Text from The Fishing News November 1950

The trawler RED HACKLE, the pride of the Iago Steam Trawling Co., Ltd., of Fleetwood, said to be the finest vessel of her class afloat, ran her acceptance trials in Aberdeen Bay. Built by Messrs John Lewis & Sons Ltd., Torry, Aberdeen. RED HACKLE is a sister ship of RED ROSE, but includes numerous improvements.

During her extensive trials, the vessel met all her owner’s highest expectations, according to Captain E. D. W. Lawford, managing director of the Iago company. The trials were carried out while the trawler was fully loaded and in sea going trim, but despite this she attained a mean speed over the measured mile of 12.6 knots. This was considered highly satisfactory.

Various navigational instruments were also tested during the trials, including the radar. During this test the vessel steamed to a position six miles off Aberdeen, where a dahn was dropped. A course was then set for Aberdeen Harbour and for four and a half miles the dahn was on the radar screen.

Like her sister ship, RED ROSE, the new trawler is built with the cruiser bow which has already proved so successful under difficult conditions. With this type of bow the water and spray are thrown outward and not upwards, so that very little sea comes on board.

Another outstanding feature of RED HACKLE is the fishroom. No wood has been used, everything is in aluminium alloy. The advantage with aluminium is that it will keep the fish in better condition, as there is no possibility of it harbouring bacteria, since the whole of the fishroom can be kept spotlessly clean. There is no fear of the boards swelling by saturation as with wood and aluminium helps keep down the temperature.

Pointing out the value of this type of fishroom, Captain Lawford stated they were out to bring fish back in the best possible condition. “We are miles ahead of the experiments being carried out at the Torry Research Station to find the best method of keeping fish fresh on vessels at sea,” he added.

Instead of a two-tier wheelwhouse, RED HACKLE has a three-tier structure of aluminium sheeting. The funnel casing, deck ladders, rails and other equipment are also in aluminium. Even the two lifeboats, which are slung by Schats mechanical davits on the boat deck aft, are constructed of aluminium.

The vessel’s propelling machinery consists of a vertical triple-expansion, double-acting steam reciprocating type engine. Steam is supplied from a boiler of the usual trawler type, having furnaces arranged for oil burning. Diesel oil is used to start up the boilers and this is later change to heavy fuel oil.

Another feature of the vessel is a steam drenching valve for use in case of fire. Should a fire break out below, the crew come on deck and everything is closed down below. The valve, which is concealed in the deck casing and can be operated from either port or starboard side, is then turned on.

The accommodation and messing facilities for both officers and men have received special attention. The captain has a handsomely fitted out cabin, immediately below the navigation bridge. Off the cabin is the captain’s private bathroom. Below the captain’s quarters are comfortably fitted cabins for the mate, chief engineer, second engineer and pilot. The crew are accommodated aft. The forecastle is used for storage and contains a workshop and the liver boilers.

A Kent Clear-View Screen, whis is electrically operated, revolves to give a clear view regardless of whatever weather conditions are encountered. Navigational instruments include Sperry gyro compass, Marconi depth-sounding apparatus, two echometers, Marconi wireless and numerous other items. In the wheelhouse is a thermometer to show the temperature in the fishroom.

A feature of the forecastle, where the liver boilers are situated, is that the bulkheads are so arranged that they can be removed to enable the boilers to be taken out if found necessary. The liver boilers are insulated and covered with aluminium sheeting. Across the deck, in the forepeak, is a big icebox for domestic use.