Name Ionia

IONIA was built in 1960 by Henry Scarr Ltd as a single screw diesel tug for William Watkins Limited. She was built to Lloyd’s A1 “For Towing Services” specifications and to the rules and regulations for tugs of class IX. She was fitted with and still has a British Polar type M46M straight 6 cylinder engine and rated at 960 B.H.P at 250 RPM. This is capable of running at about 300 RPM when the tug running free, giving a speed of 10 knots and a rate bollard pull of 22 tons.

In 1965, her ownership changed to Ship Towage (London) Limited, and in 1969 it changed again to London Tugs Limited. In 1973 she was fitted with a gear box to replace the original direct drive, meaning she can reverse without the engine being started in reverse. About the same time she also had a Westington House Air Control System installed to allow bridge control, alongside the original telegraph system which could be restored. She continued to work in London as a Thames River Tug, in spite of changing ownership once more to Alexandra Towing Company Limited of Liverpool and London, for which she worked for until 1987.

That year, she was sold to the Falmouth Towing Company Limited, who moved her to Falmouth and renamed her ST MAWES the following year. She continued to work until 2001, when she was sold to Mr. Anderson of London. At that point, she was placed in lay-up, initially at Rochester and later at Bideford.

In 2005, she was bought at auction by Exploring Life Limited of Buckfastleigh, Devon, who renamed her IONIA. She was purchased by her current owners in August 2007 in order to restore, preserve and share the history of this commercial vessel as a public interest at Bideford Harbour.