Author Archives: Bill Johnson

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253

Additional information courtesy of Barry Banham and Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 162956
Yard Number: 245
Gross Tonnage: 116.76
Net Tonnage: 52.84
Length: 94.3 ft
Breadth: 28.7 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Engine: 280ihp T.3-cyl by S. Richards & Co Ltd, Lowestoft
Boiler by Riley Brothers (boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

Note: Last steam drifter built in England

1931: Launched by S. Richards & Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd.No.245) for Alan Howard Watson, Lowestoft as MERBREEZE.
9.1931: Completed at a cost of £6,550. Allan Howard Watson designated managing owner.
24.9.1931: Registered at Lowestoft (LT253).
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood. (William Head, Lowestoft, managing agent).
3.5.1932: Sold to P. W. Watson & Sons Ltd, Lowestoft. Alan Howard Watson designated manager.
6.11.1933: At Lowestoft landed 250,000 herring (50 tons), a new port record. With 150 Drifters landing, the Scottish fisher girls were called in to work in the curing yards long before daylight and continued far into the night.
21.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (P.No.FY.953) (Hire rate £69.3.6d/month).
6.1940: Based Swansea (Ty/Sk. W. G. A. Thompson RNR).
1.1942: Based Londonderry (Ty/Lieut. H. Wright RNVR).
11.6.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T. Re-deployed as a minesweeping drifter.
6.8.1943: Lowestoft registry closed.
10.1944: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
4.1946: Transferred to Ministry of Transport.
1947: Sold to P. W. Watson & Sons Ltd, Lowestoft. Allan H. Watson designated manager.
27.2.1948: Registered at Lowestoft (LT365) after refurbishment.
26.5.1951: Sailed Newlyn for Lowestoft (Sk. Albert Bailey) having earned a record £8,000 in the 12 to 14 week mackerel fishery, though the weather was poor, hardly ever a fine night throughout. Her best catch fetched £710.
23.7.1925: At Peterhead (Sk. Albert Bailey) landed the season’s record haul, 230 crans of herring – more than 200,000 fish and fetched £650 for a single night’s fishing. Several boats operating out of Fraserburgh suffered severe loss when their nets sank with the weight of fish.
22.3.1955: Sailed Newlyn for the fishing grounds and when off the Seven Stones Light Vessel, caught in the 96 mph gale that swept the Western Approaches that night and the following morning.
23.3.1955: Returned to Newlyn with damage.
27.7.1955: Sold to The Breeze Co (Lowestoft) Ltd, Lowestoft. Allan H. Watson, Beccles designated manager.
12.10.1955: Returning to Lowestoft from the herring fishery (Sk. Arthur Bailey), when some three miles off Lowestoft in dense fog, in collision with the Middlesbrough registered steamer NORTHUMBRIAN COAST (1180grt/1935). Both vessels damaged forward and MERBREEZE skipper and two crew injured. Berthed at Lowestoft with stem twisted and bow shell plates set in. Slipped at Lowestoft for repair.
13.10.1955: NORTHUMBRIAN COAST berthed at Smith’s Dock, North Shields with considerable damage to starboard bow which will take two to three weeks to repair.
25.2.1958: Sold to Charles Henry Eastick, Gt. Yarmouth.
23.4.1958: Reported fishing on the Aberdeen grounds and landing into that port.
3. 4. 1959: Arrived Fish Quay, North Shields on passage to the Aberdeen fishing grounds. Coaled and left some of her nets in storage for the forthcoming herring season off the Tyne.
2.7.1959: Sold to Merbreeze Ltd, Lowestoft. John George Mitchell, designated manager.
14.10.1959: Surveyed and re measured 122g 42n.
14.10.1959: Completed conversion to motor by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft and fitted with 6-cyl 360bhp 4 stroke oil engine by Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, Lincoln.
28.10.1959: Trials on completion of conversion to motor.
4.7.1964: Sk. George Turrell forced to give up his job having previously been affected by the ‘Dogger Bank itch’ (a skin condition characterised by a long-lasting dermatitis caused by exposure to the sea chervil when handling nets).
26.11.1975: Sold to Colne Fishing Co Ltd, Luton, in an en bloc deal with HOSANNA (LT167) and TRITONIA (LT188). John Leggett, Lowestoft, designated manager.
18.12.1975: Lowestoft registry (Part IV) closed “Vessel no longer fishing”. Stripped of all usable parts including main engine.
1975: Engine removed, rebuilt by L.B.S. Engineering Ltd, Lowestoft and fitted in offshore platform standby safety vessel KINGFISH.
1976: Sold to T. G. Darling, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, in an en bloc deal with HOSANNA (LT167) and TRITONIA (LT188), for breaking up by East Anglian Reclamation Ltd at Nelson Wharf, Lake Lothing, Lowestoft.
13.10.1976: Lowestoft registry (Part I) closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection
Repairs after collision with NORTHUMBRIAN COAST

