Yearly Archives: 2009

The End of The Steam Age

Article from unknown source and date supplied by Les Howard

The age of steam which revolutionised the fishing industry has fizzled out at Fleetwood. It’s death knell sounded of Friday when Wyre Trawlers Ltd. officially announced that the Wyre Mariner, once the pride of the Fleetwood fleet, is going to end her days sailing from the Humber.

Wyre announced that the Mariner, commaned by Skipper Percy Bedford, will dock at Grimsby to land there on Monday and be transferred to Northern Trawlers Ltd which, like the Wyre firm, is a subsidiary of Associated Fisheries Ltd.

Built in 1956, the 656 ton Mariner was the biggest conventional trawler at the port. She was the first ship built by Associated when they took over the fleet run by Fleetwood Fish Merchants’ Association.

Part of the agreement was that Associated would build a fleet of new ships, and this they did, but the others were faster, more economical, diesel powered trawlers. The Mariner is steam powered and burns oil.

Her owners said today, “The cost of fuel oil makes this kind of ship uneconomical for Fleetwood type fishing, although there are many of them sailing from the Humber ports.”

All Fleetwood’s fishing fleet is now diesel powered although there are still two oil burning steam trawlers at the port. They are Loch Moidart, which belongs to Wyre, and Samuel Hewett, which belongs to Hewett Fishing Co. Ltd.

Both are laid up in the dock’s “graveyard corner,” and the scrapyard looks like being their last port of call.

S.T. St. Cuthbert FD137

Technical

Official Number: 138943
Yard Number: 650
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 311
Net Tonnage: 162
Length: 137 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

11.9.1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.650) for Grimsby Victor Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as St. CUTHBERT.
1.1.1916: Registered at Grimsby (GY824).
8.3.1916: Completed/ Matthew W. Jennison designated manager.
4.1916: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1992).
11.1917: Sold to New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood. Ernest Tomlinson & Joseph A. Taylor designated managers.
Based Portland.
Post12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
3.4.1919: Grimsby registry closed.
4.4.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD137).
1924: William W. Brierley designated manager.
16.10.1928: Sold to Capt Gjert Myhre, Halifax, NS, Canada.
12.1928: Sold to Ocean Trawlers Ltd, Halifax, NS, (Bernard P. Saunders, manager).
27.12.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
1.1929: Registered at Halifax, NS.
1936: Sold to Warren Transportation Co Ltd, Belize, British Honduras for conversion to dry cargo.
1936: Fitted out to dry cargo – 311g (411g) (469g) 241n 508d.
1936: Re-engined with 2stroke 2-cyl oil engine by J. & C. G. Bolinders M/V A/B, Stockholm (engine built 1917).
1936: Halifax, NS registry closed. Registered at Belize, British Honduras.
1938: Sold to Motorship St. Cuthbert Inc, Tampa, FL. Belize registry closed. Registered at Roatan, Honduras.
1957: Sold to McCormick Shipping Corporation (c/o Eastern Shipping Co, Miami, FL, USA). Roatan registry closed. Registered at Panama.
1986: Removed from Lloyd’s Register “Vessel’s continued existence in doubt.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
29/07/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Star of The South GY676

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 115588
Yard Number: 364
Completed: 1903
Gross Tonnage: 193
Net Tonnage: 47
Length: 112.1 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 12 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: 400ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

