Category Archives: Steamers (Picture)

S.T. Rosa Maris FD43

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm & Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 144070
Yard Number: 436
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 246
Net Tonnage: 92
Length: 117.4 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 12.5 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

24.5.1920: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.436) for Charles H. George, Caister on Sea, Gt Yarmouth as ROSA MARIS.
11.1920: Completed.
1.1921: Sold to Wilberforce Steamship Fishing Co Ltd, Scarborough. William F. Smith, Filey designated manager.
10.2.1921: Registered at Hull (H248).
1925: Sold to Lancashire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Edward Towne, Blackpool designated manager.
2.6.1925: Registered at Fleetwood (FD43).
6.6.1925: Hull registry closed.
26.9.1927: Typical landing from West of Scotland grounds – 250 boxes.
4.11.1927: At Rothesay Sherif Court, Sk. William Harrison Mather was fined £150 for trawling in the Firth of Clyde on 28th August, with name and number concealed and refusing to stop when challenged by a Fishery cruiser.
6.1.1929: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk.William Harrison); twelve crew all told.
16.1.1929: Last haul off Loch Boisdale, Outer Hebrides before sailing for home. In a heavy gale at about 10.00 pm having hauled and stowed the trawl proceeded to pick up the dhan. Approaching the dahn lurched suddenly to port having struck the Red Rocks, off Hartamul, to the east of the Sound of Eriskay and came fast. Attempts made to back off using engine but probably made matters worse, opened up and shortly after took a heavy list to port. Skipper ordered lifeboat to be launched but due to list and weather took over an hour to get boat in the water.
17.1.1929: All crew took to the boat and pulled over to some lights in the distance which proved to be the Aberdeen drifter IMMACULATE (not identified) which, having taken all on board, hauled her nets and proceeded to Loch Boisdale village where survivors landed and accommodated. Vessel in a dangerous position. Steam trawler LUNEDA (FD) sailed Fleetwood with surveyor onboard and a Glasgow tug standing by, but cannot approach due to weather. The Aberdeen salvage tug IRONAXE (296g/1916) also on her way to the scene but nothing can be done until there is an abatement in the weather.
From 19.1.1929: Surveyed and found extensive damage to shell plating and frames, port side and open to sea. Abandoned as total loss.
13.2.1929: Fleetwood registry closed “Total loss”

Note from Don MacPhee
I took a party of divers out to the Red Rocks off Hartamul (east of Eriskay) in 1983. We found the first part of the name ROSA in brass lettering along with the usual debris. Now know that it was off the ROSA MARIS, wrecked 1929. There is also the remains of an unidentified wooden hulled steam powered vessel hard against the south east base of Hartamul, local scalloper VIRGO regularly bagged up the coal from her.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Rosa Maris FD43

S.T. Rosa Maris FD43

S.T. Rosa Maris FD43

S.T. Rosa Maris FD43

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
18/02/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Romulus FD128

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 93068
Yard Number: 11
Completed: 1885
Gross Tonnage: 159
Net Tonnage: 76
Length: 109 ft
Breadth: 20.2 ft
Depth: 10.6 ft
Engine: 180ihp C.2-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co, Hull
Built: Cochrane, Cooper & Schofield, Beverley

History

24.12.1885: Launched by Cochrane, Cooper & Schofield, Beverley (Yd.No.11) for Christopher Pickering & Samuel L. Haldane, Hull (managing owners) as ROMULUS.
1.3.1886: Completed.
4.3.1886: Registered at Hull (H1483). Chartered to John Sheriff Ellis, Scarborough and fishing from Scarborough.
1890: Sold to Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (Henry A. L. Russell, manager).
1901: New boiler by Amos & Smith, Hull fitted.
24.5.1906: Re registered (H1483).
22.10.1910: Chartered to James Herbert Marr, Fleetwood (managing owner).
24.11.1910: Hull registry closed.
28.11.1910: Registered at Fleetwood (FD128).
29.1.1911: Arrived Fleetwood and reported that deckhand, Thomas Tate, Kent St, Fleetwood had been lost overboard.
14.3.1911: In collision with steam trawler BELMONT (FD64) in Wyre Channel when outwards for the fishing grounds.
30.3.1911: Sold to James Herbert Marr, Fleetwood (managing owner).
29.8.1912: Sold to The Active Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (James A. Robertson, manager).
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler (Ad.No.NI).
29.10.1916: Sold to Arthur Walker, Aberdeen (managing owner).
20.4.1918: Sold to Nelson Blow (64/64), Grimsby.
25.6.1918: Nelson Blow appointed manager. Based Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
20.3.1919: Fleetwood registry closed.
26.3.1919: Registered at Grimsby (GY146).
19.7.1920: Sold to Frederick Ernest Peters (64/64), Bristol.
25.7.1920: Frederick Ernest Peters appointed manager.
28.7.1920: Grimsby fishing registry closed “now used for cargo”.
30.7.1920: Alteration of tonnage and other particulars following conversion to cargo. Certificate of Survey at Grimsby dated 30.7.1920. Re measured 170.36g 69.78n.
22.12.1920: Grimsby registry closed. Registered at Bristol.
1924: Sold to Bristol Sand & Gravel Co Ltd, Bristol (Frederick E. Peters, manager). At Bristol converted for sand dredging in Severn Estuary.
1935: Sold to Richard Abel & Sons Ltd, Liverpool (Fred Abel, manager).
7.1939: Sold for breaking up.
1939: Bristol registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Romulus H1483

