Technical

Official Number: 109673
Yard Number: 629
Completed: 1900
Gross Tonnage: 182
Net Tonnage: 70
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 21.1 ft
Depth: 11.4 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

17.3.1900: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.629) for The “Wyre” Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood as WYRE.
17.4.1900: Registered at Fleetwood (FD196).
4.1900: Completed.
23.4.1900: Richard C. Ward & John N. Ward appointed joint managers.
25.5.1900: Mortgaged to The Lancaster Banking Co Ltd, Lancaster tto secure a sum at 43/4% interest (A).
12.2.1906: Off Antrim coast, with with steam trawlers TRENT (FD12) and LARK (GY383) connected to Sunderland registered West Hartlepool steamer QUEEN WILHELMINA (3950g/1898) which had lost her propeller nine days previously in the Atlantic 160 miles west of Rockall while on passage Tyne – Baltimore in ballast, towing her to Belfast. Off Tor Point, Co. Antrim at 10.00am. came upon them, made fast and assisted in the towage.
13.2.1906: At 4.45pm delivered safely to anchor in Belfast Lough.
23.5.1906: In the High Court of Justice – Admiralty Division, awarded TRENT the sum of £3,800 in respect of the salvage of the QUEEN WILHELMINA.
23.4.1906: At Campbeltown Sheriff Court, Sk. Richard Bettes pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal trawling within the prohibited area off Gigha Island. After being boarded from the Scottish Fishery Board’s cruiser VIGILANT, Sk. Bettes made off and escaped under cover of darkness. In view of the fact that he had been dismissed by the owners, the Sheriff modified the fine to £50.
28.12.1906: Mortgage (A) discharged.
24.2.1909: John N. Ward appointed manager.
14.2.1911: Sold to Herbert Field & Thomas Hudson, Hull.
23.2.1911: Registered at Fleetwood as FLORENCE DOMBEY (FD196).
7.3.1911: Charles. Hudson, Fleetwood appointed manager.
10.3.1911: Mortgaged to The Union of London & Smith’s Bank Ltd, London (B).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 71.25 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
21.5.1914: Charles Hudson re-appointed manager.
5.2.1915: Sold to Robert Milne, Aberdeen (managing owner).
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler.
9.1918: Returned to owner.
9.1918: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released.
12.1.1920: Fleetwood registry closed.
14.1.1920: Registered at Aberdeen (A264).
20.2.1924: Sold to Thomas Thoburn Irvin (managing owner).
10.9.1926: Sold to Mrs Ethel Irvin, Aberdeen (Thomas T. Irvin, manager).
1931: Sold to Thomas T. Irvin Jnr, Aberdeen (managing owner).
24.11.1932: Sold to Mrs Ethel Irvin, Aberdeen (Thomas T. Irvin, manager).
5.5.1933: Sailed Aberdeen for fishing grounds off Longstone Light (Sk. Jack Hague). Called Granton briefly and then about 5.00 p.m. when north of Longstone, water ingress observed in fish room. Pumps unable to cope, crew of eleven taken off by Grimsby steam trawler AURORA (GY172), outward for the fishing grounds, and vessel sank in 35 minutes, 6 miles north of Longstone Light in position 55°45N/ 01°37W. 6.5.1933: Crew landed at Anstruther.
6.6.1933: Aberdeen registry closed “Total loss 5-5-33”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Florence Dombey FD196
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
20/12/2009: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
09/12/2014: Information updated.
30/06/2016: Pictures added.
17/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermark.
16/08/2021: Updated history.