Panoramic photos 1938 THPV Bembridge being restored in Poland

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Pilot vessel Bembridge being restored in Poland

Check out these panoramic photos of 1938 pilot vessel THPV Bembridge, currently under restoration in Poland, where she is to become the offices of a company, Magemar Polska.

She has had quite a history: for example she was involved in the Normandy landings and, following her career as a pilot ship, became a sea training vessel and later got involved in oil exploration in the North Sea.

East Coast yachties know here well as she was the Essex Yacht Club’s clubhouse at Leigh on Sea for many years. It’s great to see her being cared for.

See her current owners’ extensive website: www.bembridge.pl

5 thoughts on “Panoramic photos 1938 THPV Bembridge being restored in Poland”

  1. What a great job they have done on the old Club (I am an EYC member – from the days of the Lady Saville. . .). They have even found one of the old clinker boarding boats. We had one of those as a rescue boat many years ago. It was dubbed the Black Pig for its uncompromising handling and huge weight when hauled ashore for annual maintenance.

    Mind you, I wouldn't swap for our new club ship the Wilton, the prototype GRP Mine Hunter which has been fitted out to an amazing standard under the eagle eye of club member Nigel Readman.

    Dick

  2. Dear Dick, thank you very much for your very kind opinion. We are still restoring her – now because of strong winter we are continuing inside. Every day somethign new is ready. Simultaniously we are continuing a full restoration of her history and all people and companies related to her nice history. We are collecting many things what was taken from her starting from 1972 till 2004. We hope that one day she will have most of characteristic elements what left her during years. Anyway if anybody has anything from her board or from board of any other Pilot Cutter we we will be more than happy. Presently we are strongly looking for a klinkier built two life boats and special columbus type davits for our pilot boarding boats. We have already found a nice davits for life boats. Till spring all stairs railings, boxes, life rings, all holders and all vents pipes will be ready. One day her outside look will be almost the same like in 1938. This is our dream to be realised – but we know it will take a years of permanent and constant develop in our project. All you news you can find on Ship's Nostalgia where I am posting all news and there much over 2000 pictures showing her restoration, 36 pages with over 830 posts but first of all a whole history of her buying and our researching.

    Here is a link: http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=24
    To see all pictures you should be registered and logged in.

    We are moving our office to her board on 03.01.2011 – so almost two years from a moment when we saw her for the first time, when we bought her and when we towed her from Gillingham via Greenhithe, North Sea, Kiel Canal, Baltic Sea Swinoujscie to Szczecin. Within January both conference rooms will be ready – they will be in her engine room and in the place where previously were 4 cabins including Master's cabin – that space was cleaned in 1976. Additionally there will be a small meeting space in old Pilot Saloon for ca 40 people.Vessel will be well equipped for EU Founds. Our office space will be ca 120 m. The rest will be occupied be her own museum dedicated to her history, Trinity House London pilotage service Smith's Dock Co. Ltd. and all owners who had her during these years – so small part will be of course about Essex Yacht Club in Leigh-on-Sea. Anyway on her man mast in the same way like from 1976 till 2004 there is again an EYC burgee flying on the wind.

    Best greeting from Szczecin, Poland, from board of Old Lady Bembridge – the oldest preserved British Pilot Cutter in the world, Rafal

    1. How marvellous both my brother and I worked as Engineers for cOSAG Marine , i remember this old girl vey well , amongt others . I still have my British Seamans card signed by all the captains i sailed with .
      I remember the Fire that destroed her

  3. Dear Mr. Zahorski,

    a british friend of mine, with whom I share a deep love for ships, did send the link of Your pages about the Bembrigde to me.

    First of all – thank You and Your team so much for giving this extraordenary vessel a future – and not only that, but as well in her original look.

    She combines two maritime matters, that I am most interested in at the same time – Flower Class Corvettes in civil use and Trinity House Pilot vessels. With the later ones I am absolutly linked, since I met the No 14 Pathfinder by working on an 499 Coaster in the middle of the eighties. We met her in an early moring and her eye-catching beauty overwhelmed me.

    Today I run a small company making ship miniatures – so I plan a Pathfinder as well. But since today, the "Bembrigde" is my No 1 for a rebuild.

    Can I buy her GA and Lines somewhere?

    I would very much like to support Your subject of building up a Trinity House archive.

    If You send me a full adress, I will send You my pictures of the meeting with Pathfinder.

    I am not quite sure, if I understood, what the Bembridge will be used for. She is a floating office for a shipping company?

    However, a phantastic job and a good deed in the shipping world.

    Please send me a reply to confirm the contact.

    All the best from Germany

    Burkhard Schütt

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