Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Wigan FD241

Additional information courtesy of Milford Trawlers

Technical

Official Number: 139210
Yard Number: 633
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 275
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, Southbank on Tees, 1917
Engine: 87nhp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Boiler: Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn on Tyne
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

3.4.1916: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.633) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as WIGAN.
5.5.1916: Registered at Fleetwood (FD241).
5.1916: Completed. Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager. Requisitioned from the builders for war service and fitted out as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1997). Based Humber.
26.9.1916: Sold to The Palatine Steam Trawling Co Ltd. Magnus B. J. Wedum designated manager.
1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
30.6.1928: Pursued by HMS SPEY when illegally trawling in the Firth of Clyde.
31.6.1928: In Campbeltown Sheriff Court, Sk. Nicholas Wright was fined £100 with forfeiture of the nets and gear for illegal trawling, £20 for concealment of identification marks and £50 for refusing to stop. For threatening Lt Woodriffe and Lt Aldridge with a gaff, George Grout, deckhand was fined £3 or 20 days imprisonment.
10.1928: Fitted with W/T.
16.12.1928: Informed Malin Head W/T Station that steam trawler BUSH (FD60) was ashore on rocks off Mull of Cantire, entrance to Islay Sound. That trawlers EDWARD CATTELLY (FD204) and VERA GRACE (FD211), the latter with a line aboard, were standing by and hoped to refloat on evening tide. No assistance was required. Attempt to refloat was unsuccessful.
11.1931: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Magnus B. J.Wedum designated manager.
30.9.1932: Off Rathlin Island in heavy weather and gale, lost rudder. At 3.25 pm. steam trawler DAILY TELEGRAPH (GY367) connected and commenced tow to Fleetwood.
31.9.1932: Delivered Fleetwood.
1939: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull. Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
4.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service and designated for minesweeping duties (Hire rate £77.18.4d/month).
6.2.1940: Returned.
20.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.1583).
1942: Dover Channel sweeping.
1945: Returned.
3.8.1945: Sold to Manor Steamship Co Ltd, Milford Haven.
10.1946: Fleetwood registry closed.
4.11.1946: Registered at Milford (M144). Reginald L. Hancock designated manager.
3.1951: Sold to John Wood, Aberdeen.
27.3.1951: Milford registry closed.
29.3.1951: Registered at Aberdeen (A677). John Wood designated managing owner.
11.9.1953: Sold to The Leslie Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen John Wood designated manager.
15.5.1959: Sold to Looker Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen.
1959: Sold to BISCO and allocated to James A. White & Co Ltd, St. David’s, Fife for breaking up.
21.5.1959: Arrived St. David’s from Aberdeen under own power.
3.9.1959: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up.”

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Wigan FD241

S.T. Wigan FD241
Picture courtesy of The John Clarkson Collection

S.T. Wigan FD241

S.T. Wigan FD241
Picture courtesy of The John Clarkson Collection

Changelog
26/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
25/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
04/07/2020: Information updated.

S.T. Wellvale FD140

Additional information courtesy of Tony Rodaway

Technical

Official Number: 148227
Yard Number: ??
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 271
Net Tonnage: 124
Length: 125.7 ft
Breadth: 23.5
Depth: 12.7
Built: Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Canada
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Canada

