Text from The Fishing News 22/04/1950

The new trawler, Red Rose, probably the most handsome and luxuriously fitted-out vessel of her class afloat, successfully ran her trials in Aberdeen Bay last week. Built by Messrs John Lewis & Sons ltd., Aberdeen, for the Iago Steam Trawling Co., Ltd., Fleetwood, the vessel has many outstanding features.

What perhaps makes RED ROSE a vessel apart 1s the fact that she is the first fishing vessel to be built with a cruiser type bow. The advantage of the bow was amply demonstrated during the trials, which were very thorough, lasting from morning until well into the night.

One of the greatest discomforts that trawlermen have to contend with is the almost continual drenching that they get while working on deck as a result of the sea washing over the vessel in heavy weather, due to the low bulwarks.

After running her speed trials, during which RED ROSE attained a maximum mean speed of just over twelve knots, she was headed into the sea to try out the advantages of her cruiser bow. Instead of the water coming inboard, it was thrown almost flat out on either side, only occasional spray coming on deck. Among those on board was Captain Lawford, chairman of the Iago company, and he was more than delighted with the results obtained from the cruiser bow.

Another outstanding feature of Red Rose is the large amount of aluminium which has been used in her construction. Wherever possible this material has been substituted for wood and other metals. The whole of the fish room is lined with aluminum sheeting, this, it is believed, will keep the fish in much better condition than the usual wooden fish room.

THREE TIER WHEELHOUSE
Instead of a two tier wheelhouse RED ROSE has a three tier one, which is also of aluminium as is the funnel casing, deck ladders, rails etc. The use of so much aluminium on the upper superstructure of the vessel is to reduce weight and thus minimise rolling.

Even the two lifeboats, which are slung by Schats mechanical davits on the boat deck aft, are constructed of aluminium.

The vessel’s propelling machinery consists of a vertical triple-expansion, double-acting steam reciprocating type engine.

Steam is supplied from a boiler of the usual trawler type, having furnaces arranged for oil burning.

The accommodation and the messing facilities for both the officers and the men have received special attention. The captain has a handsomely fitted out cabin immediately below the navigation bridge. This is done up in mahogany with fitted carpet, etc., while off the cabin is the captain’s private bathroom with chromium plated fittings.

Below the captain’s flat are most comfortably fitted out cabins for the mate, chief engineer, second engineer and pilot. The crew are accommodated aft, the forecastle being wholly utilised for storage, workshop, and providing space for the liver oil boilers.

Six men are accommodated in one cabin and fourteen in another. Each cabin is comfortably fitted out and well heated and ventilated. A wardrobe is provided for each member of the crew and a reading lamp is fitted to every berth. Ample washing facilities and drying rooms for clothing are provided.

The mess rooms are also splendidly fitted out, while the galley is the last word for a vessel of her size,, the equipment including even an electric potato peeler which deals with 7 lb. of potatoes in a minute and a half.

Another remarkable feature of RED ROSE is that bronze framed windows with armour plated glass take the place of the more usual portholes. A Kent Clear-View Screen, which is electrically operated, revolves to give a clear view regardless of the type of weather encountered.

Text from The Fishing News November 1950

The trawler RED HACKLE, the pride of the Iago Steam Trawling Co., Ltd., of Fleetwood, said to be the finest vessel of her class afloat, ran her acceptance trials in Aberdeen Bay. Built by Messrs John Lewis & Sons Ltd., Torry, Aberdeen. RED HACKLE is a sister ship of RED ROSE, but includes numerous improvements.

During her extensive trials, the vessel met all her owner’s highest expectations, according to Captain E. D. W. Lawford, managing director of the Iago company. The trials were carried out while the trawler was fully loaded and in sea going trim, but despite this she attained a mean speed over the measured mile of 12.6 knots. This was considered highly satisfactory.

Various navigational instruments were also tested during the trials, including the radar. During this test the vessel steamed to a position six miles off Aberdeen, where a dahn was dropped. A course was then set for Aberdeen Harbour and for four and a half miles the dahn was on the radar screen.

Like her sister ship, RED ROSE, the new trawler is built with the cruiser bow which has already proved so successful under difficult conditions. With this type of bow the water and spray are thrown outward and not upwards, so that very little sea comes on board.

Another outstanding feature of RED HACKLE is the fishroom. No wood has been used, everything is in aluminium alloy. The advantage with aluminium is that it will keep the fish in better condition, as there is no possibility of it harbouring bacteria, since the whole of the fishroom can be kept spotlessly clean. There is no fear of the boards swelling by saturation as with wood and aluminium helps keep down the temperature.

Pointing out the value of this type of fishroom, Captain Lawford stated they were out to bring fish back in the best possible condition. “We are miles ahead of the experiments being carried out at the Torry Research Station to find the best method of keeping fish fresh on vessels at sea,” he added.

Instead of a two-tier wheelwhouse, RED HACKLE has a three-tier structure of aluminium sheeting. The funnel casing, deck ladders, rails and other equipment are also in aluminium. Even the two lifeboats, which are slung by Schats mechanical davits on the boat deck aft, are constructed of aluminium.

The vessel’s propelling machinery consists of a vertical triple-expansion, double-acting steam reciprocating type engine. Steam is supplied from a boiler of the usual trawler type, having furnaces arranged for oil burning. Diesel oil is used to start up the boilers and this is later change to heavy fuel oil.

Another feature of the vessel is a steam drenching valve for use in case of fire. Should a fire break out below, the crew come on deck and everything is closed down below. The valve, which is concealed in the deck casing and can be operated from either port or starboard side, is then turned on.

The accommodation and messing facilities for both officers and men have received special attention. The captain has a handsomely fitted out cabin, immediately below the navigation bridge. Off the cabin is the captain’s private bathroom. Below the captain’s quarters are comfortably fitted cabins for the mate, chief engineer, second engineer and pilot. The crew are accommodated aft. The forecastle is used for storage and contains a workshop and the liver boilers.

A Kent Clear-View Screen, whis is electrically operated, revolves to give a clear view regardless of whatever weather conditions are encountered. Navigational instruments include Sperry gyro compass, Marconi depth-sounding apparatus, two echometers, Marconi wireless and numerous other items. In the wheelhouse is a thermometer to show the temperature in the fishroom.

A feature of the forecastle, where the liver boilers are situated, is that the bulkheads are so arranged that they can be removed to enable the boilers to be taken out if found necessary. The liver boilers are insulated and covered with aluminium sheeting. Across the deck, in the forepeak, is a big icebox for domestic use.