Name Northern King

NORTHERN KING began life in 1928 as a dumb lighter, working primarily out of Goole, West Yorkshire. She was initially owned and commissioned by Hudson Ward Company Ltd, who owned her until 1971, when ownership passed to the Akester family. She remained working out of Goole until 1979, when she changed owners again.

Her new owner, V Waddington, operator of Europe's largest inland waterways haulage fleet, used NORTHERN KING as his personal barge. It is reported that Mr Waddington purchased her because of her name, as he considered himself the king of the waterways haulage industry. He converted her from a dumb lighter into a motor barge, fitting the best 5 cylinder Lister marine diesel available at the time, and operated her until the end of his working life. She is painted Waddington Blue above the deck and black beneath.

On leaving Goole, NORTHERN KING moved to London and was moored at West India Pier for 11 years, reopening this historic pier after 30 years of it lying unused.

In 2010 she was sold to G Carter for restoration. In 2026, she was moored in Oyster Creek Marina.