William C. Daldy, Charity Vessel
Background
At 94 years old, the William C. Daldy steam tug is an iconic sight on the Waitematā Harbour. While its tugboat days are over, it’s still operational and is regularly chartered out for functions and cruises.
The Daldy is heavily dependent on donations, but funding had dried up during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the William C. Daldy needed urgent repairs to remain seaworthy. So, Titan Marine were more than happy to honour the marine industry and lend a hand.
Servicing
Even though we offered a heavy discount, we needed to think of smart ways to work within their small budget. That meant coming up with innovative solutions to service a boat from a different era.
Repairing the steel hull was a special challenge – it was riveted rather than welded, and when you heated one part of the hull it could buckle a different part. Our team researched old methods of repair and developed a special methodology just for this vessel. It involved new welding techniques… and a big hammer.
A lot of shipyards are unwilling to work on a vessel like the William .C Daldy because of the bilge water restrictions. Even the best servicing can result in multiple slips. We closely monitored the Daldy to ensure it maintained environmental standards and are proud to say we only had to slip it twice.
Why Titan Marine
Our culture of innovation, and passion for the marine industry, means we’re perfectly positioned to handle even tricky projects like the William C. Daldy.
Upgrade Highlights
- Budget-Smart Servicing
- Specialised Steel Hull Repair
- Environmental Compliance
“The Daldy wouldn’t be here without the support we receive, and we can’t possibly thank Titan Marine enough. We want to continue to work with Titan Marine to leverage the knowledge they’ve gained while the ship’s been on the slipway and help us to plan subsequent work.”
John Pratt, President, William C. Daldy Preservation Society Inc
