Tag Archives: Seasonal Visitors

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253

Additional information courtesy of Barry Banham and Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 162956
Yard Number: 245
Gross Tonnage: 116.76
Net Tonnage: 52.84
Length: 94.3 ft
Breadth: 28.7 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Engine: 280ihp T.3-cyl by S. Richards & Co Ltd, Lowestoft
Boiler by Riley Brothers (boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

Note: Last steam drifter built in England

1931: Launched by S. Richards & Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd.No.245) for Alan Howard Watson, Lowestoft as MERBREEZE.
9.1931: Completed at a cost of £6,550. Allan Howard Watson designated managing owner.
24.9.1931: Registered at Lowestoft (LT253).
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood. (William Head, Lowestoft, managing agent).
3.5.1932: Sold to P. W. Watson & Sons Ltd, Lowestoft. Alan Howard Watson designated manager.
6.11.1933: At Lowestoft landed 250,000 herring (50 tons), a new port record. With 150 Drifters landing, the Scottish fisher girls were called in to work in the curing yards long before daylight and continued far into the night.
21.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (P.No.FY.953) (Hire rate £69.3.6d/month).
6.1940: Based Swansea (Ty/Sk. W. G. A. Thompson RNR).
1.1942: Based Londonderry (Ty/Lieut. H. Wright RNVR).
11.6.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T. Re-deployed as a minesweeping drifter.
6.8.1943: Lowestoft registry closed.
10.1944: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
4.1946: Transferred to Ministry of Transport.
1947: Sold to P. W. Watson & Sons Ltd, Lowestoft. Allan H. Watson designated manager.
27.2.1948: Registered at Lowestoft (LT365) after refurbishment.
26.5.1951: Sailed Newlyn for Lowestoft (Sk. Albert Bailey) having earned a record £8,000 in the 12 to 14 week mackerel fishery, though the weather was poor, hardly ever a fine night throughout. Her best catch fetched £710.
23.7.1925: At Peterhead (Sk. Albert Bailey) landed the season’s record haul, 230 crans of herring – more than 200,000 fish and fetched £650 for a single night’s fishing. Several boats operating out of Fraserburgh suffered severe loss when their nets sank with the weight of fish.
22.3.1955: Sailed Newlyn for the fishing grounds and when off the Seven Stones Light Vessel, caught in the 96 mph gale that swept the Western Approaches that night and the following morning.
23.3.1955: Returned to Newlyn with damage.
27.7.1955: Sold to The Breeze Co (Lowestoft) Ltd, Lowestoft. Allan H. Watson, Beccles designated manager.
12.10.1955: Returning to Lowestoft from the herring fishery (Sk. Arthur Bailey), when some three miles off Lowestoft in dense fog, in collision with the Middlesbrough registered steamer NORTHUMBRIAN COAST (1180grt/1935). Both vessels damaged forward and MERBREEZE skipper and two crew injured. Berthed at Lowestoft with stem twisted and bow shell plates set in. Slipped at Lowestoft for repair.
13.10.1955: NORTHUMBRIAN COAST berthed at Smith’s Dock, North Shields with considerable damage to starboard bow which will take two to three weeks to repair.
25.2.1958: Sold to Charles Henry Eastick, Gt. Yarmouth.
23.4.1958: Reported fishing on the Aberdeen grounds and landing into that port.
3. 4. 1959: Arrived Fish Quay, North Shields on passage to the Aberdeen fishing grounds. Coaled and left some of her nets in storage for the forthcoming herring season off the Tyne.
2.7.1959: Sold to Merbreeze Ltd, Lowestoft. John George Mitchell, designated manager.
14.10.1959: Surveyed and re measured 122g 42n.
14.10.1959: Completed conversion to motor by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft and fitted with 6-cyl 360bhp 4 stroke oil engine by Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, Lincoln.
28.10.1959: Trials on completion of conversion to motor.
4.7.1964: Sk. George Turrell forced to give up his job having previously been affected by the ‘Dogger Bank itch’ (a skin condition characterised by a long-lasting dermatitis caused by exposure to the sea chervil when handling nets).
26.11.1975: Sold to Colne Fishing Co Ltd, Luton, in an en bloc deal with HOSANNA (LT167) and TRITONIA (LT188). John Leggett, Lowestoft, designated manager.
18.12.1975: Lowestoft registry (Part IV) closed “Vessel no longer fishing”. Stripped of all usable parts including main engine.
1975: Engine removed, rebuilt by L.B.S. Engineering Ltd, Lowestoft and fitted in offshore platform standby safety vessel KINGFISH.
1976: Sold to T. G. Darling, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, in an en bloc deal with HOSANNA (LT167) and TRITONIA (LT188), for breaking up by East Anglian Reclamation Ltd at Nelson Wharf, Lake Lothing, Lowestoft.
13.10.1976: Lowestoft registry (Part I) closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection
Repairs after collision with NORTHUMBRIAN COAST

