S.T. Princess Melton FD326 | The Bosun's Watch

Additional information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 114192
Yard Number: 226
Completed: 1901
Gross Tonnage: 224.30
Net Tonnage: 88.83
Length: 120.3 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Built: J. Duthie, Sons & Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 3-cyl by J. S. Vaux & Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

15.6.1901: Launched by J. Duthie, Sons & Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.226) for Aberdeen Icelandic Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as PRINCESS MELTON.
9.9.1901: Registered at Aberdeen (A440).
9.1901: Completed (John A. Gordon, manager).
1902: New boiler fitted.
2.1902: On an Iceland trip (Sk. Harry Ellis), fishing along with about fourteen trawlers off Grindavik. The Danish coastguard ship BESKYTTEREN (300disp/1900) normally patrolling the Faroe Islands coast had moved over to Iceland and came upon the trawlers which were fishing inside the limits. She was only able to arrest three, PRINCESS MELTON, POINTER (H500) (Sk. K. Kr. Poulsen) and OLIVER CROMWELL ((H490) (Sk. Thyge Andersen Enevoldsen). The arrested trawlers were brought to anchor in Reykjavík harbour, where they were caught in a violent storm on the night of February 5/6th. The harbour was then an open roadstead and two parted their cables. PRINCESS MELTON was driven ashore along with another steamer and a coaling hulk. OLIVER CROMWELL raised steam and dropping the guard along with a note saying Sk. Enevoldsen would return to face charges, made their escape. Each trawlers was fined £56 and catch and gear confiscated. To everybody´s surprise, Enevoldsen returned later to face his charges in court. But as it was believed that the ship had been full of prime fish, he probably did not lose financially by escaping.
4.1902: Refloated by Danish salvage ship FREDERIKSHAVN (214grt/1875), temporary repairs undertaken to allow a single voyage to Hull for permanent repairs.
Late 5. 1902: Sailed Reykjavik for Hull.
12.1907: Fishing Westerly grounds (Sk. Craig).
11.1.1907: Called St. Kilda with letter bag.
9.1.1912: Sold to Thomas Lauder & James McLean (joint owners), Aberdeen (Thomas Lauder managing owner).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 90.70 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.322).
13.11.1914: At Lowestoft, parent ship HALCYON.
5.11.1918: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Noah Ashworth & Rowland Morris, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager). Based Tyne.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
16.7.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
20.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD326).
1921: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Thornton (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
26.2.1925: Sold to Alexander Jack, Glasgow.
26.2.1925: Sold to Bowden Ramster, Fleetwood (Alexander Keay, manager).
23.12.1925: Sold to Dalby Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Bowden Ramster, manager).
1932: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Preston.
12.10.1932: Fleetwood registry closed, advise received from owners “Ship broken up”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Princess Melton FD326
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.S. Beskytteren
Picture courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

S.S. Beskytteren
Picture courtesy of The Danish Maritime Museum

Princess Melton Stranding Location
Picture courtesy of The Danish Maritime Museum

Changelog
17/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
18/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from image.
16/07/2021: Updated history and technical details.
17/07/2021: Updated history and added images.