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The Bosun's Watch

S.T. Boston Heron FD48


		



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Download PDFs of the MOT Inquiry into the loss
 
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As Akita CF4






 	  	  

 	  	  	
 	  	  	 

 	  	  	  

 	  	  	  	Boston Heron
 	  	  	  

 	  	  	 

			 		
 	  	  

 	  	 





Picture courtesy of John Stevenson






 	  	  

 	  	  	
 	  	  	 

 	  	  	  

 	  	  	  	Boston Heron
 	  	  	  

 	  	  	 

			 		
 	  	  

 	  	 





		

		

    Technical
	

	




Official Number162133


Yard number1201


Pennant numberFY.610


Launched1939


Gross Tonnage314


Net Tonnage116


Length130.7 ft


Breadth24.5 ft


Draught11.9 ft


Engine125 hp T.3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull. Fitted for burning oil fuel F.P. above 150° F


Built byCochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby, 1939


OwnerBoston Deep Sea  Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood







		

    History
	



		

    March 23 1939
Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby  for Neale & West Ltd, Cardiff as AKITA. One of the first trawlers built to burn oil.


June 1939 Completed.  Registered at Cardiff (CF4).


August 1939
Requisitioned by The Admiralty from the builders and fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.610).


October 1945Returned and re-classed at Barry.


1955Laid up.


1956Neale & West Ltd closed their Cardiff base.


1956Sold to Boston Deep Sea  Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager). Registered at Fleetwood (FD48)


January 1957Renamed BOSTON HERON (FD48).


December 19 1957Sold to Milford Fisheries Ltd, Milford Haven (Owen W. Limbrick, manager).


June 27 1960Sailed Milford on charter to MAAF  & WFA for experimental trips to the unproven grounds to the westward of Ireland known as "The Farm". (Sk. Arthur Harvey).


Pre 1962Sold to Merchants (Milford Haven) Ltd, Milford Haven.


December 14 1962 3.12.1962:  Fishing Minch, SW gale gusting 60 mph, Sk. John Bean decided to run for shelter in East Loch Tarbert, Isle of Harris.  At around 9.0 pm struck reef off Stilimair Island, Isle of Scalpay. Vessel pounded by seas with extensive bottom damage and RFA  ROBERT DUNDAS ordered to scene.  Five men including the skipper rescued by local fishermen and Stornoway lifeboat crew but seven men lost.
(Survivors:  Sk Jack Bean;  John Donovan, Mate; Brian Naden, Third hand;  deckhands Frank Fisher & Chris McCulloch.
Lost:  Jack Dyson, Bosun;  Bill Bailey , Ch Eng;  Harold J. Edwards, 2nd Eng; deckhand Bob Brown;  cook, Billy Hannaford; firemen, Harry Harries & Bill Prockett.)