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection
Repairs after collision with NORTHUMBRIAN COAST

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT253
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

M.T. Merbreeze LT365

M.T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

S.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture courtesy of The Barry Banham maritime photo Collection
Engine for refurbishment and installation in KINGFISH

M.D/T. Merbreeze LT365

M.D/T. Merbreeze LT365
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
05/10/2012: Page published.
22/06/2014: Picture added.
11/01/2019: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
04/05/2019: Added an image.
13/06/2021: Updated information.
24/11/2023: Added an image.
06/12/2023: Updated history.

s.v. Pioneer FD150

Technical

Official Number: 70165
Gross Tonnage: 36
Length: 54.1 ft
Breadth: 16.2 ft
Depth: 7.9 ft
Rig: Cutter (Trawling)
Built: David Banks & Co, Queen Anne’s Battery Yard, Plymouth

History

1874: Completed by David Banks & Co, Queen Anne’s Battery yard, Plymouth as Pioneer.
1875: Sold to The Preston & Fleetwood Fishery Co Ltd, Preston, Lancashire. Registered at Fleetwood (FD150).
1877: Sold to Henry C. Burbridge & Charles Burbridge, New Docks, Galway, Co Galway. Used as a cargo vessel.
1982: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Galway.
2.11.1906: Registry closed “Vessel unfit for further use”.

Changelog
05/10/2012: Page published. 2 revisions since then.
22/10/2014: Details updated.

S.D/L. Dewy Rose FR187 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 136606
Yard Number: 414
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 100
Net Tonnage: 46
Length: 86.3 ft
Breadth: 18.7 ft
Depth: 9.0 ft
Built; John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Elliott & Garrood Ltd, Beccles

History

4.1915: Completed by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.414) for Digby, Hunt & Shreeve Ltd, London as D.H.S.
8.4.1915: Registered at Lowestoft (LT469). Edward T. Hunt, Lowestoft designated manager.
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr HA) (Ad.No.1923). Based in Mediterranean, latterly at Taranto.
1919: Returned to owner (Digby, Hunt & Shreeve, Ipswich).
26.2.1926: Sold to Alexander Watt, James Watt & James Watt Jnr, Crovie, Banffshire; Robert W. Watt & James Watt, Fraserburgh; Mrs Margaret Watt, Sandhaven; James L. A. Minty, Wick. John Watt, Sandhaven designated manager.
8.3.1926: Lowestoft registry closed.
6.4.1926: Registered at Fraserburgh as DEWY ROSE (FR187).
By 1934: Owner Mrs Margaret Watt, Sandhaven & others. George Watt, Gardenstown designated managing owner.
1936-39: Seasonal white fish lining from Fleetwood. Alex Keay, managing agent)
By 1938: Owner John & Alexander Watt, Sandhaven. John Watt designated managing owner.
9.4.1939: In dense fog, attended Liverpool steamer HILARY (7403grt/1931) (Capt Lewis Evans), Para/Manaus, Brazil – Liverpool with general and passengers, which had stranded on The Skerries, Anglesey at 12.45am. Moelfre lifeboat (Cox. John Matthews) took off 100 passengers and DEWY ROSE went alongside to embark passengers’ luggage. Landed luggage at Holyhead and returned to fishing grounds.
1940: Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd designated managers.
2.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service on balloon barrage (Hire rate £27.0.0d/month).
27.6.1944: Declared a Total loss. Fraserburgh registry closed.
1946: Sold to Norway.
1949: Sold to Johan Melbo, Ålesund, Norway. Registered at Ålesund as VAREDHORN.
1949: Converted to motor.
1949: Remeasured 107g 32n.
1956: Sold to Jon Kvalsvik, Ålesund. Registered at Ålesund as MYRNES.
1956: Re-engined with 2 stroke 4-cyl oil engine by Alpha-Diesel A/S, Frederikshavn (engine made 1951).
14.9.959: Foundered 90 miles off Dalatangi, Iceland all crew nine lost.