S.T. Romulus H1483
Picture courtesy The Mike Thompson Collection

Sand Dredger Romulus

Sand Dredger Romulus

“ROMULUS at Hill’s Yard, Bristol 19 May 1935. From the Graham Farr Archive courtesy The Friends of Purton (www.friendsofpurton.org.uk)”

Sand Dredger Romulus

Sand Dredger Romulus

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
04/02/2016: Minor information update.
15/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.

S.T. Rochester LT153

Technical

Official Number: 109529
Yard Number: 174
Completed: 1898
Gross Tonnage: 165
Net Tonnage: 51
Length: 104.2 ft
Breadth: 21 ft
Depth: 10.7 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Muir & Houston, Glasgow
Built: Mackie & Thomson, Govan

History

12.3.1898: Launched by Mackie & Thomson, Govan (Yd.No.174) for Hagerup, Doughty & Co Ltd, Grimsby as ROCHESTER.
4.1898: Completed (Fred E. Hagerup, manager).
7.5.1898: Registered at Grimsby (GY671).
4.4.1906: Transferred to Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co (Grimsby) Ltd, Grimsby (John D. Marsden, manager) on the formation of the company.
03.11.1908: Stranded at Easington. Refloated and returned to service.
11.1913: New boiler fitted.
10.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.642). Based Kirkwall.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
21.10.1920: Transferred to Lowestoft.
8.1.1925: Grimsby registry closed.
9.1.1925: Registered at Lowestoft (LT153).
9.1927: Owners restyled Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (Sir John D Marsden, Bart, manager).
1941: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
1944: Sold to Eton Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (George Gillard, manager). Registered at Hull (H59).
27.7.1944: Mined 27 miles ENE of Withernsea Lighthouse whilst steaming home (Sk.Arthur E. Ward); eleven crew lost*, one man picked up+. Approximate position of wreck 53°54N/42°30E.

(Lost* – Sk.Arthur E. Ward (38); John Lilley (58) 2nd Hand; Henry Laverick, 3rd Hand; Edward Kilkenny (55), Bosun; Robert W. Brown (38), Ch Eng.; Charles W. Smith (51), 2nd Eng.; William Conroy (33) & Edwin A Whifield (26), spare hands; Frederick W. Swales (35) & William Cowan (50), trimmers and James R. Middlemiss (53), cook).

(Saved+ – Frank East)

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S.T. Rochester LT153

S.T. Rochester GY671
Picture courtesy of The Cor Bal Collection

S.T. Rochester LT153

S.T. Rochester LT153
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
08/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from image.
07/05/2020: Added an image and updated information.

S.T. River Spey A6

Additional information courtesy of Maggie Law Maritime Museum

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3691
Official Number: 143906
Yard Number: 80
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 202
Net Tonnage: 89
Length: 115.1 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow
Boiler: Lindsay Burnett & Co, Govan
Built: Montrose Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Montrose

