Knocker White facts for kids
Knocker White at West India Quay
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name |
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| Owner |
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| Builder | T. van Duivendijk, Lekkerkerk, Netherlands |
| In service | 1924 |
| Out of service | c. 1982 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Tugboat |
| Length | 77.2 ft (23.5 m) |
| Beam | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Depth | 9.6 ft (2.9 m) |
Knocker White is a special kind of boat called a tugboat. She was built in the Netherlands in 1924. Today, she is a museum ship that you can visit at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London. She has a long and interesting history, helping to move other ships and goods around the busy waters of London.
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The Story of Knocker White
Knocker White started her life with a different name. She was first called Cairnrock. She was built in 1924 by a company named T. van Duivendijk in Lekkerkerk, Netherlands. Her first owner was Harrisons Lighterage Company in London.
What a Tugboat Does
A tugboat is a powerful boat. It is used to push or pull other boats, like big ships or barges. Tugboats help these larger vessels move in and out of busy ports. They also help them through narrow rivers or canals. Cairnrock was used for this kind of general towing work. She was originally powered by steam.
A New Name and New Engines
Later, Cairnrock was bought by a company called W. E. White & Sons. This company was based in Rotherhithe, London. In 1960, the tugboat got a new name: Knocker White. This name was a nickname for one of the White family members.
Over time, the tugboat was updated. Her funnel and wheelhouse (the part where the captain steers) were changed. Most importantly, her old steam engine was replaced. New diesel engines were put in by a company called Petters Limited. This made her more modern and efficient.
From Workboat to Museum Ship
By 1982, Knocker White was no longer needed for towing. She was sold to be taken apart for scrap metal. However, her story didn't end there! In 1984, the Museum of London Docklands saved her. They wanted to keep her as a piece of history.
In 2016, the Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust took ownership of Knocker White. After spending some time at West India Quay, she moved to her current home at Trinity Buoy Wharf. She is now a museum ship, which means she is preserved for people to learn about her and the history of tugboats. She is even listed on the National Register of Historic Ships, showing how important she is.
