Yearly Archives: 2009

ST Lord Gainford FD74

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3563
Official Number: 146537
Yard Number: 823
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 324
Net Tonnage: 131
Length: 138.5 ft
Breadth: 23.7 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 600ihp T.3-cyl by Crossley Bros. Ltd, Manchester

History

4.9.1917: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.823) (“Mersey” class) for The Admiralty as CHRISTOPHER DIXON (Ad.No.3563).
4.1.1918: Completed as an armed trawler(1-12pdr and W/T).
1920: Fishery Protection trawler (Snr Mate Griffith T Cadwallader RNR) tender to HMS HAREBELL.
21.05.1920: Paid off at Brightlingsea Naval Base and laid up.
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
1920: Fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100 A1 Stm Trawler.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
01.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed.
07.03.1922: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as CHRISTOPHER DIXON O.N.146537 (LO544).
2.1923: Transferred to Irish Free State Government, Dublin.
28.2.1923: London registry closed.
2.1923: Registered at Dublin.
4.5.1923: Commissioned in the Irish Free State Coastal & Marine Service, Dublin.
31.3.1924: Decommissioned. Transferred to Commissioners of Public Works in the Saorstat Eireann, Dublin (James J. Heely, manager). For sale.
1924: Sold to Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull.
10.1924: Dublin registry closed.
10.1924: Converted to a fishing vessel by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.941).
15.10.1924: Registered at Hull as LORD GAINFORD (H73). John McCann & Edward Cartwright appointed joint managers.
24.3.1930: Sold to Robson Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
24.3.1930: Hull registry closed.
26.3.1930: Registered at Fleetwood (FD74). Robson Preston appointed manager.
1.3.1934: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood (Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys, manager) for £3900.
9.12.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No. Z.111) (Hire rate £97.4.0d/month). Cost of conversion £17,749. South Atlantic Command.
28.7.1942: On loan to Free French Forces.
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T. Remained on loan to Free French Forces.
1946: Estimated cost of re-conditioning £8,750.
8.8.1946: Sold to J. P. Holmen, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
1955: Sold for breaking up.

(Christopher Dixon, Quartermaster (prest), age 29, b. South Shields, Co. Durham – VICTORY (SB398))

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Lord Gainford FD74

S.T. Lord Gainford FD74
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

ST Lord Gainford FD74

ST Lord Gainford FD74

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
11/04/2014: Picture added.
16/09/2016: Information updated.

S.T. Persian Empire FD83

Technical

Official Number: 110743
Yard Number: 243
Completed: 1899
Gross Tonnage: 146.12
Net Tonnage: 49
Length: 115.5 ft
Breadth: 21 ft
Depth: 11.2 ft
Engine: 63nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

21.8.1899: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull (Yd.No.243) for The Cargill Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as PERSIAN EMPIRE. 27.10.1899: Registered at Hull (H476).
10.1899: Completed. Edward B. Cargill designated manager.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 76.03 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
1914: New boiler fitted.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.799). Based Queenstown.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull (Arthur Cargill, manager).
3.6.1921: Sold to Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull. Arthur Cargill & Edward Cargill designated joint managers.
1.1926: Sold to John Ireland, Carleton, Nr Blackpool (managing owner).
1.1.1926: Hull registry closed.
2.1.1926: Registered at Fleetwood (FD83). John Ireland designated managing owner.
1929: Sold to John S. Ellis & Co Ltd, Scarborough John S. Ellis designated manager)
22.10.1935: Sold to Richard F. Cammish, Filey. Richard F. Cammish designated managing owner, fishing out of Fleetwood.
1940: Fishing from Scarborough.
22.2.1940: Fishing in North Sea (Sk. Tom Robinson) in company with RIBY (GY594)) and AUCUBA (GY117). Attacked by German aircraft; driven off by return fire from AUCUBA & RIBY no casualties.
24.2.1940: At 10.00 am. when close inshore attacked by German aircraft with machine guns; no damage or casualties.
1943: Sold to Don Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood). Landing at Fleetwood from Home and Faroe grounds.
5.1945: Sold to Standard Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby.
5.1945: Fleetwood registry closed.
5.1945: Registered at Grimsby (GY49). Albert W. Butt designated manager.
26.1.1953: Sold to BISCO and allocated to J. W. Draper & Sons Ltd, Grimsby for breaking up. Grimsby registry closed.
Click to enlarge images

S.T. Persian Empire FD83

S.T. Persian Empire H476
Picture courtesy of the Mike Thompson Collection

S.T. Persian Empire H476

S.T. Persian Empire H476
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Persian Empire FD83

S.T. Persian Empire FD83
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Persian Empire FD83

S.T. Persian Empire FD83
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Persian Empire FD83

S.T. Persian Empire FD83
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
16/11/2015: Picture added.
18/01/2016: Picture added.
20/01/2016: Picture added.
08/01/2017: Information updated.
17/01/2021: Image added.

