The
steam tug Forceful, the only remaining working coal-fired steam tug in
Queensland, is berthed at the museum wharf and there are regular sailings down the Brisbane River. It was built in 1925 by Alex Stephen & Son Ltd.,
Glasgow,
Scotland. In 1941 it was chartered by the government for service in the Middle East, but did not sail because
Japan entered
World War II. She was then requisitioned by the
Royal Australian Navy and became known as HMAS
Forceful. She was armed with a 20mm Oerlikon Machine Gun and a .303" Vickers machine gun. At present, she is laid up for repairs, estimated to reach around $250,000AUD.
HMAS Diamantina, a River Class frigate is in the South Brisbane Dry Dock (Graving Dock), and on board, visitors can view the museum's collection of Australian Naval memorabilia. Another WW2 vessel located at the museum is the
Torres Strait type of
pearling lugger, "Penguin", which was used by the Americans during WW2, along with the dinghy from
General Douglas MacArthur's motor Yacht "Shangri-La". Also visible is the
Light Ship CLS4 Carpentaria. ==Lighthouses exhibition==