Yard number 201 Launched 13 August 1941 Draft 3.78 m | Completed 17 October 1941 Length 33 m Builder John Crown & Sons | |
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Name Empire Ash (1941-46)Flying Fulmar (1946-56)Sea Alarm (1956-98) Owner Ministry of War Transport (1941-46)Clyde Shipping Co Ltd (1946-56)C J King & Sons Ltd, Bristol (1956-73)Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum, Cardiff (1973-98) Identification Official Number 168694Code Letters BCRK (1941-46)IMO number 5315943 | ||
ST Sea Alarm was a 263-ton tug which was built as Empire Ash in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold in 1947 and renamed Flying Fulmar. She was sold in 1956 and renamed Sea Alarm. On retirement in 1973 she became an exhibit at the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum, but was controversially scrapped in 1998 after the forced closure of the museum.
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History
Empire Ash was built by John Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as yard number 201. She was launched on 13 August 1941 and completed on 17 October 1941. She was built for the MoWT. On 15 May 1946, Empire Ace was sold for £18,750 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd, Glasgow and renamed Flying Fulmar. In May 1956 she was sold to C J King & Sons, Bristol and renamed Sea Alarm. Operated under the management of the Alarm Steam Tug Co Ltd. In January 1973 she was sold to Thos W Ward, Briton Ferry for scrapping, but was resold the following month to the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum, Cardiff. She was restored by 1978 and was dry-docked for many years at Roath Dock. The museum closed on 1 June 1998 and Sea Alarm was scrapped apart from her engine. Questions were asked by the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs about the scrapping of the tug as there was public outcry at the time.
Official number and code letters
Empire Ash had the UK Official Number 168694 and used the Code Letters BCRK. Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Sea Alarm was subsequently assigned IMO number 5315943.