Forceful fundraiser
builds up steam

The 89-year-old steam tug Forceful, currently resident at the Queensland Maritime Museum and with many years of good service prior to her retirement, urgently needs repair and has to be slipped.
The Museum has launched a fund-raising campaign, and has passed its target of collecting $27,000.00 towards the cost of slipping the tug next year to carry out the repairs. It is estimated that the total cost for the work to be carried out will be $70,000.00.
Forceful was built in Glasgow in 1925 and was in service from 1926 to 1975, working in the port of Brisbane and, during, World War II, in Fremantle, Darwin and up to Dutch New Guinea.

In her first year of service she was called to help haul the Cooma off North Reef near Heron Island. As she towed the stricken Cooma, the towline snapped and the Cooma was again grounded, remaining on the reef until destroyed by fire some months later.

Forceful was instrumental in the saving of the Rio Claro, grounded on Scotts Reef near Cairns in 1926 and, in 1929, heroically assisted the towing of the Arafura through a cyclone to Brisbane, a distance of approximately 162 nautical miles.
She was commissioned as HMAS Forceful in 1942 and carried out harbor work, towed lights to Dutch New Guinea and acted as a rescue vessel for aircraft and crews returning from operations until October 1943 when she returned to work in the port of Brisbane.
Forceful was the last coal-fired tug in operation in Brisbane.
Following her acquisition by the Museum, Forceful regularly carried passengers on day trips to Moreton Bay and many Brisbane boat enthusiasts have fond memories of those trips.
Because of some structural deterioration, Forceful is no longer used for river voyages but can be visited at the Museum where she remains as a floating exhibition.
To make a donation towards the cost of slipping and repairing Forceful contact the Museum by phone 07 3844 5361 or by emailing: info@maritimemuseum.com.au.