History

13.7.1918: Launched by Montrose Shipbuilding Co, Montrose (Yd.No.80) (“Strath” class) for The Admiralty as DAVID CONN (Ad.No.3691).
3.12.1918: Completed (1-12pdr).
29.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) O.N.143906.
26.8.1919: The Admiralty (Director of Contracts) letter giving Charles F. Paton, Glasgow the option to purchase twelve steam trawlers at a price of £182,000.
21.10.1919: Option transferred by Charles F Paton to The Montrose Fishing Co Ltd, Montrose.
15.11.1919: Sold to The Montrose Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Montrose. Charles F. Paton, Glasgow designated manager.
29.11.1919: Registered at London (Part I) as DAVID CONN O.N.143906.
12.1919: London registry closed.
26.12.1919: Registered at Montrose (Part IV) as DAVID CONN (ME96). Fishing as a great liner.
16.3.1920: Registered at Montrose as RIVER SPEY (ME96).
26.8.1921: Extraordinary general meeting called for the purpose of considering resolutions for the voluntary winding-up of the company, and the selling, by the liquidators, of the business and property of the company to a new company proposed to be formed with a name nearly as may be the same as that of the present company. Further finance to be arranged. Vessels laid up.
9.1921: Some vessels returned to fishing. Harry A. Holmes, Aberdeen designated manager.
10.5.1922: Extraordinary general meeting of the Company has been called in Edinburgh to consider the voluntary winding-up of the Company as, in the words of the resolution submitted, it ” cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business.”
10.5.1922: Company in voluntary liquidation; deficit about £100,000. Mr James Winning, chartered accountant, Glasgow appointed liquidator on advice of National Bank of Scotland Ltd the largest secured creditor.
1923: Sold by the liquidator to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston. Fred Parkes, Wyburton designated manager.
16.1.1924: Sold to the Misses Williamina & Kate H. Lewis (64/64 joint owners), Pitfodels, Aberdeen. William A. Mackie designated manager.
22.1.1924: Montrose registry closed.
23.1.1924: Registered at Aberdeen (A6).
17.10.1932: Sold to William Alexander Leith (64/64), Aberdeen. William Alexander Leith designated managing owner.
23.3.1934: At Sheriff Court, Stornoway, Sk. George Marsh pleaded “Guilty” to a charge of illegal trawling four-fifths of a mile off the Butt of Lewis and was fined £100 or 60 days imprisonment. On a second charge of failing to show regulation lights he was fined £40 or 40 days imprisonment. Sk. Marsh had three previous convictions and elected to go to prison.
29.12.1937: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
9.1.1939: First landing at Fleetwood, 290 boxes grossed £502.
8.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service for patrol duties (Hire rate £38.18.4d/month).
20.4.1940: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.1643).
21.10.1942: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd (64/64), London. William A. Bennett designated manager.
16/17.4.1941: On patrol off Lowestoft (Sk. G. J. T. Rose RNR). RAF Wellington (S/L. Roy Elliott RAF) of No.3 Photographic Unit returning from a mission over Bremen in the wake of a bombing raid, had engine fire and shedding a propeller, lost height and ditched some nine miles E of Lowestoft. The eight man crew took to the damaged dinghy with two in the water holding on and were eventually sighted and picked up.
17.4.1941: Survivors landed at Lowestoft.
4.1944: Fitted out for danlaying and miscellaneous duties.
11.1944: Returned.
30.11.1945: Insured value £17,000; for 1946 same.
17.6.1946: Sold to St. Christopher Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), London. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
3.4.1951: First landing at Milford.
4.4.1951: Sold to J. C. Llewellin (Trawlers) Ltd (64/64), Milford Haven. John Charles Llewellin designated manager.
4.4.1951: Aberdeen registry closed.
9.4.1951: Registered at Milford (M130). Pareja pair trawling with SHIELBURN (M15).
14.8.1951: At Milford landed from a twelve day trip to west Ireland grounds (Sk. Jack Garnham Snr) pairing with SHIELBURN (M15) (Sk. Matthew Owston) a record post war catch of 401 kits £4,301 gross.
15.1.1955: Last landing at Milford.
16.1.1955: Berthed between SHIELBURN (M15) and LETTERSTON (M158), alongside Fish Market at Milford Haven. At just after 6.00 am. watchman found water ingress in engine room. Fire Brigade arrived quickly but despite their efforts with three pumps, started to settle by the stern and sank.
27.1.1955: Sold to D. V. Howells & Sons Ltd, Hakin. David V. Howells designated manager.
3.1955: Salved and sold to BISCO, allocated to Thos. W. Ward, Sheffield for breaking up.
23.5.1955: Arrived at Castle Pill, Milford Haven.
4.8.1955: Milford registry closed, breaking up completed.

(David Conn. Landsman, age 24, b. Stratford, London – VICTORY (SB61)

Note: – Crew 1940/41 – Skipper G. J. T. Rose RNR; Coxswain P. D. Jackson; Engine W. O. J. F. McEune, & Engineman W. Johnstone; Ldg Sea W. MacDonald: L/Sig (T) J. Quinn; Seaman Greathead, Seaman M’Coy, Seaman MacLeod, Seaman W. Rea, Seaman Squires; O/Seaman Chatburn, O/Seaman Booth, O/Seaman Wood; Stoker 1/c W. Walsh; Stoker 2/c G. Butler; Stoker 2/c G. G. Phipps; L/Cook G. W. Hume.
Click to enlarge images

HMT River Spey

HMT River Spey
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. River Spey A6

S.T. River Spey M15
Picture courtesy of Milford Trawlers

04/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
07/10/2015: Information updated.
12/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
20/04/2018: Information updated.
05/11/2018: Information updated.

