Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Colour photograph showing the B.T.D.B.(British Transport Docks Board) dredger ABERAVON and pilot cutter SEAMARK at Swansea Docks entrance, 15th July 1981 1.00pm.

2156gt. Completed at a cost of £700,000 in June 1969 by Ferguson Brothers Ltd. of Port Glasgow. She was the largest grab dredger to be built in the United Kingdom and operated mainly in maintenance dredging off the deep water tidal harbour at Port Talbot.

SEAMARK was built for the Swansea Pilotage Authority by P.K. Harris & Sons at Appledore in 1959. She entered service in December 1959, replacing the Roger Beck. Powered by two 500 bhp diesel engines, she had a maximum speed of 12 knots, although normally only one engine was required. The vessel had a crew of 3 and accommodation for up to 12 pilots. She was withdrawn from service in August 2001.