1964 - Departure of Coal Lighter C.1
15
th January. Saw the departure of C.1. (
Coal Lighter No.1.) from
Portsmouth harbour. C.1. was the world’s largest coal lighter. Built under an Admiralty contract by Swan, Hunter & Wigham in 1901 and launched on
27th February 1902; coming to
Portsmouth on
23rd June 1904. She had the capacity to handle 12,000 tons of coal to hungry warships and for many years was a familiar sight in the harbour. She was towed to Hendik Ido, Ambacht, in the
Netherlands
and broken up.