3.12.1902: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.364) for Walker Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen as STAR OF THE SOUTH.
15.1.1903: Registered at Aberdeen (A647).
1.1903: Completed (Thomas Walker, manager).
13.12.1912: Sold to John Brown (64/64), Granton (managing owner).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 69.37 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
7.2.1914: Alteration of tonnage to 182.41g 69.37 net. Certificate of Survey dated Leith 6.2.1914.
13.9.1915: Sold to George William Cole (64/64), Grimsby.
21.9.1915: Aberdeen registry closed.
23.9.1915: Registered at Grimsby (GY676).
29.9.1915: George William Cole appointed manager.
4.10.1915: Joseph William Cole shares (48/64) sold to Reginald Jeffs Goodwin (16/64), Cleethorpes; Henry Hasgensen (16/64), Grimsby and Joseph Wallace Stookes (16/64), Grimsby. 4.10.1915: Reginald Jeffs Goodwin (16/64), Henry Hasgensen (16/64), Grimsby and Joseph Wallace Stookes (16/64) shares mortgaged to Barclay & Co Ltd, London (A).
7.10.1915: Reginald Jeffs Goodwin appointed manager.
16.10.1915: Reginald Jeffs Goodwin shares (16/64) sold to Joseph Robert Elijah Mordaunt (16/64), Cleethorpes.
21.10.1915: Reginald Jeffs Goodwin appointed manager.
2.11.1915: Mortgage (A) discharged.
3.11.1915: Vessel mortgaged by all shareholders (64/64) to Barclay & Co Ltd, London (B).
5.7.1916: Joseph Robert Elijah Mordaunt shares (16/64) sold to Joseph Wallace Stookes (32/64), Grimsby.
22.2.1917: Mortgagee restyled Barclays Bank Ltd, London.
22.3.1917: Mortgage (B) discharged.
20.3.1917: Henry Hasgensen shares (16/64) sold to Joseph Wallace Stookes (48/64).
26.3.1917: George William Cole shares (16/64) sold to Leonard White (16/64), Grimsby.
26.3.1917: Alick (Alec) Black appointed manager.
3.4.1917: Joseph Wallace Stookes shares (48/64) mortgaged to The Union of London and Smith’s Bank Ltd, London (C).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
13.7.1917: Mortgage (C) discharged.
13.7.1917: Joseph Wallace Stookes shares (48/64) sold to George William White (32/64), Grimsby and Leonard White, (16/64), Grimsby.
13.7.1917: Alick (Alec) Black appointed manager.
11.8.1917: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint Stock Bank Ltd, London (D).
16.10.1918: Mortgage (D) discharged.
23.10.1918: Sold to James Coombes (64/64), Harrogate. James Coombes appointed manager.
30.10.1918: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The National Provincial & Union Bank of England Ltd, London (E).
1919: Released.
15.2.1924: Mortgagee restyled to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London.
16.9.1925: Mortgage (E) discharged.
17.9.1925: Sold to Mrs Jeanne Marie Francaise Aimée Nierinck (64/64), Blackpool.
3.11.1925: Frank Thornley appointed manager.
9.1.1926: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Union Bank of Manchester Ltd, Manchester (F).
25.9.1930: Put in to Douglas leaking having cut away gear off Maughold Head, with otter board damaging shell plating in heavy weather.
27.9.1930: Temporary repairs effected and sailed for Fleetwood, but returned leaking and with boiler trouble.
1.10.1930: Rivets in bottom plating gone, boiler stays to renew. Temporary repairs carried out.
17.11.1930: Mortgage (F) discharged.
17.11.1930: Sold to Arthur Manuel Goldsmith (64/64), Fleetwood.
26.1.1931: Arthur Manuel Goldsmith appointed manager.
10.1932: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Preston.
18.10.1932: Grimsby registry closed “Ship broken up”.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
05/08/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Soranus GY225

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 123565
Yard Number: 363
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 250
Net Tonnage: 103
Length: 127 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 11.5 ft
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow
Built: Cochrane & Sons, Selby

