Tug Lyttelton Preservation Society

06/10/2026

Character building when you leave your KE26 in the garage for later

03/10/2026

Hi All,
A warm, sunny Thursday out on Z wharf this week with 10 volunteers on board the Tug.
Godfrey, Keith and Peter carried on cutting and welding on the replacement steel strips that the wooden railings are attached to on the Starboard side.
John T and Bruce were fitting the wooden railings on the Port side where Joerg has rebuilt the steel work.
Andy continued restoring the Engine Room skylights.
Alf was taking advantage of the warm weather to get some painting done around the Tug.
Captain Dave carried on repairing the canopy curtains.
Kevin was busy as usual preparing our lunch and brewing up the cuppas.

We also had a visit from Sam Kivi from the Lyttelton Energy Collective and Raymond Gun from Endless Energy, to check out the logistics involved in fitting solar panels on the Tug, as an efficient and environmentally friendly way of assisting getting up and maintaining steam on the Tug, when we are operational again.

Thursday Tug as usual next week the 8th of October.
See you there.
Carl.

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21/09/2026

Good evening everyone

Hasn't it been a few quiet months? I've been away for 8 weeks on a UK and Europe holiday, our volunteers have been locked out of the port for 6 of those weeks as the Port Company upgraded rail way tracks. It's also winters and sometimes the port can be a little inclement for out door activities on 120 year old steam tugs

Not all has stopped however.

Many of you will have seen our Engineers Manual. A document put together from all the other 120 years of engineering documents by Chief Engineer Godfrey. This document alongside ship time will be the manual to train new engineers on the Tug. As many of you know steam engineers aren't being made anymore, so this manual will be the backbone of creating new Tug Lyttelton Engineers. Ensuring her continuation in skilled hands.

If any of you wish to refresh your knowledge this is available through our website store for $90.00 plus Postage and handling. GST Inc.

Our Qualified Deck Hand Manual is available to those who sign up on our deck or the wharf for our in-house/on ship training. Hourly log sheets provide.

And Carl and I have authored a new updated booklet on the Tug. Available from the information centre in Lyttelton and Leslies book shop also in Lyttelton as well as online through our website store.

Plus just this last Saturday we had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon at Under Water, enjoying what can only be enjoyed in convivial hospitality by close friends with a cold glass in hand. $555.00 raised.

The hardy, skilled and committed volunteers will be all back on board this coming Thursday from 9.30 am if you can join them.

Mike Bruce

020408 457 52

[email protected]

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08/09/2026

Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers who work tirelessly to keep this old girl looking good!

05/08/2026

The UK holiday continues with a visit to the Ferguson ship yard where the Tug Lyttelton was built in 1907

11/07/2026

11/07/2026

11/07/2026

Hi All,
Not a great day out on Z wharf this week with a cold Southerly wind blowing and only 6 volunteers on board. To make matters worse, the power box on the wharf was not working, so no electricity for power tools and the Galley. Kevin saved the day by cranking up the barbecue to heat up his legendary pea and ham soup, which warmed us up. After lunch, the Port Company electrician had not shown up, so we decided to call it quits and pack up for the day. Here's hoping for better weather next week.

On Friday night, Tug President Mike Bruce and I attended an evening recognising local Lyttelton volunteer organisations and their members to celebrate their contribution to the community. Mike gave a speech about the history of our Tug and our plans to restore, and hopefully in the not too distant future, to have the Tug out sailing with passengers on the harbour again. It was very well received by the audience. We were presented with a stunning Maori inspired wooden carving which will take pride of place on the Tug. It was a very well run event with a very comprehensive supper supplied and free drinks from the bar. A great event and an opportunity to promote all the work that our volunteers do on our weekly "Thursday Tug".

Thursday Tug as normal next week the 16th of July, but a reminder that from and including Thursday the 23rd of July, there will be no access to Z wharf for 5 weeks, as the Port Company is relocating the railway tracks into Port Lyttelton.
See you next week,
Carl.

The photos of the Pohutukawa award we received on Friday evening didn't do it justice. Here a a few much better images