Author Archives: Bill Johnson

s.v. Secret FD161

Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships, Christine Simm and Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 5587
Built: W. Moore & Son, Plymouth
As built: 32 tons burthen 49.0 x 13.6 x 8.1 feet
Gross Tonnage: 30.46
Net Tonnage: 20.44
Length: 51.9 ft
Breadth: 15.5 ft
Depth: 8.3 ft
Rig: Smack (sloop rigged) Trawling and lining

History

1848: Completed by W. Moore & Son, Plymouth for Daniel Oyns (32/64) and Joseph Germain (32/64), Plymouth as SECRET.
29.7.1948: Builder’s Certificate issued.
5.8.1848: Registered at Plymouth. Fishing out of Hull.
27.1.1854: Caught on fire in the Humber Dock about 3.00am due to cabin stove being overheated. Fire reported by boy sleeping onboard and quickly suppressed by police and fishermen. Later fire was found to have spread to hold and a considerable amount of damage done.
29.8.1854: Daniel Oyns shares (32/64) sold to Joseph Germain, Plymouth (64/64).
7.9.1854: Plymouth registry closed.
7.9.1854: Registered at Hull.
29/30.7.1858: Took part in the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club annual regatta for a purse of 20 sovs.
15.1.1859: FISHING SMACK FOR SALE. TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT, the fine fast sailing FISHING SMACK “SECRET”. 50 tons Register, Copper fastened; built by W. Moor Esq, Plymouth. Also from 18 – 20 tons of Iron Ballast. She is well found in stores, and can be put to sea without any further expense. For particulars apply to Mr RICHD. HAMLING, 19 Castlerow, Hull.
1.1959: Sold to Messrs Sumner, Hazlitt & Co, Fleetwood.
30.1.1859: Arrived Hull with Captain Osborne and crew of the Yarmouth brigantine PROVIDENCE (76nrt/1852) bound Hartlepool for Yarmouth with coals, the vessel having foundered on the Dogger Bank, 27th January. Crew returned to Yarmouth by agents of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Benevolent Society.
8.1859: Hull registry closed.
19.8.1859: Registered at Fleetwood (FD161).
22.3.1861: TO BE SOLD, by private treaty, one fourth share of the well-known FISHING SMACKS, “SARAH” and “SECRET”. The above are well found, and are now fishing. This is an opportunity that seldom presents itself to parties desirous of commencing the fishing trade, as there is certainty of a quick return of the money invested. Satisfactory reasons for disposing of the above may be had, with particulars, on application to Mr. JAMES HAZLITT, 33 Albert Street, Fleetwood.
6.5.1864: At about 8.00pm running up the Wyre Channel under a NNW light breeze and half flood (Sk. Richard Wright). The smack reached the Wyre Light at about 8.30pm with the intention of passing on the NE side. For some inexplicable reason the smack came into violent collision with two piles on the NE side of the light, breaking one pile and another only held up by the attached iron ladder. On arrival the skipper reported the incident immediately; the owners will be responsible for the cost of repairs.
1864: Owned by Edward Curedale, Bury.
1873: Sold to James Hazlitt, Fleetwood & others.
30.6.1881: Sailed Fleetwood for the fishing grounds. Sk. John Greenwood; Isaac Lloyd and Peter Anyon, fishermen.
2.7.1881: At about 3.30pm having hauled the trawl and engaged in washing the fish. Anyon was drawing water when he suddenly threw the bucket down and made a bound for the stern of the boat. Greenwood seeing the action at once tackled him and both fell to the deck, Anyon was first up and without saying a word, threw himself over the side amidships. The two men on deck saw him a short distance from the smack and threw an oar overboard for him to grab and hold him afloat. Anyon appeared to put his head underwater to avoid looking back at the boat. Seeing this, Greenwood put the smack in stays and went towards him, the sea was very calm but they could see Anyon slowly floating away, when he was some 40 yards away he appeared to change his mind and started to swim back towards them or try to get hold of the oar but his strength failed him and he was was lost to sight. The smack was sailed around the area three times, picking up Anyon’s hat and the oar, but with no sign of him, they turned for home. At 12.00 pm they arrived at the Wyre Light.
3.7.1881: At 3.30am berthed in Fleetwood and later reported the incident to the authorities. It was noted that to all appearance he was in his right mind and had been working aloft that day, however later he looked as if he was in delirium tremens, this supposition strengthened by the fact that he had been drinking heavily for for some days prior to sailing.
29.8.1881: Reported that at Poulton County Court, an action was brought by Mr Blezzard, Fleetwood, to recover the sum of £8 from James Hazlitt, the sum for which certain moorings in the river were sold. James Leadbetter was asked to sell the moorings for which he obtained £8, assuring that the mooring was sound. It was submitted that the moorings were in poor condition at the time of the sale and it was impossible for a boat to ride there without coming into contact with other vessels. The captain of the SECRET after riding at the moorings once, told Leadbetter that they were not safe to ride on and left to ride on those of the ROBERT and EMILY (FD126). James Abrams, captain of the EMBLEM (FD146), had also been at the moorings and did not consider them safe to ride on. Very good moorings could be had for £6. Verdict for the plaintiff.
3.11.1882: TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION by Mr ROBERT WESTBY, At the CROWN HOTEL, FLEETWOOD on MONDAY, the 6th day of NOVEMBER, At TWO o’clock in the afternoon prompt, subject to conditions to be then produced. … Also the following valuable FISHING SMACKS And Shares in Schooners, Smacks & other Vessels. The whole of the Smack “SECRET”. This Smack was built at Plymouth in 1848. Length 51.9 feet, breadth 15.5 feet, depth 8.3 feet, tonnage 30.46. She has one Mainsail, one Foresail, two Jib sails, Trawl Nets and Beam, and all other appurtenances and utensils. This Smack now lies in Fleetwood Dock and can be viewed up to the day of Sale; The whole of the Smack ‘WILLIAM and JOHN”; 22/64 Shares in the Smack “EMBLEM”, 20/64 shares in the Smack “ROBERT and EMILY”; 16/64 shares in the Smack “LORD MARMION”; 50 £10 shares in the Fleetwood Fishing Company Ltd (£9 paid up).etc, etc. For further particulars and information apply to the AUCTIONEER, or to Mr ALFRED BARKER, solicitor, 8 Victoria Street, Fleetwood.
6.11.1882: Sold to William Fairclough, 23 Kemp St, Fleetwood & others for the sum of £120. William Fairclough designated managing owner.
28.7.1888: Sold to William Fairclough (64/64), Fleetwood. William Fairclough designated managing owner.
21/22.12.1894: A whole fleet of trawlers and cargoes were lost during the great storm over Europe.
21.12.1894: Returned to Fleetwood at 11.00pm evading the storm.
2/3.9.1902: The majority of the Fleetwood fishing smacks, were at sea when the gale sprang up but managed to reach shelter without loss of life. Most had a very rough time of it resulting in sails torn or blown away, spars broken and otherwise damaged. In the afternoon, to seaward of the Wyre Light with sails blown away hoisted signals of distress. Paddle tug LUNE (252grt/1892) attended, connected and brought safely to port.
30.9.1904: While making for the port and off the Promenade at Fleetwood run down by steam trawler CITY of MANCHESTER (FD193); crew abandoned in boat and landed safely. Salved and beached near the dock but badly damaged and in view of age beyond economical repair.
21.10.1904: Fleetwood registry closed. “Vessel sold to be broken up. Advice received from owner.”