S.T. River Clyde FD418

Technical

Official Number: 135789
Yard Number: 353
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 276
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Fawcett Preston & Co Ltd, Liverpool

History

12.8.1919: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr (Yd.No.353) (“Castle“ class) for The Admiralty as RICHARD CUNDY.
5.2.1919: Forms for tender to purchase received by the Admiralty.
13.10.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
26.8.1919: The Admiralty (Director of Contracts) letter giving Charles F. Paton, Glasgow the option to purchase twelve steam trawlers at a price of £182,000.
21.10.1919: Option transferred by Charles F. Paton to The Montrose Fishing Co Ltd.
13.10.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel for The Montrose Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Montrose. Charles F. Paton, Glasgow designated manager.
28.11.1919: Registered at Montrose (Part I & IV) as RICHARD CUNDY O.N.135789 (ME49). Charles F. Paton, Glasgow designated manager.
16.3.1920: Registered at Montrose as RIVER CLYDE (ME49).
1922: W. C. Simpson designated manager.
10.1922: Sold to Thomas F. Kelsall & Henry Blackburn, Fleetwood.
12.11.1924: Sold to River Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
14.11.1922: Montrose registry closed.
20.11.1922: Registered at Fleetwood (FD418). Thomas F. Kelsall & Henry Blackburn designated managers.
4.6.1928: Typical landing 225 boxes.
14.2.1931: In gale force winds and driving snow, at 3.00am. responded to distress call to Malin Head Radio by Finnish steamer MALVE (1488grt/1917) (Capt Boxberg) stranded on Tiree whilst on passage Tallin to Manchester with wood pulp and timber. With steam trawlers DHOON (FD54) and CALDEW (FD347) stood by to render assistance. Vessel refloated after pumping out ballast and moving 40 tons of cargo from No.3 to No.4 hold, and went to anchor in Balephetrish Bay, Tiree. Wind freshened and started to drag, with insufficient steam, drove ashore among rocks, held fast and making water. Crew abandoned and landed on Tiree. Vessel was a total loss.
30.12.1932: In calm seas stranded on west side of Gothail Island in Stornoway Harbour.
31.12.1932: Refloated at 9.30 am; vessel sound.
12.1.1938: Sailed Fleetwood for Rockall grounds (Sk. J. Carter).
22.1.1938: On a trip plagued by bad weather and dodging for prolonged periods when it was only possible to make four hauls. Riding out another gale with deck awash and requiring two men to hold the wheel, just after dusk a huge wave was observed sweeping towards the ship. The wave struck, lifting the ship almost vertical and crashing down, lay over on her port side, practically swamped. Confirming that all in the engine-room were safe, full ahead was ordered and slowly the ship righted herself. The damage was considerable and the skipper was injured by flying glass when the wheelhouse windows were stove in and other crew members injured. Shortly afterwards the generator tripped, plunging the ship into darkness. Fortunately the whole scene was lit up by the moon which had appeared through a break in the clouds and damage could be seen. In the wheelhouse the wireless and depth sounder were damaged, on deck the trawl winch had been wrenched from its bed and flung against the port bulwark, the boat had been carried away, funnel and ventilators damaged and guardrails and wires torn and twisted. Whilst assessing the damage and setting the pumps to work to clear the water below, the wind freshened and a new storm, with thunder, lightning and sleet broke. At about 9.00pm. a second heavy sea hit the ship and as the ship shuddered the winch was carried almost back to its bed. With an improvement in the weather all loose gear, including the winch, was secured and course set for home, though progress was slow in the confused seas in the wake of the storms *.
31.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.NR) (Hire rate £86.5.0d/month).
5.8.1940: Mined off Aldeburgh, Suffolk (Temp Prob Sk J. L. Grant RNR) **.
22.10.1940: Fleetwood registry closed “Vessel lost on Admiralty Service”.

(Richard Cundy, Landsman, age 21, b. Cork, Co. Cork – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB677))

Note *: 5.1938: The Mayor of Fleetwood (Alderman Charles Saer) presented awards on behalf of the insurers to Sk. Carter and crew members, A. Parkinson, C. Goodfellow, L. Soloman, R. Anderson. W. Thacker and H. Atkinson in recognition of their efforts that saved the ship.

MPK ** – Clifford L. Swann, 2nd Hand; Alexander Brown & George Crackett, Enginemen; Alfred H. Parker, AB; Malcolm J. Mackay, Donald Smith (LT/X7294C) & Thomas William, seamen; Arthur R. Ford, seaman/cook; Charles W. Warner, telegraphist; Chris B. Milbank, O/signalman; Bernard A. Ready, stoker 2c.
(Died of Wounds – Donald Smith (LT/X18113A))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. River Clyde FD418

S.T. River Clyde FD418
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
15/07/2016: Information updated.
29/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
19/09/2021: Updated history.