Member Model: Garth’s Tugboat Model “Duna”

The vessel sold in the form of a model kit with the name “Duna” is based on a real tug currently named “Frederic Mistral” and based in Vienna, Austria. The “Frederic Mistral” was built in the Netherlands by Schippers & Van Dongen in 1914. She was originally named “Columbia” and was operated by the French company SFND, the Societe Francaise de Navigation Danubienne on the RIver Danube. It was used by the Emperor Franz Josef I for him to travel incognito.

In 1940 German agents raided and seized the “Mistral” and a sister vessel “Pascal”. They were converted into minesweepers and operated by the Germans until 1944 when they were seized by the Russians who then transferred them to the partisan leader Tito. In 1946 they were returned to the French company who used them again as tugs in Rumania.
At some time, they were taken out of service. In 1998, Captain Franz Scheriau found them in Rumania and lauched a campaign for local witnesses who knew details of the vessel’s history. THe condition of the vessels had deteriorated but, considering their age, the boats were in reasonable condition thanks to their having spent their lives in fresh water. Captain Scheriau had the “Frederic Mistral” towed to Austria and restored it, including returning its steam engine to service. 

THe vessel is 26.4 m(87 ft.) long,  5.4m(18 ft) beam and 1.8m(6 ft) draft. Maximum speed is 17 knots, bollard pull 37 tons, and her triple expansion steam engine horsepower 250. She was converted to burn oil fuel in 1985. The hull is steel except for the wheelhouse which is wood. A novel feature of the vessel was that the crew carried chickens in a cage suspended from the mast in front of the bridge. THere was also a pen on the deck aft of the towing hook where pigs were kept. 

Information taken from some printed pages, source unknown. More information can be found:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Frederic_Mistral_(ship,_1914)
https://www.facebook.com/immhh/posts/3691987427533876/
https://www.lewsmodelboats.org/M-Tug-FM-data.htm