Monthly Archives: January 2009

S.T. Boston Heron FD48

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 162133
Yard Number: 1201
Completed: 1939
Gross Tonnage: 314
Net Tonnage: 116
Length: 130.7 ft
Breadth: 24.5 ft
Depth: 11.9 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 125hp T.3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull. Fitted for burning oil fuel F.P. above 150° F
Note: One of the first trawlers built to burn oil under the boiler

History

23.3.1939: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1201) for Neale & West Ltd, Cardiff as AKITA.
23.5.1939: Registered at Cardiff (CF4).
1.6.1939: Completed as a fishing vessel. Joshua S. Neale designated manager.
30.8.1939: Requisitioned by The Admiralty from the builders having been fitted out as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (P.No. FY.610) (Hire rate £235.10.0d/month). Based Swansea with M/S Group 133.
10.1945: Returned and re-classed at Barry.
1955: Laid up.
5.1956: Neale & West Ltd closed their Cardiff base citing high coal prices, unruly crews and Spanish over-fishing; vessels for sale.
5.1956: Five vessels bought en bloc by Fred Parkes, Blackpool – AKITA (CF4), CHAFFCOMBE (CF18), OKU (CF3), SASEBO (CF27) and St. BOTOLPH (CF8).
5.1956: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
5.1956: Cardiff registry closed.
5.1956: Registered at Fleetwood (FD48). Fred Parkes, Blackpool designated manager.
1.1957: Registered at Fleetwood as BOSTON HERON (FD48).
19.12.1957: Sold to Milford Fisheries Ltd, Milford Haven. Owen W. Limbrick designated manager.
23.12.1957: Arrived Milford from Fleetwood (Sk. Reggie High) and Milford crew.
18.1.1958: First landing at Milford (Sk. Arthur Harvey).
27.6.1960: Sailed Milford (Sk. Arthur Harvey) on charter to MAAF & WFA for experimental trips to the unproven grounds to the south westward of Ireland known as “the Farm” (South Farm Bank).
12.1961: Sold to Merchants (Milford Haven) Ltd, Milford Haven. Albert Henry Davies designated manager.
30.11.1962: Sailed Milford for North Atlantic grounds (Sk.John William Bean); twelve crew.
3.12.1962: Fishing Minch, SW gale gusting 60mph, Sk. Bean decided to run for shelter in East Loch Tarbert, Isle of Harris. At around 9.0pm struck reef off Stilamair Island, Isle of Scalpay. Vessel pounded by seas with extensive bottom damage. RFA ROBERT DUNDAS (1110grt/1938) and Fisheries Board for Scotland, FPV BRENDA (350grt/1951) ordered to scene. Local MFV SCALPAY ISLES (SY429) (Sk. Finley Morrison) directed operations and five men, including the skipper, rescued by local fishermen and Stornoway lifeboat crew, but seven men lost.
13.12.1963: At the Formal Investigation (No.S.460) held at Milford the Court found that Sk. John William Bean contributed to the stranding by wrongful default in failing to heed warnings given by the Decca Navigator and not taking immediate action. After the stranding all proper steps were taken for the preservation of vessel and crew. Sk. Bean’s certificate was suspended for three months.
1.1964: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Survivors: Milford unless stated. Sk John W. Bean (41); John Donovan (33), Mate; Brian Naden (27), Hakin, Third hand; deckhands Frank Fisher (51), Hakin & Chris McCulloch (27), Hakin.

Lost: Milford unless stated. Jack Dyson (42), Hakin, Bosun; Bill Bailey (62), Pembroke Dock, Ch Eng; Harold J. Edwards (59), 2nd Eng; deckhand Bob Brown 29); cook, Billy Hannaford (37), Hakin; firemen, Harry Harries (59), St. Davids & Bill Prockett (53) Johnston.)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Boston Heron FD48

S.T. Boston Heron CF4
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Boston Heron FD48

S.T. Boston Heron FD48
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Boston Heron FD48

S.T. Boston Heron FD48
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Boston Heron FD48

S.T. Boston Heron FD48
Picture © John Stevenson

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
11/06/2019: Minor update.
17/02/2020: Added an image.
06/07/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Auk H755

Technical

Official Number: 118762
Yard Number: 54
Completed: 1903
Gross Tonnage: 168.32
Net Tonnage: 45.38
Length: 110.0 ft
Breadth: 21.1 ft
Depth: 11.1 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co, Hull

