Queen Mary
September 2016
The restoration of the TS Queen Mary, one of the most historic and unique turbine steamships in the world, has been a project in the making for over the past 18 months for Dales Marine Services.
This magnificent project came to light back in March 2015 when Dales Marine were approached by The Friends of The Queen Mary Trust regarding the scope of works that were required to be completed in order for the vessel to be prepared safe to tow from the port of Tilbury (London) to Greenock.
Seizing this challenge without hesitation, Dales Marine immediately mobilised a team of men, materials and plant to Tilbury during April 2016 to rescue this national treasure. With Dales expertise on site, pre-tow works continued over 5 days and were completed successfully and within schedule; much to the delight of all involved.
The TS Queen Mary was in safe hands as she had already won hearts and minds to ensure her safe keeping. The next stage in the project was for Dales Marine Services to procure a coastal towage contractor who, on behalf of Dales, would then tow the TS Queen Mary 650 miles north from Tilbury to Greenock.
The tow was executed successfully in May 2016 and 5 days later, the vessel was berthed safely alongside Dales Marine's facility in Greenock, where some remedial works were undertaken until the next dry dock date was available.
Funding by The Queen Mary Trust was already underway to reach the much desired £150,000.00 milestone for dry docking the vessel. That day arrived on Thursday 1st September 2016 when the TS Queen Mary dry docked in Dales Marine's Garvel Clyde facility. The Queen Mary had not been dry docked in over 20 years and so it was an anxious time for all to assess how she had fared at sea and how she would look out of water.
To mark this momentous occasion Dales Marine Services held a celebratory event within the yard and invited special guests, Trust members and those who had generously donated to The Queen Mary Trust to join in witnessing the memorable docking from the dockside.
A piece of history was made that day; a day that will be remembered by all.
Dales Marine would like to thank all involved with the project so far and thanks to Gary Norrie our Project Manager for the worked involved over the past 18 months and to Billy Pollock our Operations Manager in Garvel Clyde who is now overseeing the dry dock work package.