History

1.1917: Ordered.
1918: Launched by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Canada (Yd.No.) (Canadian “Castle” – “T.R.” class) for The Admiralty (paid for and built under direction of RCN) as TR.28.
30.5.1918: Completed (1-12pdr) and commissioned in Royal Canadian Navy.
31.1.1919: Paid off and laid up.
1920: Accepted offer of Rose Street Foundry & Engineering Co Ltd, Inverness (Captain D. J. Munro as agent) to bring drifters with trawlers as escorts to UK for lay-up in Muirtown Basin, Caledonian Canal, Inverness prior to sale and possible refit for classification as steam trawlers (The Rose Street Foundry & Engineering Co Ltd letter dated 12 April 1920).
1921: Brought over at The Admiralty’s expense for lay-up.
1.1926: Still laid up.
2.1926: Rejected offer for all remaining trawlers of £2,000 each (B. Allenby, Aberdeen letter dated 10 Feb 1926).
8.1926: Sold “as is” to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby (Fred. Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
22.9.1926: Registered at Fleetwood as WELLVALE (FD140).
20.5.1927: Sold to Arthur S. Bowlby, Harlow (Edward D. W. Lawford c/o Iago Steam Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven, manager). Continued to fish from Fleetwood.
1932: Laid up at Fleetwood.
8.11.1932: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
5/6/7.1933: Chartered for by Italian Government to provide support for a trans Atlantic flight involving 20 to 30 aeroplanes.
6.4.1935: Arrived Fleetwood on evening tide in tow of AUTHORPE (FD91) having sustained crank shaft damage on the fishing grounds.
12.9.1939: Missing since this date. “Presumed sunk by enemy action”.
16.9.1939: Believed lost off the Hebrides by U-boat action, but not recorded (U.35 was in the area); Sk. F. W. Slapp and twelve crew lost.
17.1.1940: Fleetwood registry closed “Missing since 12/9/1939. Sunk by enemy action”.

(Lost – Sk. F. W. Slapp, R. Barcock, J. W. Eastham, M. J. Gordon, T. W. Grayson, George Grimley (31), 2nd Eng. b. Co.Armagh, R. R. Gunn, H. Parker, P. Speariett, G. R. Townsend, I. P. Turner, W. Wright)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Wellvale FD140

S.T. Wellvale FD140
Picture © John Clarkson

Changelog
26/01/2009: Page published.
27/04/14: Information updated.
29/03/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Sea Sweeper FD171

Technical

Official Number: 139276
Yard Number: 321
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 329
Net Tonnage: 138
Length: 136 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Engine: 100nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Speed: 11 knots

History

31.5.1915: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.321) for Humber Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as SEA SWEEPER.
27.11.1915: Registered at Hull (H409).
9.12.1915: Completed. Richard Henry Hobbs designated manager.
1.1916: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, Hydrophone) (Ad.No.1979). Based Harwich.
12.4.1917: Arrived Falmouth.
17.12.1917: Sailed Falmouth for Portland.
1918: Aegean Sea.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
3.11.1919: Sold to Fresh Fish Supplies Ltd, Hull. Thomas Nightingale designated manager.
8.2.1922: Sold to Thomas Hamling & Co Ltd, Hull along with SEA MONARCH (H411) for £11,500 each. Harold Hall designated manager.
6.1.1926: Thomas Boyd designated manager.
4.5.1928: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood along with SEA MONARCH (H411) for £7,000 each.
10.5.1928: Hull registry closed.
1.6.1928: Mortgaged to William Deacons Bank Ltd, London.
11.6.1928: Registered at Fleetwood (FD171). Joseph Arthur Marr Jnr designated manager.
18.6.1928: First landing at Fleetwood 280 boxes, mainly hake.
11.1939: On a trip to Donegal/Tory Island ground (Sk. A. Tomlinson); eleven crew all told.
20.11.1939: Trawling 25 miles NW by W of Tory Island, Co. Donegal at 5.05 pm. stopped by U-boat (U.33) crew abandoned to boat and subsequently sunk by gunfire; crew picked up by steam trawler LOIS (FD424).
28.11.1939: Fleetwood registry closed “Sunk by enemy action”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Sea Sweeper FD171

S.T. Sea Sweeper FD171
Picture courtesy of The John Baird Collection

Changelog
26/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
01/08/2021: Updated information.

S.T. Sarah Alice FD140

Technical

Official Number: 132408
Yard Number: 472
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 299
Net Tonnage: 121
Length: 130.5 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 13.2 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

11.5.1911: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.472) for The New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood (Ernest Tomlinson, manager) as SARAH ALICE.
27.6.1911: Registered at Fleetwood (FD140).
6.1911: Completed.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.329).
4.1915: Operating from Kirkwall under O&S Northern Patrol command as a Patrol Vessel covering Ronaldsay/Fair Isle to Sumburgh Head routes.
26.9.1916: North of Fair Isle, in approx position 59.44N 1.35W in company with HMY CONQUEROR II (Ad.No. 051) investigating a British steamer with no number up, afterwards identified as Admiralty store carrier St. GOTHARD (2788grt/1903). At 5.20 pm. attacked by enemy submarine (U.52). Three torpedoes fired, struck by first one; no survivors and third sank CONQUEROR.
27.9.1916: At 4.00 am. seventeen officers and men from CONQUEROR II picked up from carley floats by HM Destroyer SYLVIA.
14.10.1916: Fleetwood registry closed “Lost on Admiralty service”.

(Lost – (C.O.) Act Lieut Hugh McV Lovett RNR; Rennals E .Widdicombe & Ernest J. Brooks, 2nd hands; Richard J. Reynolds, P.O.; William Griffin & John F. Moore, Enginemen; Frederick N. Cadby, seaman; Thomas McL Fraser, telegraphist; Alfred Hearn, William A. Macleod, William W. Muir, William G. Manslow & David Scott, deckhands; James Cass & Joseph Collinson, trimmers)

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S.T. Sarah Alice FD140

S.T. Sarah Alice FD140

S.T. Sarah Alice FD140

S.T. Sarah Alice FD140
Picture from Internet

Loss Report

Loss Report

Changelog
26/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
03/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.

S.D/T. Ramsey Bay FD378

Additional material courtesy of Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 141957
Yard Number: 5
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 97
Net Tonnage: 39
Length: 86 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.3 ft
Built: J. W. Brooke & Co Ltd, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Plenty & Sons Ltd, Newbury

History

1918: Launched by J. W. Brooke & Co Ltd, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft (Yd.No.5) (“Admiralty Drifter”) for The Admiralty as FORK LIGHTNING (Ad.No.4112).
22.11.1918: Completed as a minesweeper (1- 6pdr).
1920: Transferred to Board of Agriculture & Fisheries, London for disposal.
1920: Sold to Harry Dingle & Wright Bros, Fleetwood under HM Treasury mortgage agreement (Disposal of Admiralty Drifters to Ex-service Fishermen). Harry Dingle designated managing owner.
6.8.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (Part I & Part IV) O.N.141957 (FD378).
28.6.1921: Registered at Fleetwood as Ramsey Bay (FD378).
8.1923: Repossessed by Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, London.
25.8.1923: Fleetwood registry closed “ceased fishing”.
21.12.1923: Sold to Dennis Nathaniel Randlesome (32/64), Frank Burton (16/64) & Arthur Gouldby (16/64), Lowestoft.
21.12.1923: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1290).
7.3.1928: Sold to Dennis Nathaniel Randlesome (48/64) & Arthur Gouldby (16/64), Lowestoft.
1928: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Fleetwood.
19.6.1928: Typical landing 40 boxes.
10.2.1930: Sold to Dennis Nathaniel Randlesome, Lowestoft.
1930s: Seasonal trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood (Alex Keay managing agent).
14.4.1937: Trawling in Morecambe Bay (Sk. D. N. Randlesome), Ch.Eng Sidney Howe of Lowestoft disappeared, presume fell overboard and drowned.
31.12.1938: Sold to Locarno Fishing Co Ltd, London.
Pre 1943-1944: Fishing out of Fleetwood.
24.7.1943: Typical landing. 110 kits – hake-50, cod/codling-25, whiting-15, flats-10, roker-10.
3.1955: Sold to Jacques Bakker & Zonen, Bruges for breaking up.
3.3.1955: Sailed Lowestoft for Antwerp in tow of steam drifter BYNG (LT632), also for breaking up.
9.3.1955: Delivered Bruges.
16.6.1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Ramsey Bay LT1290

S.D/T. Ramsey Bay LT1290
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

S.D/T. Ramsey Bay LT1290

S.D/T. Ramsey Bay LT1290
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
26/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
22/08/2015: Picture added.
08/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
21/09/2020: Updated history.