As those who have the definitive book on Wellington's 20th century history Wellington: a Capital Century know, the former Wellington floating dry dock was towed all the way to the Capital's harbour in 1931 by two Dutch tugs, one of which was the Zwarte Zee (black sea).
This painting by Dutch maritime artist Frans Romeijnsen shows this tug in very stormy seas, hopefully not what was experienced on that voyage. It is one of a gallery of paintings on this website.
Unfortunately the painting is of the newest, 4th and last Zwarte Zee, not built till 30 years after the event described.
ReplyDeleteIt was infact the second Zwarte Zee that helped tow the dock in 1931.
Then there was the most famous Zwarte Zee, built in the 1934 as the 3rd tug to carry the name.