S.T. Daystar H542 : The Bosun's Watch

S.T. Daystar H542

Additional material courtesy of Mike Thompson

Technical

Official Number: 164426
Yard Number: 1032
Completed: 1937
Gross Tonnage: 558
Net Tonnage: 222
Length: 173.6 ft
Breadth: 28.6 ft
Draught: 15 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

14.4.1937: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.1032) for Vinur Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as SCOTTISH.
5.1937: Completed (J. Little Ltd, managers).
29.5.1937: Registered at Grimsby (GY397).
16.10.1939: Requisitioned for war service as an anti submarine trawler (1-4”) (P.No.FY.245).
1940: Based Scapa Flow with A/S Group 14 (Lt Cdr Jackson RNR).
12.1940: South Atlantic Command, Armed Boarding Vessel at Gibraltar (Cdr S. A. Brooks OBE Rtd).
14.9.1942: Sold to Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (John William Lown, manager) for £40,000.
23.9.1942: Grimsby registry closed.
25.9.1942: Registered at Hull (H542) (fees £5.6.3d).
16.11.1942: Transferred to West Africa Command Act. Cdr L. H. Phillips Rtd).
2.1943: Engaged and shot down German Focke Wulf aircraft.
17.5.1945: Returned to owner.
22.1.1945: Arrived Hull for refit and restoration by St.Andrew’s Engineering Co. Ltd. Hull,
16.5.1945: Ran trials.
17.5.1945 Returned to owner (William O’Dell manager ).
8.5.1945: Sailed for Bear Island fishing grounds (Sk. Albert Cornish).
20.8.1945: Landed a record breaking catch, grossed £15,830 for 4,156 ten stone kits and 20 tons of cod liver oil. (Following this success Seven Seas Ltd the Hull cod liver oil refining company put a film crew onboard and with Sk. Cornish and produced a documentary about the trawler’s round trip from Hull to Bear Island ( Featured in the Distant Grounds Video No1 1993)).
7.12.1945: Renamed KINGSTON PEARL (H542).
16.2.1946: On a Norway Coast trip (Sk.J. W. Hornby). Dodging in heavy seas when struck by large waves and put almost on her beam end. All fittings swept from boat deck and engine room skylight badly damaged allowing water into engine room and accommodation; one fireman fatally injured. Righted herself and distress signal sent.
18.2.1946: Steam trawler KINGSTON ONYX (GY119) (Sk. John Davidson) responded and stood by.
20.2.1946: Salvage tug PARAT (191grt/1913) arrived on scene, connected and delivered Trondheim. Temporary repairs carried out.
3.3.1946: Arrived Hull.
6.1950: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F
20.12.1957: Sold to Robins Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Robins family) (William John Robbins, manager) for £49,00.
16.1.1958: Renamed DAYSTAR (H542).
31.1.1958: Terence George Robbins appointed manager).
1961: Company taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull (B. A. Parkes, manager).
13.11.1963: Transferred to Fleetwood.
13.11.1963: Last landing at Fleetwood, 800 boxes grossed £5,219.
1.1964: Sold to Lacmots Ltd, Glasson Dock for breaking up.
1.2.1964: Delivered Glasson Dock.
21.9.1964: Hull registry closed.