Flying Buzzard -- Historic Tug

The Flying Buzzard is a 105ft ocean-going ex-steam tug. She was built on the Clyde in 1951 by Ferguson Brothers of Port Glasgow and was one of the last rivetted steam ships to be commissioned. She arrived in Cumbria, North West England, in 1983 and was part of the Maryport Steamship Museum for 20 years.

In 1998 she was registered as an historic vessel by the National Historic Ships Committee and became a member of the Historic Fleet of the United Kingdom.

The Buzzard fell into a state of disrepair that resulted in the removal of her boilers, and ending of her steam career in 2002. In 2004 Mike Nelder and Cambridge PhD Julie Jessop bought the Flying Buzzard when she lay neglected in Maryport harbour after failed attempts to preserve her.

For two years they have worked tirelessly, with the help of friends, and overcoming many difficulties, to refit the vessel -- including extensive rebuilding of the interior -- for her greatest adventure, the Atlantic and Pacific voyage to British Columbia, Canada. Although no longer running on steam, every effort has been made to renovate the Buzzard in a manner befitting her original glory.

The aim is to sail (chug) from Maryport to Vancouver, via the Caribbean and Panama Canal, providing a vessel for delivery of aid. This is a privately funded, and not for profit, venture based on love, hard work and a desire to pass on happiness and help to those less fortunate. To this end the substantial hold (5000+cu ft) will be used to carry aid to countries along the route to West Coast Canada.

They are currently in contact with the Seed Trust Charity working in Nicaragua (www.seed-trust.com ), and also the SOS Childrens Villages Charity (www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk) and other inter-national aid agencies to establish a common timetable/route for delivery of supplies/equipment.

Although self-financing they are presently looking for sponsors who are interested in supporting the (ad)venture and being part of this endeavour.

Mike and Julie anticipate leaving Maryport in 2008. The voyage although not finalised as yet, will at least include the Canaries, the Cape Verde Islands then across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and Venezuela, through the Panama Canal and up the Pacific coast of Central America to Vancouver Island -- a total distance of approximately 12,000 nautical miles.