Yüksel Yıldırım is the one who has created a unique local historical source on the history of Zonguldak and Zonguldak Port with archival photographs and the stories he has added to them. He has finally crowned his testimony with the book 'Good to Have You, Zonguldak.' This work is also a very valuable source for the Turkish maritime trade world. It should be announced to members through professional organizations, and this work should be embraced.

Recently, Yüksel Yıldırım published the story of the Kozlu Tugboat, which served in Zonguldak Port from 1939 to 1967, under the title 'The Story of the Kozlu Tugboat' on the Zonguldak Nostalgia website. Each of those who sent him messages expressed their longing, respect, and love, which is simply a beauty and a way to cherish the past. For establishing such an environment, I congratulate Yüksel Yıldırım once again and thank him.

As a contribution to his work, I summarized the stages of the Kozlu tugboat starting from the shipyard records, publishing them from the official British archives. My aim is to add a bit more information and documentation for Yüksel Yıldırım and those who primarily follow him out of love for Zonguldak.

The Kozlu tugboat, purchased in 1939, was used alongside the Asma tugboat in the inner port services. The Kozlu and Asma tugboats served in Zonguldak port until 1966. In 1965, during the captaincy of Kadir Günal, a crew member lost his life in an accident aboard the steam-powered Kozlu tugboat.

Immediately after this incident, the Kozlu tugboat was put up for auction and sold by the institution it was affiliated with, EKİ (Ereğli Coal Enterprises). The Kozlu Tugboat served as an internal service vessel in Zonguldak port for 27 years.

The Story of Crew Member Amasralı Mehmet Muslu

(Source: Zonguldak Nostalgia)

'Twenty-seven years and eleven months after the Bandırma steamer, which took Atatürk to Samsun, passed through the open waters of Zonguldak, a large ship collided with the Kozlu tugboat, causing a significant injury to its hull. Those on board and those at the port rushed to save this very useful tugboat of the Ereğli Coal Enterprises. However, all the precautions taken and efforts made proved futile. The tugboat could not be saved; it was going to sink. Upon this, the captain ordered all crew members to abandon the tugboat.

Like all the workers on board, Amasralı Mehmet Muslu was about to move away. At that moment - as we learn from his friends - he thought to himself, 'There are pictures of two great men hanging in the lower deck of the tugboat, one of Atatürk and one of İnönü! They must not drown!'

To Mehmet Muslu, at that moment, it felt as if two great Turkish heroes - even if they were just pictures, mere symbols - were about to drown. 'They should not come to harm.'

Despite the captain's orders, he dove into the lower deck of the sinking vessel, and just as he was about to remove the two plaques from the wall where they were nailed, water surged in through the suddenly widening crack of the tugboat. At that moment, the wooden stairs had also closed due to the pressure of the water rising from below.

Thus, on April 18, 1947, in the early hours of the morning, we lost a young worker, our hands slipping from the plaques.' (Source: Yüksel Yıldırım - 'Good to Have You, Zonguldak' book - 2025)

The Kozlu Tugboat was built at the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) shipyard in Cherbourg, France, to support coal transportation and port services in Zonguldak Port. After being brought to Turkey in 1939, the tugboat served for many years in the inner port operations of Zonguldak Port, particularly in towing coal-laden barges alongside the 'Asma' tugboat.

This steam-powered Kozlu tugboat, used in the internal services of Zonguldak port, operated until 1966, after which it was sold at auction by Ereğli Coal Enterprises (EKİ) following an accident.

The Kozlu and Asma tugboats, purchased by Ereğli Coal Enterprises (EKİ) in 1939, were used together for many years in the internal services of Zonguldak port (such as coal loading and transportation operations). Both tugboats actively served until 1966. After the boiler explosion accident in 1965, which resulted in the death of a crew member aboard the Kozlu tugboat, both vessels were put up for auction and sold, ending their duties in Zonguldak.

Construction and Commissioning: The tugboat named Neptune was purchased in 1939 and brought to Zonguldak. The Kozlu tugboat was used in the inner services of the port (in towing and maneuvering operations).

It served continuously in Zonguldak port until 1966.

Kozlu and Asma were the primary marine vessels managing the port traffic under Ereğli Coal Enterprises (EKİ). Due to the technology of the time, these steam-powered tugboats played a critical role in meeting the logistical needs of the coal basin.

The tugboat, built at Clydeholm Shipyard owned by Barclay Curle & Co. Ltd. in Port Glasgow, was constructed under Slip No. 385 and was named 'Neptune.' The official registration number of the Neptune tugboat, built by John and Robert H. Steel and David Bennie (trading as Steel & Bennie), was 102585, and it entered service on May 3, 1893. The C2cyl. main steam engine, made by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd. in Glasgow, had a maximum power of 54 nhp and 600 ihp, with a maximum speed of 12 knots. The main steam engine was replaced in 1967 with a diesel engine made by Magdeburg-Schwermaschinenbau 'Karl Liebknecht' SKL, M-cyl 4SA 110 bhp 82 kW.

