| Name: | EMPIRE PAUL |
| Launched: | 07/07/1944 |
| Completed: | 30/08/1944 |
| Builder: | JS Watson (Gainsborough) Ltd, Gainsborough |
| Yard Number: | 1545 |
| Dimensions: | 242grt, 0nrt, 106.7 x 26.7 x 11.6ft |
| Engines: | T3cyl (16, 26 x 43 x 30ins), 177nhp; (1963: Oil engine, 2SCSA, 6cyl (8.5 x 10ins), 1400bhp) |
| Engines By: | CD Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull; (1963: General Motors Corp, Cleveland, Ohio) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Screw |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Reg Number: | 180286 |
| History: | |
| 30/08/1944 | Ministry of War Transport; registered at Hull, |
| (Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd, managers) | |
| 1946 | R & JH Rea Ltd, London; registered at Bristol; renamed QUEENSGARTH |
| 04/1949 | France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co Ltd, Newcastle; registered at Newcastle; renamed BEAMISH |
| 08/1951 | Chartered to Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd |
| 01/1959 | Chartered to Tyne Tugs Ltd |
| 04/1970 | Pounds Marine Shipping Ltd, Southsea |
| 09/1970 | E Rex Mellinger, Canada; renamed REX MELLINGER |
| 10/1970 | Industrial Insulators (1961) Ltd, Canada; renamed BEAMISH |
| 09/1972 | Western Engineering Services Ltd, Canada; registered at Thunder Bay; renamed THUNDER CAPE |
| 1989 | Misner Offshore Services (Canada) Ltd, Nanticoke, Ontario; registered at Nanticoke |
| 1992 | Great Lakes Marine Contracting, Port Dover |
| 1992 | Broken up |
| Comments: | Member of the Birch Class of standard wartime Empire tugs designs |
| 1946: Cost £24,000 | |
| 06/1953 Represented the Towage Industry at the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead | |
| 10/1963 Re-engined by RB Harrison & Sons Ltd, Bill Quay. | |
| Re-engined with a General Motors Corp engine that was manufactured in 1947 | |
| 1992: Broken up by Vic Powell Welding, Port Maitland, Ontario |
Above photo as EMPIRE PAUL, courtesy of Alan Hughes
Above photo as EMPIRE PAUL in the colours of R & JH Rea, courtesy of Ken Turrell
Above photo as BEAMISH in France, Fenwick colours. Note new funnel
Above photo as BEAMISH in France, Fenwick colours. Note new pole mast
Above photo as BEAMISH in France, Fenwick colours
Above photo as BEAMISH in Tyne Tugs colours, courtesy of Alfred Turner
Above photo as BEAMISH in Tyne Tugs colours, after conversion to diesel. Photo copyright of Malcolm Donnelly
Above photo as BEAMISH in Tyne Tugs colours
Above photo as BEAMISH is copyright of Mick Cardiff
Above photo, after service with Rex Mellinger & with remnants of his colours
Above photo as THUNDER CAPE for Western Engineering Services
Above photo in the colours of Misner Offshore. Photo copyright Jim Hoffman
Above photo in the colours of Misner Offshore. Photo copyright Jim Hoffman