The Bosun's Watch

Fleetwood Steam Trawler Database

This database is owned by Fleetwood Maritime Heritage Trust and is based on the original research of Wilf Dodds and the late Alan Hirst. With my own research on Fleetwood trawlers started in 1949, I joined with Alan in a project that we hoped would give a detailed history of all the steam trawlers that had been owned, managed or agented in the port.
Wherever possible the research has involved base documents including Lloyd’s Registers, Mercantile Navy Lists, Ship Registration documents, Registers of Fishing Boats, Marine News (Journal of the World Ship Society), Fishing News and Olsen’s Fisherman’s Nautical Almanacks.
Much additional material has been provided over the years and I am grateful for the input of the following who have freely given the results of their own research and also conducted further enquiries on my behalf: Jim Porter, Peter Brady, Tony Lofthouse, Chris Petherbridge, Barry Banham, John Stevenson, Stuart Emery, Ray Richardson, Roger Griffiths, Capt Walter L. Hume, Barry Johnson, Bryan Richards, Mark Stopper, Alan Page (PLRS), Andy Hall, Jonleif Joensen, Birgir Thorisson and Others.

Any use of this material should include an acknowledgment to Fleetwood Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT)

Cdr. Gilbert I. Mayes OBE CEng MRINA
Research Officer, Fleetwood Maritime Heritage Trust

About the site

What is this site all about ?
This site lists all the Fleetwood steam and sailing trawlers that have operated from the town. If you would like to find information on Motor Trawlers you can vist the Fleetwood Motor Trawler website by clicking here.

Why did you decide to create this site ?
When the fishing industry collapsed, many fishermen were thrown onto the scrapheap. As time passed, it occurred to me that the number of people with first hand knowledge of the industry were getting less and less each year.

I decided to write the site as a way of keeping alive the memory of the men who had given so much through two world wars and in peacetime.
They will not be forgotten and neither will the many men and vessels who sailed down the Wyre and were lost or, simply, disappeared.

How do you get the information on the trawlers ?
Books, Websites, Family, Friends and users of this site and the library.

Can I send information on a Fleetwood trawler for the site? Of course, please feel free to email the information to me at the following address, webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info

Copyright
All information and pictures on this site © Fleetwood Maritime Heritage Trust 2005 except where stated differently. In these cases the copyright is vested in the named person / persons.

If you find a picture on this site that you consider you hold the copyright to, please contact the webmaster at : webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info. We will remove the offending item immediately or credit you with the copyright as you see fit.