The Tug WIILIAM C DALDY Preservation Society IncForward To The Past
A successful maritime preservation societyOperated
entirely by unpaid volunteers, the Society was formed by a small band
of individuals to buy the WILLIAM C DALDY coal fired steam tug
following its retirement from the Auckland Harbour Board tug fleet in
1977. After 40 years of hard working service the tug had been laid up
ahead of an eventual tow to the breakers yard.
Rust
Never Sleeps - although mechanically sound, the DALDY was at that time
in a poorly maintained state. The heroic task of stablizing her
condition began followed by a major restoration and maintenance
programme that continues to this day and on into the future.
Like
all such endevours The Tug WILLIAM C DALDY Preservation Society has
known periods of bleak struggle and periods of breakthough
achievements. The common thread throughout the whole programme
continues to be an undying desire to see the era and technology of the
DALDY represented to present and future generations as a live, fully
operating steamship.
The
Society earns the funds required for light restoration and ongoing
maintenance work through charter activity, private donations, and
commercial contributions. The voluntary basis of all society and vessel
work allows one hundred percent of net charter earnings to be spent on the ship.
Charter
income is limited by the number of sailings that can be undertaken each
season; sailings are constrained by the time required to raise steam in
a coal fired steam ship (two to three days) and the limitations on the
availability of volunteers time.
Funding for major
restoration projects comes from grant applications from private
charitable trusts and funding bodies. The value of the aims and objects
of the Tug WILLIAM C DALDY Preservation Society have been recognised
and supported by these organisations, for which we are very grateful.
The
current phase of the Live Ship Preservation programme has identified
around $800,000 of required work. To make a private or commercial
donation to support the programme please go here...
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