S.T. Sir Mark Sykes FD410

Technical

Official Number: 136184
Yard Number: 585
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 306
Net Tonnage: 124
Length: 136.7 ft
Breadth: 23.2 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Engine: 93hp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

29.1.1914: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.585) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as SIR MARK SYKES.
26.3.1914: Registered at Hull (H43).
11.4.1914: Completed. John McCann & Edward Cartwright appointed managers.
5.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-3.5” A/S Howitzer and Hydro) (Ad.No.1513). Southern Patrol.
By 12.3. 1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
16.5.1922: Sold to James Alexander Robertson, Fleetwood.
7.1922: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8500.
12.7.1922: Hull registry closed.
13.7.1922: Registered at Fleetwood (FD410). James A. Robertson appointed manager.
12.10.1924: James A. Robertson died. Alan Marr appointed manager.
23.12.1924: On West Coast of Iceland grounds, in gale conditions lost lifeboat and sustained damage to wheelhouse.
1.12.1925: Alan Marr died. Edward Towne appointed manager.
1928: Sold to Cia Argentina de Nav. Angel Gardella Ltda, Buenos Aires for £8000.
20.10.1928: Fleetwood registry closed. Renamed TITO. Registered at Buenos Aires.
1939: Sold to Soc. Pesqerias Gardella Soc. Anon., Buenos Aires (Pesgar S.A., managers).
1943: Sold to Cia. Pesquera Arauco, Talcahuano, Chile. Renamed ALBACORA. Registered at Talcahuano.
1957: Sold for breaking up.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Sir Mark Sykes FD410

S.T. Sir Mark Sykes FD410
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
04/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Harry Melling FD397

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4219
Official Number: 144512
Yard Number: 204
Completed: 1920
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 113
Length: 125.3 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Middlesbrough
History

29.5.1919: Launched by C. Rennoldson & Co, South Shields (Yd.No.204)(“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JOHN LEWIS (Ad.No.4219).
11.1919: Completed. Laid up.
04.1919: Offered for sale by tender, to be completed as a fishing vessel.
10.04.1919: Tenders closed at 12.00 noon. Not sold.
1. 1920: Renamed JOHN EVANS.
30.3.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel.
20.4.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as JOHN EVANS O.N.144512 (LO348).
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
1920: Fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100 A1 Stm Trawler. Laid up.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
11.1921: Sold to Melling Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Henry Melling, manager).
26.11.1921: London registry closed.
29.11.1921: Registered at Fleetwood (FD397).
24.12.1921: Registered at Fleetwood as HARRY MELLING (FD397).
18/19.2.1929: Stood by KUMU (FD176) stranded in North Bay, St. Kilda. Connected and attempted to tow clear but unsuccessful and vessel sank in about 20fms, 42 hours after striking the rocks. Twelve crew taken off along with over £200 of fishing gear and crew returned to Fleetwood.
9.10.1931: Sold to William Melling, Penwortham & Joseph Melling, Preston.
24.8.1932: Sold to Mellings Ltd, Fleetwood (William Melling, Penwortham, manager).
30.7.1935: Sold to Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Edward D. W. Lawford, manager).
4.10.1935: Fleetwood registry closed.
9.10.1935: Registered at London (LO55).
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service on examination service, later fitted out on the Tyne as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.538) (Hire rate £89.7.6d/month) (Ty/Sk. B. Godfrey RNR). Based Stornoway.
26.1.1943: A/Capt Edward Douglas Wyndham Lawford RN awarded DSO for service in HMS POZARICA (P.No.4.261) A/A ship on Russian convoys.
7.1945: Returned and re-classed at Port Glasgow.
1945: Sold to Messrs Yolland & Llewellin, Milford Haven. Fishing from Fleetwood.
1.1.1946: Messrs Yolland & Llewellin partnership dissolved.
9.1.1946: Sold to J. C. Llewellin (Trawlers) Ltd, Milford Haven (John C. Llewellin, manager).
1948: Sold to Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, London (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, managers).
1951: The Hewett Fishing Co Ltd, London & Fleetwood appointed managers.
1955: Sold to Belgian shipbreakers for breaking up.
3.11.1955: Sailed Fleetwood for Ghent.
(John Lewis, OS (prest), age 29, b. Baltimore, America – VICTORY (SB272))

