Red Tugs at Troon

Troon shipowners Taylor and Taylor do not just own the coasters RED BARONESS and RED DUCHESS; they also own the two tugs seen here in Troon Harbour. The larger of the two is RED EMPRESS - she is a former Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service 'Improved Girl' class tug, and was originally named DAPHNE. She was built at Thorne by Dunstons in 1968, is 77 gross tons and has an overall length of 22.1 metres. The smaller tug is RED COUNTESS - she dates from 1983 and was named CURLEW before taking her present name. Her gross tonnage is 31, and she is 16.2 metres long. Built in Holland, she was previously employed at Harwich. Both tugs are used around the west coast of Scotland.