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection
Repairs after collision with NORTHUMBRIAN COAST

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

M.T. Merbreeze LT365

M.T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection
Engine for refurbishment and installation in KINGFISH

M.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

M.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
05/10/2012: Page published.
22/06/2014: Picture added.
11/01/2019: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
04/05/2019: Added an image.
13/06/2021: Updated information.
24/11/2023: Added an image.
06/12/2023: Updated history.

S.D/L. Dewy Rose FR187 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 136606
Yard Number: 414
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 100
Net Tonnage: 46
Length: 86.3 ft
Breadth: 18.7 ft
Depth: 9.0 ft
Built; John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Elliott & Garrood Ltd, Beccles

History

4.1915: Completed by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.414) for Digby, Hunt & Shreeve Ltd, London as D.H.S.
8.4.1915: Registered at Lowestoft (LT469). Edward T. Hunt, Lowestoft designated manager.
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr HA) (Ad.No.1923). Based in Mediterranean, latterly at Taranto.
1919: Returned to owner (Digby, Hunt & Shreeve, Ipswich).
26.2.1926: Sold to Alexander Watt, James Watt & James Watt Jnr, Crovie, Banffshire; Robert W. Watt & James Watt, Fraserburgh; Mrs Margaret Watt, Sandhaven; James L. A. Minty, Wick. John Watt, Sandhaven designated manager.
8.3.1926: Lowestoft registry closed.
6.4.1926: Registered at Fraserburgh as DEWY ROSE (FR187).
By 1934: Owner Mrs Margaret Watt, Sandhaven & others. George Watt, Gardenstown designated managing owner.
1936-39: Seasonal white fish lining from Fleetwood. Alex Keay, managing agent)
By 1938: Owner John & Alexander Watt, Sandhaven. John Watt designated managing owner.
9.4.1939: In dense fog, attended Liverpool steamer HILARY (7403grt/1931) (Capt Lewis Evans), Para/Manaus, Brazil – Liverpool with general and passengers, which had stranded on The Skerries, Anglesey at 12.45am. Moelfre lifeboat (Cox. John Matthews) took off 100 passengers and DEWY ROSE went alongside to embark passengers’ luggage. Landed luggage at Holyhead and returned to fishing grounds.
1940: Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd designated managers.
2.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service on balloon barrage (Hire rate £27.0.0d/month).
27.6.1944: Declared a Total loss. Fraserburgh registry closed.
1946: Sold to Norway.
1949: Sold to Johan Melbo, Ålesund, Norway. Registered at Ålesund as VAREDHORN.
1949: Converted to motor.
1949: Remeasured 107g 32n.
1956: Sold to Jon Kvalsvik, Ålesund. Registered at Ålesund as MYRNES.
1956: Re-engined with 2 stroke 4-cyl oil engine by Alpha-Diesel A/S, Frederikshavn (engine made 1951).
14.9.959: Foundered 90 miles off Dalatangi, Iceland all crew nine lost.

Note LR has her noted as a fishing vessel until her sinking, this seems to be supported by crew numbers.

Changelog
29/08/2012: Page published. 2 updates since then.
10/04/2020: Updated information.

S.D/T. Mare LT362 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 118667
Yard Number: 356
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 92
Net Tonnage: 38
Length: 86.0 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 8.7 ft
Built: John Duthie Torry Shipbuilders, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen

History

Note spelling of name with the accented E (MARÉ) is correct. MARE is used to allow the search engine to find the entry.

