Steam Ship Enthusiasts - This section is for you

The Name

The William C Daldy was named after one of Auckland's founding fathers, Captain William Crush Daldy. born 1816, died 1903.

Although without the historical profile of other founding city fathers such as Logan Campbell, Captain William Daldy was truly a giant of his era in trading, commercial enterprise, civic duty and governance.

Ship Captain, shipper of the original export of New Zealand produce to Britain, Government Agent in London, founding Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Member of Parliament, Provincial Secretary.

But wait, there's more...

Founding Coast Guard Commander, founding Fire Brigade Captain, City Council member,  immigration and land entrepreneur, Trustee of Auckland Savings Bank,  founder of New Zealand Insurance Co, chief promoter for the founding of the Bank of New Zealand, Commander of Naval Brigade New Zealand Company and  founder of South British Insurance Co.

The Tug William C Daldy Preservation Society is proud to continue representing to the public of Auckland a working, living ship that carries a name of such stature.

For fuller details on the life and times of Captain William Crush Daldy go here>>

The Origins

In 1935 Contract Number 994 was signed between the Auckland Harbour Board and Lobnitz and Company of Renfrew, Scotland, for the construction of a twin screw, coal fired steam powered harbour tug. Under the prevailing Depression Era conditions, it is understood the Lobnitz yard had no current work in hand at the time of contract letting.

Launched as William C Daldy on  1st October  1935, the tug achieved measured mile returns of 13.4 knots during commissioning trials. On 11th November 1935, the William C Daldy set passage from Glasgow to Auckland, New Zealand on a 12,000 mile delivery voyage.

The challenge of both manning and bunkering a small ship with sufficient coal between bunkering ports was met and the William C Daldy arrived in Auckland on January 30th, 1936, an 80 day journey. The Daldy's first day of 41 years active duty for the Auckland Harbour Board began on 17th February.

The Workings

William. C. Daldy gets her power from coal. This is hand shoveled into six fire boxes (three in each of her two "Scotch" boilers). The boilers generate steam at 180 pounds per square inch. The steam powers two triple expansion engines. These have three cylinders, each larger than the one before. The high-pressure steam enters the smallest cylinder driving the piston, using some of its power and expanding in bulk. The "exhaust" from this cylinder then enters the next larger one where it drives the second larger piston, using more power and expanding again. The process is repeated in the third and largest cylinder, hence the name "Triple expansion engines".

The spent steam, now at very low pressure and temperature, is condensed back to water by passing over pipes cooled with sea water. The condensation process creates a vacuum  in the steampipe exiting the third cylinder and contributes to the power stroke of the third piston by acting on the opposite side to the pressure side. The condensed water is pumped back into the boilers to repeat the process.

An arrangement of the eccentric and valve rods (called "Stephensons Link") motion enables the engines to run ahead or astern. Thus there is no reverse transmission, the crankshaft is directly linked to the propellor shaft. The Master's orders to the engineers are given by the telegraphs, which can be seen in the wheelhouse and at the engine room control station.

Steering is by a large rudder controlled by chains running in covered ways on the deck. These are operated by a steam steering engine situated at the rear of the engine room. This engine is controlled normally by the wheel on the bridge. There is also an emergency steering wheel by the engine itself.

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