Technical

Official Number: 149243
Yard Number: 292
Completed: 1930
Gross Tonnage: 116
Net Tonnage: 51
Length: 92.3 ft
Breadth: 20.1 ft
Depth: 9.4 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. Burrell, Gt Yarmouth

History

14.6.1930: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co (1927) Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.292) for Lowestoft Steam Herring Drifters Co Ltd, Lowestoft as LORD KEITH.
9.9.1930: Registered at Lowestoft (LT181). Harold B. Jackson designated manager.
9.1930: Completed.
1930s: Seasonal trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent).
8.2.1938: Stranded at Benacre south of Lowestoft. Attended by Lowestoft lifeboat AGNES CROSS (Cox Albert Spurgeon). Lifeboat assisted in connecting with tug and refloated. Delivered Lowestoft.
4.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service and employed on contraband control (Hire rate £65.7.10d/month).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
28.5.1940: With Senior Officer (Cdr J. S. M. Glendinning RNR retd) in steam tug JAVA (128grt/1905-500ihp) (Capt W. Jones) left Ramsgate for Dunkirk at 3.00pm in company with steam drifters LORD RODNEY (LT390), LORD COLLINGWOOD (LT183) and LORD St.VINCENT (LT79).
29.5.1940: Arrived Dunkirk at 4.30am. ferrying troops to ships. Ferried 323 men. 10.00am. alongside Dunkirk Pier embarking troops.
5.00pm. left Dunkirk beaches for Ramsgate.
30.5.1940: At 5.25am landed 315 troops at Ramsgate.
4.6.1940: ‘Operation Dynamo’ terminated.
9.1940: Fitted out for auxiliary patrol duties (P.No.FY.1884).
21.9.1943: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull when Basil Parkes bought most of Lowestoft Steam Herring Drifters Ltd better vessels. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
11.1945: Returned.
12.1945: Refitted at Fleetwood.
1946: Sold to J. C. Llewellin, Milford Haven.
1949: Sold to W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd, Milford Haven. W. H. Kerr designated manager.
1957: Converted to motor, fitted with 6-cyl 360bhp oil engine by Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, Lincoln.
20.8.1968: Developed engine trouble while fishing E of Blackwater Light Vessel, Co. Wexford but managed to reach Rosslare Bay. Motor trawler OCECANBREEZE (LT343) connected and commenced tow to Milford.
20.2.1969: Fishing 28 miles SE of Tusker Rock Light in strong NE wind and heavy seas, hauled a mine. Cut away net and mine released to seabed.
1971: Sold to Keithly Enterprises Ltd, Lowestoft.
9.1971: Arrived Lowestoft, fitted for offshore platform standby safety role under Putford Enterprises Ltd, Lowestoft & Paignton management.
6.9.1971: Sailed Lowestoft for offshore platform standby safety duties.
17.12.1073: Outward from Lowestoft reported on fire near Corton Buoy. Gorleston lifeboat and helicopter from RAF Coltishall launched but distress cancelled when fire extinguished. Returned Lowestoft.
1975: Sold to Greek owners.
9.3.1975: Sailed Lowestoft in company with motor trawlers OCEANBREEZE (LT343) and WILSON LINE (YH105) for Mediterranean. Fitted out for dry cargo.
8.1997: Deleted from LR “Continued existence in doubt”.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Lord Keith LT181
Picture courtesy of The Ashley Gardiner Collection

S.D/T. Lord Keith LT181
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.D/T. Lord Keith LT181
Picture from the Internet

M.D/T. Lord Keith LT181
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

Changelog
26/12/2008: Page published. 3 updates since then.
25/01/2015: Images added.
01/07/2016: Picture added.
05/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
29/04/2021: Updated history.