History

13.4.1906: Launched by Cochrane & Sons, Selby (Yd.No.363) for the Grimsby & North Sea Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as ARIES.
26.4.1906: Completed.
27.4.1906: John R. Mackrill designated manager.
27.4.1906: Registered at Grimsby (GY131).
18.8.1911: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The Union of London & Smiths Bank Ltd, London.
22.10.1915: Mortgage (B) discharged. Based at The Nore.
Sold to Harry Goldstein, Jacob Isaacs and Colin Wood, all Grimsby (64/64 joint owners).
24.6.1913: Mortgage (A) discharged.
24.6.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (B).
9.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr HA) (Ad.No.28).
2.1915: Renamed ARIES II.
4.10.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (C). Jacob Isaacs and Colin Wood, all Grimsby (64/64 joint owners). 16.10.1918: Jacob Isaacs designated managing owner.
16.10.1918: Registered at Grimsby as ARIES II (GY131) (BoT Minute M.7058/1915).
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
25.6.1919: Sold to Ariesona Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
26.6.1919: Harry Goldstein appointed manager.
25.6.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (D).
3.7.1919: Mortgage (C) discharged.
9.6.1920: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to John Wood, Grimsby (E).
15.2.1922: Sold by order of the mortgagee under mortgage (D) to John E. Rushworth Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
2.3.1922: John Edward Rushworth designated manager.
14.6.1922: Registered at Grimsby as SORANUS (GY131) (BoT Minute R.G.1094/1922). Line fishing (fourteen crew).
10.10.1923: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to John Edward Rushworth, Grimsby (F).
23.11.1926: Mortgage (F) discharged.
23.11.1926: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to John Edward Rushworth, Grimsby (G)
2.10.1928: Mortgage (G) discharged.
2.10.1928: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to John Edward Rushworth, Grimsby (H).
6.3.1929: Mortgage (H) discharged.
25.3.1929: Sold to R. D. Clarke Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
25.3.1929: Thomas Benjamin Roberts, Cleethorpes, designated manager.
5.4.1929: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Robert David Clarke, Thomas Benjamin Roberts, Grimsby (joint mortgagees) (I).
27.9.1934: Sold by order of the mortgagees under mortgage (I) to Huxley Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
28.9.1934: Harry Markham Cook appointed manager. Reverted to trawl fishing twelve crew).
23.10.1934: Vessel mortgaged to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (J).
15.12.1938: Mortgage (J) discharged.
16.12.1938: Sold to Herbert Dawson (64/64), London.
17.12.1938: George Black Osborne designated manager. Line fishing (fourteen crew).
1.1939: Laid up out of class.
20.1.1939: Grimsby registry closed.
31.10.1939: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
8.11.1939: Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde appointed manager.
8.11.1939: Re-classed and registered at Grimsby as SORANUS (GY225). Fishing out of Fleetwood.
10.10.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.513)(Hire rate £62.10.0d/month).
17.10.1942: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd (64/64), London.
31.10.1942: William Alpin Bennett. Sanderstead designated manager.
3.1944: Fitted out for dan laying.
10.1945: Returned.
11.12.1946: Sold to Lord Line Ltd (64/64), Hull.
24.12.1946: Thomas Boyd designated manager.
24.12.1946: Grimsby registry closed.
4.2.1947: Registered at Hull (H394).
1949: Sold for breaking up.
13.1.1949: Hull registry closed.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
04/08/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Somerville GY301

Technical

Official Number: 96241
Yard Number: 20
Completed: 1891
Gross Tonnage: 149
Net Tonnage: 48
Length: 100.5 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 10.7 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow
Built: Mackie & Thompson Ltd, Govan

History

27.2.1891: Launched by Mackie & Thomson Ltd, Govan (Yd.No.20) for William S. Letten, Grimsby (managing owner) as SOMERVILLE.
1891: Completed.
26.3.1891: Registered at Grimsby (GY301).
9.3.1896: Returned to Grimsby and reported deckhand William Carroll had been washed overboard two days earlier in heavy weather and drowned.
15.6.1896: Skipper in court at Copenhagen for fishing within Danish territorial waters. Fined 200kr with 100kr costs and gear and catch confiscated.
1910: Sold to Robert Mather, Dublin (managing owner).
5.1916: Sold to William Johnston, Newhaven, Edinburgh (managing owner).
10.5.1916: Grimsby registry closed.
5.1916: Registered at Granton (GN64).
1916: Sold to Ernest Taylor & Noah Ashworth, Fleetwood (Ernest Taylor, Thornton-le-Fylde, manager).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
6.1917: Sold to William Would, Grimsby (managing owner).
6.1917: Granton registry closed.
23.6.1917: Registered at Grimsby (GY1070).
1918: New boiler fitted.
1919: Released.
4.1920: Sold to The Woodberry Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Harold A. Jeffries, manager).
11.1924: Sold to Alfred Bannister, Grimsby (managing owner).
11.1924: Registered at Grimsby as LANCHESTER (GY1070).
11.1931: Sold to Fred Bannister, Grimsby (managing owner).
7.1932: Sold to shipbreakers.
23.7.1932: Grimsby registry closed “Sold for breaking up”.

Changelog

07/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.