Tug Arataki

Greetings all. I have just been reading with interest the postings regarding Manawanui, Arataki, and James O Brien.
I worked on the Arataki for about 5 years as a deckhand with Don Moore skipper Bert Williamson engineer Vince Harding cook Peter Robinson deckhand and Tony Steele deckhand. We often took out the dive team trainees when Manawanui was in refit, or otherwise busy with the dive school.

Arataki YTL 627 was used for all kinds of tasks, including target towing, barge or lighter towing expired ammunition dumping, moving of chains, buoys, etc from the base at Rangitoto, and one occasion we were tasked with assisting a USN nuclear Submarine dock at a wharf in the city.

I do have quite a few photos if anyone might be interested, some good stories also. I used to have the actual blueprints of the Arataki, may still have them. Well if there is any interest in any pic etc feel free to contact me.
Regards Cpt Steve Buttling
Kiwisteve03@sbcglobal.net