History

9.7.1903: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.54) for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd (64/64), Hull as AUK.
21.8.1903: Registered at Hull (H755).
8.1903: Completed (George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London, managers).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 63.62net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.422).
3.1917: Fitted out to “Q” ship under names BEN NEVIS, CLAYMORE, GIRDLER, GLEN AFRIC, HOPE, LORNE, St GOTHARD and SPIKA.
30.3.1918: Reverted to minesweeping role and renamed ANTIC.
11.1918: Returned to owner at Hull and reverted to AUK (H755).
7.6.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank Ltd, London (A). John Slater designated manager.
6.3.1923: Mortgagee re-styled as Westminster Bank Ltd, London.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to William Augustus Hayward, Eastbourne.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd, London.
22.10.1928: Robert Burton appointed manager.
16.9.1932: Charles Hugh Emerson appointed manager.
10.1932: Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd in liquidation.
1.11.1932: Mortgage (A) transferred to Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Chelsea and Ernest Norton, London (joint mortgagees).
23.1.1936: Mortgage (A) discharged.
11.2.1936: Sold to Brixham Trawlers Ltd, Brixham.
14.2.1936: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) for £750 with interest at 5% with Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Corfe Castle and Ernest Norton, London (joint mortgagees)(B). Ralph S. Dugdall appointed manager.
12.1937: Transferred to Fleetwood when Brixham Trawlers Ltd moved to the port.
9.12.1937: Sailed Brixham for Fleetwood in company with PINTAIL (H982).
14.12.1937: First landing at Fleetwood 8 boxes.
27.12.1937: Second landing at Fleetwood, 118 boxes grossed £250.
2.12.1938: Brixham Trawlers Ltd registered office transferred to Fleetwood. Ralph S. Dugdall designated manager.
4.4.1939: After attempting to get medical help for Sk. George Bradley suffering from double pneumonia at Llandudno and foiled by heavy seas, proceeded at full speed for Fleetwood so that he could be taken to hospital.
30.4.1943: Typical wartime landing. 110 kits – hake-32, cod/codling-17, haddock-6, whiting-3, flats-4, ling/coley-38, roker-7, gurnard-3.
19.12.1945: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds.
31.12.1945: At Tobermory, deck hand Bernard Brooks (17) died in the fish room when a block of ice, approx 2 tons, fell on him.
1.1.1946: Called Oban to land body before sailing for Fleetwood.
20.4.1953: Mortgage (C) discharged.
26.6.1958: Gordon Cranford Dugdall appointed manager.
1.8.1959: Company taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood.
8.1.1960: Sir Fred Parkes, Blackpool appointed manager (Arthur J. Lewis, manager).
31.3.1960: Sold for breaking up.
15.8.1960: Hull registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Auk H755

S.T. Auk H755
Picture from the Internet.

S.T. Auk H755

S.T. Auk H755
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Auk H755

S.T. Auk H755
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
15/01/2016: Information updated.
09/02/2017: Removed disputed image.
21/07/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Thunderstone GY907


Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 135967
Yard Number: 276
Completed: 1913
Gross Tonnage: 225
Net Tonnage: 112
Length: 117 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Built: Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull
Engine: 430ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