1911: Launched by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilders, Aberdeen (Yd.No.355) for Joseph Johnston & Sons Ltd, Montrose as MARÉ.
6.1911: Completed (William D. Johnston Jnr, manager).
12.6.1911: Registered at Montrose (ME156).
7.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter.(1-3pdr) (Ad.No.2200).
1918: Based Taranto.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Montrose (J. Johnstone & Sons Ltd, Montrose).
18.3.1921: Sold to William Widram, Eyemouth (managing owner).
21.3.1921: Montrose registry closed. Registered at Berwick-on-Tweed (BK416).
11.1927: Sold to Frank C. Burton, Lowestoft (managing owner).
11.1927: Berwick-on-Tweed registry closed.
29.11.1927: Registered at Lowestoft (LT362).
22.12.1927: Sold to Provincial Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Frank C. Burton) (Arthur Gouldby, manager).
22.4.1930: Frank C. Burton died.
22.5.1933: In accordance with terms of Will vessel registered to Edith Clara Burton (16/64), Clement Ernest Burton (16/64), Arthur Gouldby (16/64), George Mitchell (16/64), trading as Provincial Fishing Co Ltd (Arthur Gouldby, manager).
1936: Seasonal trawling from Fleetwood (New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, managing agents).
13.7.1936: Last landing at Fleetwood, 48 boxes grossed £96. Laid up at Fleetwood.
1.1937: Sailed Fleetwood for Milford.
31.1.1937: Landed at Milford (Sk. Walter Aldridge Jnr).
10.2.1937: Sold to Kenneth Llewellyn, Milford Haven (16/64), Sk. John William Chenery, Lowestoft (16/64), George Mitchell, Lowestoft (16/64), Arthur Claude Mitchell, Lowestoft (16/64) (Arthur Claude Mitchell, manager).
20.8.1938: On a trip from Milford (Sk. Jack Chenery). Responded to distress from Glasgow steam coaster GIRASOL (648grt/1926) off Pembroke coast abandoned with severe list due to cargo shifting and crew picked up by Glasgow steamer SHUNA (1575grt/1937) and Liverpool steamer Aguila (3255grt/1917). Having stood by and vessel had not foundered, boarded and at 6.20 pm. connected and commenced tow to Milford.
21.8.1934: Delivered Milford at 9.00 am and beached.
28.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service on balloon barrage (P.No.FY1508) (Hire rate £25.0.0d/month).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
1.6.1940: At Dunkirk embarking troops. With drifters THREE KINGS (LT517) and TWEENWAYS (R356) picked up 19 men from from the sinking LMS steamer SCOTIA (3454grt/1921) bombed by German aircraft after leaving Dunkirk with an estimated 1,200 troops onboard. At Ramsgate at 10.20pm. landed 220 troops.
1940: Fitted out as a minesweeper (Hire rate £26.2.9d/month). Based Lowestoft, Harwich, Felixstowe.
1.1942: Based at Ipswich as Armed Patrol Drifter (2-MGs (1×2)).
12.10.1945: Returned to owner.
1946: Sold for breaking up.
16.1.1947: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Maré LT362

S.D/T. Maré LT362
Picture courtesy of The John Clarkson Collection

Changelog
20/05/2012: Page published. 4 updates since then.
27/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image and repaired broken link.
06/06/2021: Updated history.

S.D/T. Amalia LT241 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 149248
Yard Number: 1037
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 139 (141)
Net Tonnage: 47 (61)
Length: 31.24 m (102.5 ft)
Breadth: 6.23 m (20.5 ft)
Depth: 2.93 m (9. 6ft)
Built: Gebr. Boot, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands
Engine: 270ihp T.3-cyl by Industrieele Maats. “Hera”, Ijmuiden

