Technical

Official Number: 108524
Yard Number: 549
Completed: 1897
Gross Tonnage: 143
Net Tonnage: 43
Length: 106 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 11 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edward Bros, North Shields

History

15.4.1897: Launched by Edwards Bros, North Shields (Yd.No.549) for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester as SNIPE.
21.5.1897: Registered at Fleetwood (FD168).
5.1897: Completed (John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood, managers).
3.1899: Transferred to Hull.
8.4.1899: Registered at Hull (H133).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
22.10.1904: The Dogger Bank Incident. Shelled and damaged by Russian Navy Baltic Fleet while fishing on the Dogger Bank. Russians on passage to the Pacific in the darkness opened fire on the trawlers (approx 45 vessels) under the impression that they were about to be attacked.
2.1.1911: On North sea grounds with gale force winds and heavy seas running (Sk.Griffiths). Shortly before dawn saw signals of distress from a vessel some distance away. Closed and found Norwegian barque BAMSE (957grt/??) being smashed about and helpless. Steam trawler RUFF (H34) went to her assistance and had boat launched and manned when a heavy sea struck the barque and she capsized and foundered; none of her crew seen and presumed all lost.
8.9.1911: Registered office transferred to Hull (George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London, managers).
23.9.1911: Re-measured after lengthening to 119.0 ft 165g 64n.
23.9.1911: Hull registry closed and vessel registered anew in consequence of material alterations (H133).
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.384). Based Scapa.
1920: Returned to owner at Hull.
7.6.1919: John Slater, London appointed manager.
10.1921: Foundered after being involved in a collision in North Sea.
28.12.1922: Hull registry closed “Total loss”.

Changelog
07/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
16/06/2016: Information updated.