21.6.1913: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.276) for The North Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as THUNDERSTONE.
20.8.1913: Alick Black appointed manager.
23.8.1913: Registered at Grimsby (GY907).
8.1913: Completed.
17.9.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Union of London & Smiths Bank Ltd, London (A).
4.1915: Requisitioned for war service.
23.4.1915: Commissioned.
24.4.1915: Arrived Devonport. Fitted out as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.1755).
9.10.1915: Mortgage (A) discharged.
11.10.1915: Sold to Thomas William Baskcomb (64/64), Grimsby. Thomas Willam Baskcomb appointed manager.
12.10.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclay & Co Ltd, London (B).
22.2.1917: Mortgagee re-styled Barclays Bank Ltd, London. Based Egypt.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
10.7.1919: Mortgage (B) discharged.
10.7.1919: Sold to Harry Wood & Co (Grimsby) Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
29.7.1919: Harry Wood appointed manager.
8.8.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial & Union Bank of England Ltd, London (C).
11.8.1923: Sold by order of the mortgagee under mortgage (C) to The Pelham Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
15.8.1923: Sir Alec Black, Bart appointed manager.
1925: Transferred to Fleetwood.
19.9.1928: Sold to The Earl Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
20.9.1928: Sir Alec Black, Bart appointed manager. Returned to Grimsby.
20.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a barrage balloon vessel (Hire rate £58.2.6d/month).
10.12.1940: Sold to Sir Alec Black, Bart (64/64), Grimsby.
12.12.1940: Sir Alec Black, Bart appointed manager.
11.1941: Paid off for repair at Aberdeen.
28.6.1942: Sir Alec Black died.
16.1.1943: Probate granted. Transferred to Public Trustee, London & John Edgar Harrison, Grimsby (64/64) joint owners).
3.2.1943: John Edgar Harrison appointed manager.
8.2.1943: Sold to Shire Trawlers Ltd, London.
10.2.1943: William Alfred Bennett, Sanderstead, Surrey appointed manager.
24.8.1943: Returned.
25.5.1944: Sold to Parkholme Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
2.6.1944: Harvey Wilfred Wilson, Grimsby appointed manager.
10.6.1944: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (D).
30.12.1944: Mortgage (D) discharged.
30.7.1949: Sold to Trawlers Grimsby Ltd (64/64), Grimsby. Harvey Wilfred Wilson appointed manager.
10.4.1953: Sold to Derwent Trawlers Ltd (64/64) Grimsby.
11.4.1953: Harvey Wilfred Wilson appointed manager.
9.2.1955: John C. Ross appointed manager.
14.11.1956: Sold to Forward Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
15.11.1956: Fred Bannister appointed manager.
4.1962: Sold to Van den Bossche & Co, Boom for breaking up.
17.4.1962: Arrived Boom.
29.10.1962: Grimsby registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Thunderstone GY907

S.T. Thunderstone GY907
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Thunderstone GY907

S.T. Thunderstone GY907
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Thunderstone GY907

S.T. Thunderstone GY907
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

S.T. Thunderstone GY907

S.T. Thunderstone GY907
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

Changelog

15/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
23/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
01/04/2021: Updated history and added an image.

S.T. Swift FD170

Additional information courtesy of Michael Lowery

Technical

Official Number: 108526
Yard Number: 544
Completed: 1897
Gross Tonnage: 242
Net Tonnage: 76
Length: 133.7 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 10.8 ft
Engine: 570ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edwards Bros, Howden-on-Tyne

History

4.5.1897: Launched by Edwards Bros, Howden-on-Tyne (Yd.No.544) for Kelsall Bros & Beeching Ltd (64/64), Manchester as SWIFT.
9.6.1897: Registered at Fleetwood (FD170).
6.1897: Completed. Employed as a fish carrier for the company’s boxing fleet.
1899: Transferred to Hull.
8.4.1899: Registered at Hull (H99).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
13.5.1899: Suffered damage to shell plating following collision off Cromer with steamer HISPANIA, Grangemouth for Dieppe, cargo pitch. HISPANIA put into Gt Yarmouth with port bow stove in.
2.3.1907: Arrived Hull with survivors and Norwegian schooner PRESTO in tow. PRESTO had sailed Brevig for West Hartlepool cargo ice a month ago, and experienced blizzards and icing. Crew in very poor shape due to hunger, fatigue and frostbite and unable to work the ship with one man washed overboard and too ill to aid him.
3.3.1907: Men recovering in hospital.
8.9.1911: Registered office transferred to Hull (George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London, managers).
1914: New boiler fitted.
10.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.675).
27.1.1915: Registered at Hull as QUICKLY (H99) (BoT Minute M842/1915 dated 19.1.1915).
7.1915: Fitted out as a Special Service decoy trawler (2-12pdrs, 1-6pdr HA). Based Granton.
20.7.1915: With Special Service decoy trawler GUNNER (Ad.No.1153) engaged U-boat (U16) and scored several hits but did not damage pressure hull and submarine returned to Helgoland on 22 July. Later operated under names Q.32, CAROLINA, MASTER, SINTON and SWIFT.
11.1918: Returned to owners at Hull.
12.11.1918: Registered at Hull as SWIFT (H99) (BoT Minute M14349/1918 dated 29.10.1918).
7.6.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank Ltd, London (A).
7.6.1919: John Slater, London appointed manager.
6.3.1923: Mortgagee re-styled as Westminster Bank Ltd, London.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to William Augustus Hayward, Eastbourne.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd, London.
22.10.1928: Robert Burton, Hull appointed manager.
16.9.1932: Charles Hugh Emerson appointed manager.
10.1932: Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd in liquidation.
1.11.1932: Mortgage (A) transferred to Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Chelsea and Ernest Norton, London (joint mortgagees).
3.1936: Combined boxing and trawling fleet of Kelsall Bros. & Beeching Ltd and the Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd consisting of 59 vessels laid up at Hull (declining catches, coal bill and increased maintenance costs had made the venture uneconomical).
6.3.1936: At Extraordinary General Meeting at Hull, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd placed in Creditors’ Voluntary Winding-up (Richard Field Helm of Messrs Hodgson Harris & Co, London appointed liquidators).
1936: Sold to Dutch subjects for breaking up.
11.2.1937: Hull registry closed “Sold to foreigners for breaking up”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Swift FD170

