Home»ALL PHOTOGRAPHS»MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS»SHIPS, BOATS & Ferries»USArmy WT85/Protrude at Abbotsford 2019

The US Army WT85 was moved to Abbotsford Boat Shed in Sydney by new owner Roger Kyle in early 2019 following the vessels salvage from its mooring site at Gosford Pier. On the 26th February 2019 the vessel had sunk on its mooring and there were grave fears that the incident would end the life of this Wright Shipyards Tuncurry 1943 built tug boat. Then owner David Winning refloated the vessel and offered it to Roger Kyle who was delight to take ownership of the historic vessel, the last surviving vessel built by the Wrights after some 87 years of wooden boat building. The business, under founer, John Wright, began in Bungwahl at the head of the Myall Lakes in 1867 and moved to Tuncurry by 1875. When John Wright died in 1910 his son Ernest Wright assumed control of John Wright and Co Shipyards managing the business through a difficult era between the two world wars until his death in 1946. During this periods contracts were few and far between due to a lack of demand for coastal trading ships brought about by the rise of railway transportation from 1912 when the railway came to Taree. Additionally steel ships were replacing wooden ships by this time. After the second world war began the demand for 45 foot wooden tug boats became apparent due to dangerous waters infested with mines. Wright Shipyards were very excited to be one of the numerous NSW coastal shipyards contracted to build these boats for the US Army and US Army WT85 was one of the earliest vessels built at that time.
This vessel has seen numerous owners over its life of 76 years to date.