In 1903, the registered commercial name of the Neptune tugboat's shipowner company was changed to 'Steel and Bennie Ltd – President-David Bennie.' In 1920, it was purchased from Liverpool by West Coast Towage & Salvage Company Ltd. and registered in Liverpool Port.

In 1925, it was purchased from Sunderland by Thomas Young. The name of the tugboat was not changed. In 1926, it was purchased from the London-based British & Mediterranean Lighterage Co Ltd. and the name of the tugboat remained unchanged. In 1928, it was sold to an unidentified tugboat company in Greece and registered in the Greek/Piraeus port. In 1929, it was purchased by the Istanbul-based Ereğli Company (Société d'Héraclée) and renamed 'Kozlu.' It was registered in Istanbul Port. In 1939, it was purchased from Zonguldak by Eti Bank-Ereğli Coal Enterprises.

In 1967, it was purchased from Zonguldak by the partnership of Mustafa Paksoy, Salih Ünal, Cafer Şener & İsmail Şener and was modified as a general cargo vessel/bulk carrier. Its main diesel engine was renewed, and as a result of the modifications, it became 149 grt., 96 nrt., with overall dimensions of 32.09m length x 6.43m width and 3.15m depth.

In 1990, it was scrapped and removed from the Lloyd’s Register.

To avoid confusion with the name Neptune

In the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping annuals, there are seven vessels built between 1864 and 1894 that are named 'Neptune' listed in the same columns. These marine vessels, such as general cargo ships, tugboats, and barge buoys, should not mislead researchers. To avoid information confusion, attention should be paid to the records of 'Neptune' or 'Neptun' in the Lloyd’s Register annuals. One of these is the general cargo ship named 'Neptun,' which was given the name 'Platin' by 'Sadıkzade Ruşen Oğulları Vapurculuk Şti.' along with its partner, who was recorded as 'B.Bey' due to insufficient knowledge, and included Zonguldak's Mustafa Paksoy, Salih Ünal, Cafer Şener & İsmail Şener and Mehmetzâde (Mehmetoğlu) Şevket Ahmet Bey.

In the early years around 1930, the majority of Turkish shipowners owned only one vessel. Again, most of them ended their shipowning careers either during their lifetimes or after their deaths because their relatives did not continue. In these years, when there was very limited inclination to continue shipowning within families, a single vessel owner, Mehmetzâde (Mehmetoğlu) Şevket Ahmet Bey, likely due to a lack of capital and knowledge, purchased a 3308 grt. general cargo ship built in England in 1900 with a second partner, who was recorded as 'B.Bey.' They named the ship 'Neptün.' Five years later, they withdrew from the maritime trade world.

A general cargo ship named 'Tugela' was built at the Bay Yard slipways by Anderson Rodger & Co. in Port Glasgow under Slip No. 346.

It was launched on February 18, 1900, and entered service the same year.

It had a tonnage of 3308 grt., 2148 nrt., with overall dimensions of 326.2 ft. length, 48.1 ft. width, and 23.7 ft. depth.

The 3-expansion main steam engine made by Anderson Rodger & Co. in Port Glasgow had a maximum power of 281 nhp.

The first shipowner company was Glasgow Navigation Co. Ltd. - Maclay & McIntyre, based in Glasgow. It was registered in Glasgow port on March 29, 1900. In 1915, it was purchased by the London-based Anglier S.S. Co. Ltd. - Brys & Gylsen Ltd. and renamed 'Anglier.' In 1918, it was purchased by the London-based Lloyd Royal Belge (Great Britain) Ltd. In 1923, it was purchased from Andros by Demetrios M. Logothetis and renamed 'Karolos.' In 1933, it was purchased from Istanbul by Mehmet Şevket Ahmet Bey & B. Bey and renamed 'Neptün.' In 1938, it was purchased from Istanbul by Sadıkzade Ruşen Oğulları Vapurculuk Şti. and renamed 'Platin.'

The 'Platin' vessel ran aground near Öreke Rocks (Küçük Ada Gerede rocks) in the Black Sea on January 31, 1957, while sailing from Istanbul to Zonguldak in ballast due to a snowstorm, and the risk of breaking apart increased. The crew was rescued by firing rockets from the shore. However, the lostromo was swept away by the waves and disappeared. A painting of the Platin made under the name Anglier is part of the Greenwich Maritime Museum collection. A photograph of it is also available in the Clyde Built Ships/Glasgow archive.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye