Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Empire Fisher LO351

Technical

Official Number: 167620
Yard Number: 549
Completed: 1922
Gross Tonnage: 235
Net Tonnage: 90
Length: 125.8 ft
Breadth: 24.2 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Built: Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg

History

1922: Launched by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg (Yd.No.549) for Cuxhavener Hochseefischerei A.G., Cuxhaven as HERRLICHKEIT.
1922: Registered at Cuxhaven (HC-103).
1928: Lengthened to 42,73m (140.2ft) – 268g 105 n.
Pre 1930: Sold to “Nordsee” Deutsche Hochseefischerei, Bremen-Cuxhaven A.G., Bremen.
12.2.1940: Off Norway coast near Tromso (69.56N 16.49E) (or 68.24N 11.05E – Rosyth War Diary), stopped and captured by HMS GLASGOW (P.No.21). In poor material condition and capable of only 4-5 knots, escorted towards Aberdeen and in worsening weather taken in tow by GLASGOW.
17.2.1940: Due to stress of weather put into Fraserburgh.
21.2.1940: Arrived Aberdeen.
3.1940: Transferred as a prize to Ministry of Shipping, London.
7.1940: After essential repairs, renamed EMPIRE FISHER.
30.7.1940: Registered at London (LO315). Harry Markham Cook appointed manager.
27.3.1944–9.10.1944: Eight landings at Fleetwood (Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, agents).
10.1946: Transferred to Ministry of Transport, London.
3.2.1948: Sold to Hunter Fishing Co Ltd, Edinburgh.
26.2.1948: London registry closed.
6.3.1948: Registered at Leith (LH251). Robert Souza, Newhaven appointed manager.
31.3.1948: Mortgaged to The Clydesdale Bank Ltd, Glasgow (A).
3.2.1950: Following survey at Leith 284g 120n.
12.8.1950: George Hunter appointed manager.
1952: Laid up at Granton and stripped of useable parts.
12.3.1952: Mortgage (A) discharged.
26.3.1952: Sold to William Joseph Sweeney, Achill Sound, Co. Mayo (managing owner).
16.4.1952: Leith registry closed. Registered at Dublin (D315).
1952: Sold to Haulbowline Industries Ltd, Passage West, Co. Cork for breaking up.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Empirefisher LH251

S.T. Empirefisher LH251
Picture courtesy of Capt Walter Hume & Granton Trawlers

Changelog

22/05/2010: Page published. 5 updates since then.
30/07/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from image.
02/07/2020: Updated information.

S.D/T. Ralph Hall Caine YH447 (Seasonal)


Copyright 2010 Barry Banham

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3880
Official Number: 118610
Yard Number: 445
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 96
Net Tonnage: 41
Length: 86.0 ft
Breadth: 18.6 ft
Depth: 9.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by William Beardmore & Co Ltd, Coatbridge
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow
Built: J. Duthie, Torry Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

9.7.1918: Launched by J. Duthie, Torry Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.445) (“Admiralty drifter”) for The Admiralty as DAYBREAK (Ad.No.3880).
15.8.1918: Completed as a minesweeper (1-6pdr & W/T).
24.8.1920: Transferred to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, London for disposal.
1920: Sold to James H. Richardson, Douglas, IoM (managing owner).
1920: Registered at Douglas as RALPH HALL CAINE (DO90).
1.1923: Sold to Charles Henry George, Caister on Sea (managing owner).
22.2.1923: Registered at Yarmouth (YH447). Seasonal fishing from Fleetwood and Padstow.
14.8.1925: Sold to Robert B. Duthie, Inverallochy, Robert B. Stephen & Thomas Buchan, Fraserburgh (Joseph Duthie, Rosehearty, managing owner).
21.8.1925: Yarmouth registry closed.
28.8.1925: Registered at Fraserburgh as ALLOCHY (FR124).
12.3.1940: Requisitioned for war service on miscellaneous Naval duties (Hire rate £32.0.0d/month).
7.8.1945: Sold to Yolland & Llewellin Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven (John C. Llewellin, Hakin; Joseph L. Yolland, Milford Haven; John Yolland Jnr, Fleetwood (all 17/64) & Thomas Yolland (13/64), Haverfordwest (John C. Llewellin, Hakin, manager).
8.1945: Fraserburgh registry closed.
7.8.1945: Registered at Lowestoft (LT109).
26.10.1945: Returned to owner.
1.1.1946: Messrs Yolland & Llewellin partnership dissolved.
2.1.1946: Sold to John Yolland Jnr, Joseph L. Yolland (24/64each) & Thomas Yolland (13/64), Milford Haven (John Yolland Jnr, manager) (3 shares not recorded).
5.7.1946: Sold to Yolland Brothers Ltd, Milford Haven (John Yolland Jnr, manager).
7.12.1949: Sold to Waterloo Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven (John Yolland Jnr, manager).
10.10.1950: Sold to Cairo Fishing Co Ltd, Milford Haven (John Yolland Jnr, manager).
3.7.1954: Sold to Yolland Brothers Ltd, Milford Haven (John Yolland Jnr, manager).
27.5.1954: Last landing at Milford.
1954: Sold to Belgian shipbreakers and broken up.
23.11.1954: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Ralph Hall Caine YH447

S.T. Ralph Hall Caine YH447
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection

Changelog

18/05/2010: Page published. 4 updates since then.
29/07/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.D/T. Renascent LT288 (Seasonal)


Copyright 2010 Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 149192
Yard Number: 307
Completed: 1926
Yard Number: 307
Gross Tonnage: 100
Net Tonnage: 43
Length: 85.7 ft
Breadth: 19.7 ft
Depth: 10.2 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl (Fellows Admiralty type) and boiler by Elliot & Garrood Ltd, Beccles
Built: Fellows & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth

History

(Wooden Built)

15.2.1926: Launched by Fellows & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth (Yd.No.307) for Stephen Granville Beamish, Lowestoft (managing owner) as RENASCENT.
26.5.1926: Ran trials.
5.1926: Completed.
2.6.1926: Registered at Lowestoft (LT288).
1930s: Seasonal fishing from Fleetwood & Padstow.
23.9.1932: Sold to Frederick William Moxey, Lowestoft.
10.12.1929: Connected to smack LESLIE (122769) (LT??) disabled with gaff and boom carried away in gale and delivered Lowestoft.
11.9.1936: Attended steam drifter FORETHOUGHT (LT763) stranded at Scarborough, refloated and delivered Scarborough.
3.11.1936: At Yarmouth landed 190 crans of herring.
8.10.1937: In Yarmouth harbour in collision with steam drifter TWINKLING STAR (KY347) and sustained damage.
26.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.1520) (Hire rate £37.10.0d/month).
10.1944: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
25.1.1946: Returned to owner.
1946: Sold to Norwegian owners.
16.9.1946: Lowestoft registry closed.
18.10.1946: Sailed Lowestoft for Norway but put back.
27.10.1946: Sailed Lowestoft for Norway.
28.10.1946: Foundered 70-90 miles from Lowestoft. Four Norwegian crew picked up by steam trawler GRACKLE (H224) (Sk. Charlie Mewse). The Shipwrecked Mariners Society awarded Skipper Charles Mewse and Second Hand George Cooper the Emile Robin award for the British Master and Chief Officer who incurred the greatest peril in rescuing survivors at sea.

Notes

Skipper Charles Mewse and Second Hand George Cooper of the British trawler GRACKLE awarded the Emile Robin award for their services in connection with the rescue of the crew of the Norwegian drifter RENASCENT. On 28 October, the RENASCENT, when about 90 miles east north-east from Lowestoft, in a rough sea, sprang a leak; the water was kept under control for several hours until the pumps became choked with coal dust and ashes. Some ten hours later the position became precarious and the GRACKLE, in answer to distress signals, arrived in the vicinity at 11.30 am. Skipper Mewse handled the GRACKLE with great ability, and a high degree of courage. He brought the GRACKLE right alongside the RENASCENT and took off the crew in a very rough sea, with a wind at or approaching gale force. The RENASCENT was rolling heavily and the GRACKLE bumped her head doing some damage to the upper works of the RENASCENT. There was considerable risk to the GRACKLE. The Norwegian drifter was left in a rapidly sinking condition and her crew were landed at Lowestoft.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Renascent LT288

S.T. Renascent LT288
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection

Changelog
17/05/2010: Page published. 5 updates since then.
29/01/2015: Emile Robin award added.
22/07/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.D/T. E.W.B. LT1124 (Seasonal)

Copyright 2010 Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 130039
Yard Number: 496
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 95
Net Tonnage: 42
Length: 87.0 ft
Breadth: 18.4 ft
Depth: 8.9 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1.4.1911: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.496) for Arthur Evans, Ernest Wisker & Walter Bartlett (joint owners), Lowestoft as E.W.B.. 4.7.1911: Completed.
7.7.1911: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1124).
8.6.1914: Sold to Arthur Evans (32/64) & Walter Bartlett (32/64), Lowestoft.
09.1915: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.1872). Fitted with 1-3pdr, E.C. mines and as an anti-submarine net drifter. i.a.w. Area XIV Patrol Orders dated 30.3.1915 allocated to Isles of Scilly Net Drifters (Sk. J. Reynolds).
11.8.1916: Sold to Arthur Evans, Lowestoft.
10.1916: With Falmouth Net Drifters (Sk. J. Reynolds).
29.1.1918: Sold to Frederick W. Moxey (32/64), Bertha Richards & Charles Jordan (32/64 joint shares), Lowestoft. Based Aegean Sea.
1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft (F. W. Moxey).
16.1.1922: Arrived Lowestoft (Sk. Jenkerson) with Capt Gestersen and nine crew members, the only survivors of a crew of twenty of the Hamburg registered steamer VESTA (1839grt/??) which caught fire through explosion of deck cargo of naptha in heavy weather some 40 miles SE of Lowestoft when on passage Hamburg to Lisbon with general cargo. Rescue was effected at great risk because of the heavy sea, the blaze and fumes from the steamer.
17.12.1919: Sold to The Viking Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (James Pye, manager).
2.4.1925 Sold to The Viking Steam Fishing Co Ltd (32/64), Richard & Edward Mallet (16/64 shares each), Lowestoft.
3.2.1926: Sold to Frederick W. Moxey (32/64), Thomas Richards & Herbert Drake (32/64 joint shares), Lowestoft.
17.4.1938: Sold to Arthur Dexter (64/64), Brixham.
11.03.1939: Sold to Thomas Richards Ltd & Reginald Riley (64/64 joint shares), Brixham.
2.2.1940: Sold to Torbay Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Brixham.
6.1.1941–12.1.1942: Landing at Milford.
1943-1945: Landing at Fleetwood.
1.7.1943: Typical landing. 110 kits – cod/codling-50, flats-15, whiting-10, roker-30, prime-5.
1.2.1946: Sold to Respondo Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Milford Haven.
17.11.1947 Sold to Cairo Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Milford Haven.
29.10.1954: Sold to Yolland Brothers Ltd (64/64), Milford Haven.
22.7.1955: Last landing at Milford.
1955: Sold to shipbreakers in Belgium.
5.9.1955 Arrived Boom near Antwerp for breaking up.
19.9.1955 Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. E.W.B. LT1124

S.T. E.W.B. LT1124
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection

Changelog
17/05/2010: Page published. 3 updates since then.
13/12/2014: Information updated.
21/07/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
07/05/2020: Updated information.

S.D/T. Playmates YH141 (Seasonal)

Copyright 2010 Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 144146
Yard Number: 964
Completed: 1925
Gross Tonnage: 93
Net Tonnage: 41
Length: 86.3 ft
Breadth: 18.6 ft
Depth: 9.0 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler: Riley Bros (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees

History

25.4.1925: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.964) for Clifford Edward Strowger (32/64) & Alfred Willie Wilkinson (32/64), Gorleston as PLAYMATES.
25.5.1925: Completed (Clifford E. Strowger managing owner).
27.6.1925: Registered at Yarmouth (YH141).
5.10.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.738) (Hire rate £37.4.0d/month). Based Dover.
20-26.5.1940: Evacuation from Boulogne, Calais & Dunkirk.
25.5.1940: Sailed Dover for Calais in company with the trawlers ARLEY (P.No.FY.620) (FD41), BOTANIC (P.No.FY.707) (H463), BROCK (P.No.FY621) (FD47), CALVI (GY269), FYLDEA (P.No.666) (FD72), MARETTA (P.No.FY.665) (FD45), POLLY JOHNSON (H322) and drifter WILLING BOYS (P.No.FY.947) (LT737) with several river launches in tow.
26.5.1940: At 1.40am. arrived off the French coast. No evacuation order was given.
7.1943: Employed on balloon barrage.
9.10.1945: Returned to owner.
11.2.1946: Sold to East Briton Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Arthur Easto, manager).
2.1946: Yarmouth registry closed.
28.2.1946: Registered at Lowestoft (LT180).
1940s-1950s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood.
24.10.1952: Moving in Hamilton Dock, Lowestoft, struck by lightning losing top of mainmast.
3.1955: Fishing mackerel out of Newlyn.
22.3.1955: On a trip, last reported 40-50 miles WNW of Seven Stones Light Vessel.
28.3.1955: Posted missing, part of lifebuoy picked up, no other wreckage or survivors.
28.9.1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

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S.D/T. Playmates YH141

S.D/T. Playmates YH141
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Playmates YH141

S.D/T. Playmates YH141
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham Maritime Photo Collection

S.T. Playmates LT180

S.T. Playmates LT180
Picture courtesy of James Cullen

S.D/T. Playmates YH141

S.D/T. Playmates YH141
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

Seaman's Discharge Certificate

Seaman’s Discharge Certificate

Changelog
16/05/2010: Page published. 6 updates since then.
06/03/2015: Picture added.
12/01/2016: Picture added.
20/07/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.