Mystery..

This is an image of a photo in my late Father in law’s collection. I’m going one of the groups can shed a little light on the image. It’s possible the chap was Jude’s Grandad, he was a Foy boatman on the River Wear....
(Wiki)
The work involved would typically be handling lines between shore and vessel (and later to tugs), handling anchor and buoy work, acting as informal ferries taking crew and provisions to anchored vessels and to each river bank. The reason a distinct vessel and type of crew evolved was down to an association between families and the job and the need to evolve a design whose first requirement was ruggedness and stability.
Before the mechanical tug evolved a rowing boat was the only way to tow sailing vessels in and out of the river estuaries during periods of calm or contrary winds.