Note STATEMENT BY THE MASTER OF THE STEAM TRAWLER “THOMAS LEEDS”, March 12 th, 1930.
Whilst the trawler “THOMAS LEEDS” of which I am Skipper was fishing at the St. Kilda fishing grounds, in a position approximately forty five miles West by South of St. Kilda, and towing on a South South West course, the steam trawler “HARRY MELLING” of the port of Fleetwood, towing in a South South East direction passed astern of the “THOMAS LEEDS” fouling her fishing gear. While the two ships were heaving in their trawl warps in the process of clearing fishing gear, the steam trawler “PHRONTIS” from Fleetwood, FD142, apparently not knowing that the two ships’ fishing gear were foul, towed between the “THOMAS LEEDS” and “HARRY MELLING” and by doing so caused the three ships’ fishing gear to be fouled.
The “HARRY MELLING” was the first ship to heave the three ships’ gears up alongside his starboard side and he was plainly seen by myself and my crew to use a hatchet and deliberately chop the fishing gear of the “THOMAS LEEDS” away, causing one trawling board, one hundred fathoms of trawl warp, one set of bridles and full trawl to be lost.
The fouling of the gear was caused by the bad judgment on the part of the Skipper of the “HARRY MELLING”.
( Sgnd) Harry Gue, Skipper of the S/T “Thomas Leeds”.
Note (John Lewis, OS (prest), age 29, b. Baltimore, America – VICTORY (SB272))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Harry Melling FD397

S.T. Harry Melling LO55
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Harry Melling FD397

S.T. Harry Melling LO55
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Harry Melling FD397

S.T. Harry Melling FD397
Picture from the Internet

Harry and Lizzie Melling

Harry and Lizzie Melling
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
26/02/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Chieftain FD30

Additional information courtesy of George Westwood

Technical

Official Number: 121095
Yard Number: 86
Completed: 1905
Gross Tonnage: 278
Net Tonnage: 105
Length: 133.4 ft
Breadth: 22.3 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built; Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 70nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co, Hull
Speed 10.5 knots

History

28.9.1905: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley (Yd.No.86) for The Marine Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as CHIEFTAIN.
2.12.1905: Completed (George Walton, manager).
11.12.1905: Registered at Hull (H847).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 112 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
1.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.945).
30.10.1918: Sold to Thomas Round, Roker, Sunderland (Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough, manager).
1919: Returned to owner.
7.2.1919: Hull registry closed.
10.2.1919: Registered at Scarborough (SH21).
14.2.1919: Sold to Thomas Round, Roker (48/64), Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough (16/64) (Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough, manager).
17.2.1919: Sold to Thomas Round, Roker (32/64), Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough (16/64) and Charles William Dorkin, Sunderland (16/64) (Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough, manager).
21.2.1919: Sold to Thomas Round, Roker (16/64), Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough (16/64), Charles William Dorkin, Sunderland (16/64) and George William Tindall, Scarborough (32/64) (Thomas Whitehead, Scarborough, manager).
10.1919: Sold to The East Riding Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Charles Hudson, Hessle, manager).
17.10.1919: Scarborough registry closed.
18.10.1919: Registered at Hull (H93).
1.924: Sold to Hudson Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Thomas Hudson, managers).
5.1926: Sold to Robson Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Robson Preston, Poulton-le-Fylde, manager).
27.5.1929: Hull registry closed.
28.5.1929: Registered at Fleetwood (FD30).
15.12.1932: Sold to Transvaal Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Magnus B. J. Wedum, manager).
1936: Sold for breaking up.
26.6.1936: Fleetwood registry closed, breaking up completed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Chieftan FD30

S.T. Chieftain H847
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

S.T. Chieftan FD30

S.T. Chieftain FD30
Picture from the Osta Collection

S.T. Chieftain FD30

S.T. Chieftain FD30
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
24/08/2021: Updated history and technical details.