NELCEBEE - YELTA

Ronald Parsons' book "Ketches of South Australia" describes "Nelcebee" as a 144 gross ton ketch, put together by T Cruickshank in Port adelaide from imported sections. Vessel was used as a tug/powered lighter at Port Pirie and then converted to auxilliary motor lugger in july 1927. Owners: 1927 - E Hopkins, 1940 - J Cosh & partners, later I Simms,1983 - laid up pending sale. Currently owned by the South Australian Maritime Museum and is berthed at number 8 shed, Port Adelaide. Nelcebee had many accidents. 1934 - Nelcebee and 'Gerard', a schooner, had a collision in Spencer's gulf. Nelcebee was left with a gaping hole in her side and after jettisoning 250 of the bags of wheat she was carrying, she made fullspeed for ardang and was beacghed at 1am on June 21 1951. All crew were safe. In 1965 the master and crew abandoned the ship when they feared it was foundering in St Vincent Gulf, it was later towed to Port Adelaide, pumped out and put back into service. Dimensions - length 107'0", breadth 18'8", draught 9'2" For more details see book mentioned above. Steam tug 'Yelta'. 223 tons, built in 1949 by Cockatoo docks & engineering Co Pty Ltd in Sydney, NSW. Official Number 191167. "Steam tugs in South Australia" by Ronald Parsons describes 'Yelta' as having a triple expansion reciprocating steam engine of 165 miles per hour, having 1 single ended boiler, being coal fired, and forced draught, and with a hull part electrically welded. Owned by Ritch & Smith Ltd and later by Adelaide Steamship Industries Pty Ltd, which converted her to fuel oil. Later owned by The National Trust of South Australia, and is now fully reconditioned, with an added sun canopy and is owned and operated by the South Australian Maritime Museum to cruise the Port River. Dimensions - length 31.50 , breadth 8.13, draught 3.125m Port Of Registry: Port Adelaide. For more detail see book mentioned above. This image shows vessel in 1985, beside Nelcebee.