History

1917: Completed by Gebr. Boot, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands (Yd.No.1037) for N.V. Exploitatie & Administratie Maats “Shamrock I”, IJmuiden as AMALIA.
Registered IJmuiden (IJM324). S. Koster designated manager.
12.1930: Sold to Hobsons & Co (Lowestoft) Ltd, Lowestoft. Valued at £2550. To fish out of Fleetwood.
12.1930: IJmuiden registry closed.
19.12.1930: Registered at Lowestoft (LT241). Charles W. Dance designated manager.
20.12.1930: Sold to Vigilant Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft. John C. Hayward designated manager.
12.1930: Remeasured 139.28g 61.33n.
1931: Fishing from Lowestoft, Padstow, Milford and Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent at Fleetwood).
9.1932: George Stock appointed skipper, joined at Milford.
12.4.1933: Sustained damage in collision with steam trawler HERCULES (FD172).
16.7.1935: Connected to disabled steam drifter/trawler THRIFTY (LT152) and delivered Fleetwood.
1936: Fishing from Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent).
13.4.1938: Damaged stern while berthing at Fleetwood.
1.7.1938: Sustained damage in collision with dredger at Fleetwood.
1.7.1938: Sustained broken tailshaft, steam drifter/trawler THRIFTY (LT152) connected and delivered Fleetwood.
27.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.1502) (Hire rate £33.12.0d/month).
4.1943: Transferred to miscellaneous Naval duties.
3.1945: Returned to owner.
1946: Sold to Ole Vea, Akrehamn, Haugesund, Norway.
1.6.1946: Lowestoft registry closed. Registered at Haugesund as EGGÖY.
1949: Re-engined with 2stroke 4-cyl oil engine by Frederikshavns Jernst. & Msk., Frederikshavns.
1949: Remeasured 150g 63n.
1954: Lengthened to 38,46 (126.2) (loa) 191g 84n.
1960: Re-engined with 2stroke 6-cyl 298kW/460bhp oil engine by Alpha-Diesel A/S, Falkenburg.
Post 1963: Owners restyled Ole Vea Partrederi, Akrehamn, Haugesund.
Post 1977: Sold for breaking up.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Amalia LT241

S.T. Amalia LT241
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham Collection

Changelog
19/05/2012: Page published. 4 updates since then.
28/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
27/06/2019: Updated information.

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151 (Seasonal)

Seasonal visitor

Technical

Official Number: 149233
Yard Number: 979
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 120
Net Tonnage: 36
Length:90.88 ft
Breadth: 21.65 ft
Depth: 9.84 ft
Built: Gebrs Boot Schps “de Hoop”, Leiderdorp
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Arnhemsche Stoomsleephelling Maatschappij, Arnhem

History

1.1915: Ordered.
8.1915: Completed by Gebrs Boot Schps “de Hoop”, Leiderdorp (Yd.No.979) for N.V. Maatschappij De Oceaan Ster, IJmuiden (J. van der Made, manager) as OCEAANSTER I. At a cost of fl.51000 (guilders). Registered at IJmuiden (IJM232).
18.1.1919: Sold to Maatschappij Scheveningen (W. den Dulk Wzn, manager). Registered at Scheveningen as MARTINI (SCH135).
1921: Re-possessed by Veenkolen Bank Sappermeer, IJmuiden.
1921: Sold to N.V. Visscherij Onderneming – De VEM, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden (IJM8).
4.10.1923: Sold to N.V. s’Gravenhaagsche Visscherij & Handels Maatschappijs, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden as ANNIE (IJM8).
12.1929: Sold to Colls Durrant, Lowestoft (C. W. Dance, manager).
1930: Ijmuiden registry closed.
1930: Re measured 52n 94.1 x 20.0 x 9.4 feet.
22.5.1930: Registered at Lowestoft as BOYS’ FRIEND (LT151).
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
1935: Sold to Vigilant Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (R. H. Self, manager).
Pre 1943 -1945: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
24.7.1943: Typical landing. 116 kits – hake-12, cod/codling-9, whiting-18, flats-14, ling/coley-1, roker-52. gurnard-3, sole & prime-7.
1946-1950s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
9.1955: Sold to Belgium for breaking up.
26.9.1955: Sailed Lowestoft for Antwerp in tow of Margaret Hide (LT746) also for breaking up.
1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Martini SCH135

S.D/T. Martini SCH135
Picture courtesy of The Jan Harteveld Collection

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

S.D/T. Boys Friend LT151

S.D/T. Boys Friend LT151
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.D/T. Boys' Friend LT151

S.D/T. Boys’ Friend LT151
Picture from the Internet

Changelog

14/05/2012: Page published. 8 updates since then.
14/10/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
19/09/2019: Updated information.