Welcome to the website
of the
Steam Tug Brent

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A Basic History

She was built in 1945 by William Pickersgill, Sunderland for the Ministry of War Transport and designated TID 159, meaning Tug Inshore Defence, these steam tugs were one of the first UK ventures into all welded prefabricated steel shipbuilding. Most were used by the Admiralty and TID 159 was the last to be built. She was sold to the Port of London Authority (PLA) at a subsidised price to replace wartime losses and renamed BRENT.

Working in the Dredging Department and Enclosed Dock System of the PLA she was eventually laid up in 1969 and sold to a shipbreaker in 1970. BRENT was saved by a private buyer in 1971 and by 1973 had won an award at the Greenwich Festival as ‘Best Kept Privately Owned Power Craft’.

She is the only steam powered vessel to have attended on the Thames at the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 and the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

BRENT is currently moored at The Hythe in Maldon, Essex, where she will be restored.

For more information on the restoration of this vessel, please Email us

Steam Tug Brent Trust
Registered Charity No.1139414