S.T. Swift FD170
Picture courtesy of Jan H (shipsnostalgia)

S.T. Swift Hpp

S.T. Swift FD170
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
01/09/2015: Information updated.
16/11/2015: Information updated.
02/08/2016: Information updated.
07/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Red Sword LO459

Technical

Official Number: 160855
Yard Number: 526
Completed: 1929
Gross Tonnage: 353
Net Tonnage: 138
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.6 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Engine: 96nhp T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Speed: 11.6 knots

History

7.8.1929: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.526) for F. & T. Ross Ltd, Hull as GALVANI.
23.9.1929: Registered at Hull (H88).
26.9.1929: Completed. Percy Ross designated manager.
1938: At Hull landed from Iceland/White Sea/Westward-Faroe/Faroe (Sks. W. Adams, W. Isaacs) 319 days 13,894 kits £17,641 gross.
20.5.1940: Last trip before requisitioning. Sailed for Icelandic grounds (Sk. A. Cousins).
6.6.1940: At Hull landed 1160 kits £1,382 gross.
1940: To requisitioning, at Hull landed from Iceland (Sks. S. Ereson, A. Cousins) 119 days 6,085 kits £12,617 gross.
7.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (P.No.4.71)(Hire rate £166.4.1d/month). Employed on Fishery Protection (Nore/Humber/Hull).
5.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper. Based Lowestoft with M/S Group 7.
28.8.1945: Returned to owner after refit at Hull.
29.8.1945: Sailed for White Sea grounds (Sk. F. Smith).
21.9.1945: At Hull landed 1653 kits £6,287 gross.
30.11.1945: Insured value £30,000; for 1946 proposed £32,000.
13.2.1946: Sailed Hull for Icelandic grounds (Sk. W. Isaacs).
19.2.1946: Sold to Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Percy Lincoln Campbell designated manager.
9.3.1946: At Hull landed 1,925 kits grossed £7,964. Transferred to Fleetwood. (A. Capt) Cdr. Edward D. W. Lawford DSO designated manager.
7.1946: First Fleetwood vessel to fish White Sea after WW2 (Sk. J. Tomlinson) – landed 1600 boxes £5000 gross.
5.11.1946: Registered at Hull as RED SWORD (H88).
31.7.1947: Hull registry closed.
8.1947: Registered at London (LO459).
2.8.1955: Sold to Thos. Hamling & Co Ltd, Hull .(Harold Watson Hall, manager).
8.1955: London registry closed.
6.8.1955: Registered at Hull (H80). Harold Watson Hall designated manager.
9.8.1955 – 20.10.1955: Made 3 trips to Iceland (Sk. G. Gibbins). Totals: 63 days 3015 kits £11,012 gross.
19.0d. 12.1955: Sold to BISCO (£6,000) and allocated C. W. Dorkin & Co Ltd, Gateshead for breaking up (value of gear landed prior to sale £868.11.1d). 26.3.1956: Delivered to their Sunderland yard. (Towage cost £345.10s.2d).
15.11.1956 Hull registry closed “vessel broken up”

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Red Sword LO459

S.T. Red Sword LO459
Picture courtesy of The Peter Green Collection

S.T. Red Sword LO460

S.T. Red Sword H80
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

S.T. Red Sword LO459

S.T. Red Sword LO459
Picture from the Internet

Red Sword Crew

Red Sword Crew
Picture courtesy of The Harry Day Collection

Changelog
15/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
12/01/2016: Picture added.
14/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
31/08/2019: Updated information and added an image.
20/10/2020: Updated history.