Note LR has her noted as a fishing vessel until her sinking, this seems to be supported by crew numbers.

Changelog
29/08/2012: Page published. 2 updates since then.
10/04/2020: Updated information.

Rough Seas

The Life of a Deep Sea Trawlerman
By James Greene

Rough Seas

Rough Seas © James Greene

I must admit that I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it is an excellent narrative, well written and easy to read. It is packed full with pictures, experiences, brushes with death, vessels, characters and anecdotes (including one about the man for who this website was originally written).

On the other hand it takes me back to a time when life was tougher, money was harder to come by but times seemed better and the seaports and fishing towns of this country were thriving and bonded communities.
It was a time before Ted Heath betrayed the fishermen of the UK by giving their livelihoods away to the EEC as the price of Britain’s membership.

Every port had its ships and its characters and many are remembered in this book. The men and their ships are all gone now together with the jobs that sustained them, and we will never see their like again. This book reminds me of the days when I used to stand on North End and watch the battered and rust streaked trawlers sail up and down the Wyre.

In all, it’s a damn good, nostalgic read and, at £12.99, well worth buying.

ISBN 987-0-7524-6453-4
Available from Amazon

S.T. Withernsea H263

Note: Wartime visitor. This entry forms part of a deeper look into the Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd and Kelsall Bros. & Beeching Ltd and the effect that they had on the fishing industry at Fleetwood.

Technical

Official Number: 144072.
Yard Number: ??
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 261
Net Tonnage: 116
Length: 132.6 ft
Breadth: 23.3 ft
Depth: 12.4 ft
Built: Flensburger Schiffsbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Flensburger Schiffsbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg

History

1918: Completed by Flensburger Schiffsbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg (Yd.No.Not recorded) for Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei Act. Ges., Wesermünde-G as APENRADE. Registered at Wesrmünde-G. Requisitioned for war service in Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) as a naval escort and assigned to 8 Geleitflotille (Escort Flotilla).
1920: Taken in reparation and assigned to Great Britain.
3.1921: Sold to Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Hull.
19.4.1921: Registered at Hull as APENRADE (H263).
22.4.1021: Registered at Hull (Part I & VI) as WITHERNSEA O.N.144072 (H263).(BoT Minute M.4695 dated 4 March 1921) O.N.144072.
8.6.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank Ltd, London (A).
22.4.1921: Joseph Vivian appointed manager.
6.3.1923: Mortgagee re-styled as Westminster Bank Ltd, London.
1925: New boiler.
22.10.1925: Robert Burton appointed manager.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to William Augustus Hayward, Eastbourne.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd, London.
22.10.1928: Robert Burton appointed manager.
27.12.1930: Capsized against dock wall, St. Andrew’s Dock, Hull. Pulled upright by fish dock tug and pumped out.
16.9.1932: Charles Hugh Emerson appointed manager.
10.1932: Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd in liquidation.
1.11.1932: Mortgage (A) transferred to Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Chelsea and Ernest Norton, London (Joint mortgagees). 1935: Insured value £4,375.
25.2.1936: Sailed Hull for Faroes grounds (Sk. Gough).
10.3.1936: At Hull landed 350 kits (14 days) grossed £561. Laid up.
3.1936: Combined boxing and trawling fleet of Kelsall Bros. & Beeching Ltd and the Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd consisting of 59 vessels laid up at Hull (declining catches, coal bill and increased maintenance costs had made the venture uneconomical).
6.3.1936: At Extraordinary General Meeting at Hull, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd placed in Creditors’ Voluntary Winding-up (Richard Field Helm of Messrs Hodgson Harris & Co, London appointed liquidators).
8.6.1936: Sold by mortgagee under mortgage (A) to David Pearson, Hull (managing owner).
14.1.1937: Vessel (64/64) mortgage for £750 with interest at 5% with Harry Markham Cook, Grimsby (B).
31.3.1937: Mortgage (B) discharged.
31.3.1937: Vessel (64/64) mortgage for £1,000 with interest at 5% with Harry Markham Cook, Grimsby (C).
1.1938: Sold by mortgagee under mortgage (C) to A/S Shetland (F. N. Nordbö A/S), Haugesund.
25.1.1938: Hull registry closed “Sold to foreigners (Norwegian subjects) for trading”. To be renamed SHETLAND but remained at Haugesund laid up still under old name.
14.4.1939: Sold to “Lawica” Rybolowstwo Dalekomorskiie i Zegluga Sp.z.o.o., Gdynia (“Lawica” Deep-Sea Fishing & Shipping Ltd)(Kazimierza Orthweina, Wincenty Bartosiak & others) through Gdynia shipbrokers Rummel & Burton for £2,550.
18.5.1939: Registered at Polish Consulate in Oslo at Gdynia as LAWICA I(GDY141).
19.5.1939: Polish crew took over ship and sailed for Gdynia.
15.7.1939: Repairs completed. Being ready for sea before the start of the North Sea herring season it was decided to fish the Icelandic grounds and Sk. Stanislaw Ploszko was appointed*. A good landing was made at Gdynia, then employed on North Sea herring.
31.8.1939: Arrived Hull under orders of Polish authorities. Laid over.
9.9.1939: Moved to St. Andrews Dock and painted Admiralty Grey, it was believed that the ship was being prepared for Admiralty service, but later instructions cancelled and ship returned to lay up.
5.10.1939: Bare boat chartered to Hellyer Brothers Ltd, Hull and transferred to British flag.
26.10.1939: Transferred to Fleetwood (Sk. Stanislaw Ploszko).
16.11.1939: After an unsuccessful trip in heavy weather on the West of Scotland grounds in which she sustained severe damage, Hellyer Bros wished to end the charter.
7.12.1939: Repaired and placed on sales list at £8,000.
27.12.1939: After difficult negotiations sold for £7,270 to Hellyer Brothers Ltd, Hull with clause to buy back after war. Placed in registered ownership of Loch Fishing Co of Hull Ltd (64/64), Hull.
12.1939: Requisitioned for war service as auxiliary patrol vessel, based at Fleetwood on shipping control.
4.3.1940: Registered at Hull as WITHERNSEA (H??). Harry Wright appointed manager.
8.4.1940: Sold to The Admiralty (Minute S.F.4974/40) aware of terms of previous sale contract.
4.6.1940: Ty/Sk. Arthur Garforth RNR appointed CO.
7.1940: Commissioned as a minesweeper (P.No.FY1637).
1942: Based Grimsby with M/S Group 21.
18.8.1945: Ty/Sk. William John Henry Smith RNR appointed CO.
11.1945: Paid off. Laid up at Methil.
3.1946: Returned to Hellyer Brothers Ltd, Hull and under terms of previous sales, sold to “Lawica” Rybolowstwo Dalekomorskiie i Zegluga Sp.z.o.o., London. Registered at Gdynia as LAWICA (GDY83).
9.4.1946: Sailed Methil for Gdynia (Sk. Victor Gorzadek).
18.4.1946: Arrived Gdynia. Renovated and rebuilt by Shipyard No.13 and re entered service (Sk. Victor Gorzadek).
5.7.1946: Company registered in the Polish commercial register after office moved from England back to Poland.
1947: Took part in North Sea herring fishery (Sk. Victor Gorzadek). Out of season attempted to fish Baltic grounds but still heavily mined. Engaged in chilled/frozen transport Gdynia – Hull.
16.12.1949: By Order of the Ministry of Navigation the holding company and assets to be placed under control of the Polish People’s Republic. Zbigniew Kollesinskiego appointed manager.
1950: Company and assets transferred to “Dalmor” Przedsiobiorstwo Polowow Dalekomorskich Sp.z.ogr.odp, Gdynia (Polish Government).
10.1950: Fishing English Channel and Sandettie ground for herring (Sk. Wladyslaw Dettlaff), had record landing.
4.1957: Withdrawn and laid up.
12.1957: Towed to Gdynia Shipyard Repair for breaking up.
1958: Gdynia registry closed broken up.

Note* LAWICA I was the first Polish deep sea trawler to fish the Icelandic grounds with only a Polish crew.

Click to enlarge images

Skipper

Wladyslaw Dettlaff
Picture from the Internet

Lawica GDY 83

Lawica GDY 83
Picture from the Internet

Lawica GDY 83

Lawica GDY 83
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Lawica GDY83

S.T. Lawica GDY83
Picture from the Internet

Lawica GDY 83

Lawica GDY 83
Picture from the Internet

Withernsea H253

Withernsea H253
Picture from the Internet

Withernsea H253

Withernsea H253
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
26/06/2012: Page published. 9 updates since then.
04/04/2021: Updated history.
07/05/2021: Added an image.