Massey Shaw Fireboat

06/06/2026

CEO David Rogers just shared our latest progress on the mission to return this historic Dunkirk Little Ship to full working order.

​Here is what our incredible volunteers have been up to:

​Starboard Engine Progress: The engine is stripped down, and the massive crankshaft is officially out! It’s currently with specialists, and we expect it back in June or July to begin reassembly.

​Funding Milestone: We've raised an amazing £30,000 towards our £50,000 target to source worldwide parts for our 80-year-old vessel. A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far!

​Live Demonstrations: The port engine is fully rebuilt and operational! Come down to see our live fire pump demonstrations in action.

​📍 Visit Us: We are open to the public at West India Dock every Wednesday and Saturday (Please email before visiting to check). Come step aboard a piece of history!

​👉 Watch the full update from David here: https://masseyshaw.org/news/engine-and-fundraising-update-may-2026/

👉 Help us reach our £50k target to finish the starboard engine: https://masseyshaw.org/donate/

02 Jun Engine and fundraising update – May 2026 Posted at 22:53h in News by Massey Shaw Share Our CEO, David Rogers, talks through our current engine situation and status update on the rebuild plus the funding received to date and whats needed to get us near to completion. Tags: engine, fundraisin...

01/06/2026

See the Massey Shaw fireboat in action! Our monthly water-pumping test happens on the first Wednesday of every month, normally starting around 11am.

The public can watch from the path along Thames Quay near the Dollar Bay building (E14 9AD). Guided tours can be arranged via our website—book yours today!

30/05/2026

We've just launched a new video detailing some of the activities, updates and events from April. It took us a little longer to edit and release this as we initially anticipated but have another recording in the pipeline.

What do you think of this format? Comment below feedback or any questions you'd like answered in the next recording. Or drop us an email at [email protected]

Watch on Youtube or our website here: https://masseyshaw.org/news/massey-shaw-activity-update-april-2026/

https://youtu.be/qcR5lMKvk-g

Join David, Bill and Tom as we discuss key updates from the Massey Shaw Education Trust and how we're moving forward with fundraising, engine repairs, events...

27/05/2026

Urgent — help needed. Our current container storage location in Essex can no longer support us, and we need somewhere to keep parts and equipment. If you or your business have space for a container, or an empty container we could move items into in East London or Essex (short- or long-term), we’d love to hear from you.

Please email [email protected] and share this post with your networks.
Thank you!

29/04/2026

Some of you may have seen the replica model of Massey Shaw Fireboat at previous events, but the great team of LFB Fire Cadets have repainted and engineered a fully working version!

It was amazing to see it feature at this year's

Thank you to all involved and well done to all the runners and fundraisers!

26/04/2026

David and Bill hosted Bruce Shultz from New York aboard Massey yesterday. His father had purchased a Dunkirk Watch from William Wood Watches and he is running the London Marathon today.

Best wishes from all at Massey Shaw.

Dunkirk watch available here: https://williamwoodwatches.com/products/dunkirkwatch

18/04/2026

A few photos from our volunteers over the past few weeks inlcuding:

- monthly pumping test completed with engine starting first time!
- starboard strum boxes being cleaned from mussels and molluscs
- rebuild of 'mini Massey' by the LFB Fire Cadets group

All work completed by our volunteers to get Massey back to full capacity.

Please support by sharing this post to your feed or groups.

26/03/2026

Our incredible volunteer engineers have been very busy stripping down the gearbox, cleaning every component, and prepping it for fitting brand-new bearings! It’s a complex puzzle that requires some serious brainpower and patience!

A HUGE thank you to the team for mastering this one-of-a-kind setup. We couldn't keep things moving without them.

If you can support through volunteering or a donations, please visit our website for information.

25/03/2026

We had a great time at the Fireground Museum in Rochdale for the Fire Heritage Network. Between the Sunday memorabilia sale and the great company, it was well worth the trip!

How you can support us today:
🙋‍♂️ Volunteer: Join our team and help out at future events.
💼 Board member: Bring your skills into our Board of Trustees
💰 Donate: Help us fund our upcoming projects.

Check out our photos from the weekend below! 👇

10/03/2026

This is our Port Engine running at temperature. A 1935 vintage engine demands respect and resources. To generate the power (and heat) needed to propel us and pump thousands of gallons of water, we rely on high-grade fuels, specialized lubricants, and custom replacement parts.

The results showed the exhaust temperatures across the eight cylinders which were within an acceptable range between 70 to 80 deg.C. Which is good news overall, but one aging gasket or worn-out piston ring can quickly change everything. Our volunteers work tirelessly to monitor and maintain this delicate balance, but we can't do it without parts and supplies.

Your donation keeps this engine firing.

Every pound helps us purchase the specialised oil, seals, and materials required for its return to the Thames. If you love seeing this historic fireboat in action, please consider a donation or subscription today.

👉 Donate Here: https://masseyshaw.org/donate/