S.T. Wyre Mariner (2) FD34 | The Bosun's Watch

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 187848
Yard Number: 1412
Completed: 1956
Gross Tonnage: 656
Net Tonnage: 244
Length: 169.0 ft
Breadth: 30.5 ft
Depth: 16.0 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 900ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Fitted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150°F

History

Note: Last steam trawler built for Fleetwood

13.2.1956: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1412) for Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood as WYRE MARINER.
23.7.1956: Completed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD34). Leslie Wheildon appointed manager.
1956: Maiden trip from Icelandic grounds (Sk. Percy Bedford), landed 1145 kits grossed £7900.
4.1958: From a 10 day Icelandic trip (Sk. Percy Bedford) grossed £10,797 and set a new average daily gross of £1,079.
8.4.1960: Sailed Fleetwood for Bear Island grounds (Sk. Percy Bedford).
9.4.19060: Off West Coast of Scotland answered distress call from steam trawler ROYAL MARINE (GY213) disabled with engine trouble. Closed, connected and commenced tow to Fleetwood.
11.4.1960: Delivered Fleetwood after 250 mile tow, transferred to tugs BISPHAM (21grt/1938) and LANDY II (66grt/1949) and brought into dock.
14.9.1960: On E coast Icelandic grounds (Sk. Percy Bedford) approx 30 miles from shore, in heavy weather and 45mph gale, LORD LLOYD (FD52) started to take in water. Crew secured two liferafts together abandoned and taken onboard.
15. 9.1960: Vessel still afloat, boarded and secured line and towed to Seydisfjordur. Sk. Percy A. Bedford arrested for illegal fishing said to have been carried out on 7.7.1960 off the island of Hvalbakur.
17.9.1960: Court in Reykjavik fined Sk. Bedford £2000 or seven months imprisonment.
1960: Top Fleetwood trawler.
11.1.1961: At Fleetwood landed 920 boxes (including 620 boxes of plaice), £9,223 gross.
19.4.1961: At Fleetwood landed 1,430 kits (including nearly 900 kits of haddock), £6,000 gross from a 17 day Icelandic trip.
26.4.1961: At Fleetwood landed 1,003 kits, £6,452 gross from a 12 day Icelandic trip.
1961: Top Fleetwood trawler grossed £108,000.
20.3.1962: Arrested for alleged fishing inside six mile limit off Westman Islands, Iceland.
25.3.1962: Court in Reykjavik fined Sk. Percy Bedford £1670 and confiscated gear and catch (about £625).
21.1.1964: Inward from Icelandic grounds, in thick fog in Wyre Channel ran on mussel beds off Lifeboat Slipway and came fast.
22.1.1964. Tug from Barrow and local boats unsuccessful in refloating.
23.1.1964. Motor trawlers BORDER PRINCE (KY198), STAR of FREEDOM (FD215) and GOODWILL (FD113) alongside and loaded catch of 1,120 kits for transfer to market.
24.1.1964: Landing grossed £4800.
26.1.1964: Refloated with tug assistance and proceeded into Wyre Dock.
4.1968: Transferred within Associated Fisheries Group (later British United Trawlers Ltd) to Northern Trawlers Ltd, Grimsby.
4.1968: Fleetwood registry closed.
10.4.1968: Registered at Grimsby (GY2).
25.4.1968: Registered at Grimsby as NORTHERN SUN (GY2).
5.1976: Sold to Blyth Shipbreakers & Repairers Ltd, Blyth for breaking up.
6.1976: Breaking commenced.
28.6.1976: Grimsby registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Wyre Mariner FD34
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

S.T. Wyre Mariner FD34
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Wyre Mariner FD34
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Wyre Mariner FD34
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Wyre Mariner FD34
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

S.T. Wyre Mariner FD34
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Northern Sun GY21
Picture courtesy of The Steve Farrow Collection

S.T. Northern Sun GY2
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Northern Sun GY2
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
12/01/2009: Page published. 9 revisions since then.
19/09/2014: Updated information.
04/10/2014: Mended broken pic link.
04/12/2014: Picture added.
03/08/2018: Removed disputed images and updated history.
10/11/2020: Updated history.