S.T. Rosa Maris FD43 | The Bosun's Watch

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

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