Hulk of Thames sailing barge 'Oxygen', east of The Hythe (EHER 81999)

The remains of the Thames sailing barge, Oxygen, which was built in 1895 for carrying coal tar in bulk and as a result was fitted with permanent large steel tanks. In 1912 she was sold to new owners and the tanks were removed. She is now hulked at Maldon Hythe, though it is not known since when.

OXYGEN O.N. 104329 built Rochester 1895. 1916 owned by James H. Chaplin, Brightlingsea. Comment from Jack Winch 16 April 2012: My great-grandfather, Henry Thomas Winch (1849-99) was the first master of 'OXYGEN'. The information I have is as follows: OXYGEN (reg.no. 104329) a topsail coasting barge of 69 tons, built 1895 by Gill & Son of Rochester. She was an unusual vessel, built to the order of Messrs. Burt, Boulton & Haywood, for carrying coal tar, etc. in bulk. To this end, large steel tanks were a permanent fixture in her hold. Her maiden voyage was on 3 January 1896 from Rochester to London; master as new was Henry Winch of High Street, Queenborough, who had transferred from the same owners' CARBON. It would appear that OXYGEN generally traded as per Crew Agreement List between Ramsgate, Colchester, Rochester and London. However, her owners must have had long distance coasting in mind as they applied for, and received, a certificate that the vessel would always maintain a freeboard of 10.5 inches when laden. She did, indeed, sail on 26 August 1896 from London, arriving Dieppe 28 August. Sailed from Dieppe 4 September, arriving Rochester 7 September 1896. Although the owners were, in fact, a London-based company they chose to register OXYGEN at Rochester. Circa 1912, the barge was sold to other owners who had her tanks removed. <1> Oxygen can be seen hulked with Scotia (EHER 13742) on aerial imagery and in a photo. <1> <2>