Changelog
14/01/2014: Information updated.
29/11/2014: Information updated.
01/09/2023: Major update to information.

S.T. Burmah FD148

Technical

Official Number: 99555
Yard Number: 472
Completed: 1892
Gross Tonnage: 144
Net Tonnage: 30
Length: 106.0 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 10.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Boiler: J. T. Eltringham & Co, South Shields
Built: Hepple & Co Ltd, North Shields

History

2.11.1891: Launched by Hepple & Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.472) for George Beeching, Hull (managing owner) as BURMAH.
1.1892: Completed.
9.2.1892: Registered at Hull (H185).
1.1897: Sold to Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester (John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood, managers).
25.9.1896: In the morning, when some 25 miles S of Old Head of Kinsale, picked up eight crew of the Cape Clear Island fishing lugger, St. COLUMBA (S101)(40tons/1885) fishing out of Glendore, Co. Cork, which had foundered at 2.00am. carrying some 3,000 mackerel. In evening landed survivors at Queenstown, Co. Cork.
1.1897: Hull registry closed.
13.1.1897: Registered at Fleetwood (FD148).
1899: Transferred to Hull.
4.4.1899: Registered at Hull (H86).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
13.4.1905: Lengthened 119.0 ft 168g 63n.
13.4.1905: Hull registry closed on lengthening and re-opened as (H86).
8.9.1911: Registered office transferred to Hull (George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London, managers).
10.1914: Requisitioned for war service, appointed as a minesweeper.
11.1914: Returned to owner.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released.
7.6.1919: John Slater, London, appointed manager.
18.12.1923: On North Sea grounds. Received a signal believed from WREN (H215) which foundered, but unable to proceed in blizzard conditions.
23.12.1923: Arrived in Hull without funnel and part of wheelhouse, damage sustained in recent severe weather conditions.
1.1924: Laid up without repair.
1924: Sold for breaking up.
6.5.1924: Hull registry closed “Sold to Shipbreakers”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Burmah H86

S.T. Burmah H86
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page created. 5 revisions since then.
08/10/2014: Picture added.
19/08/2016: Information added.
29/08/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Adventure FD154

Technical

Official Number: 109728
Yard Number: 398
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 184
Net Tonnage: 49
Length: 110.2 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.4 ft
Built: Brooklyn Steam Fishing Co Ltd
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

12.3.1906: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.398) for Henry A. Tweddell, Hartlepool as ADVENTURE.
4.1906: Completed.
14.4.1906: Registered at Hartlepool (HL19 ).
1909: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Sk. G. Aket).
1912: Sold to Richard Watson Mason & John Wright, Fleetwood. Richard W. Mason designated managing owner.
9.1912: Hartlepool registry closed.
14.9.1912: Registered at Fleetwood (FD154).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 71.05net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
13.3.1915: Twelve miles off Black Head, Rhins of Galloway. Picked up body from damaged lifeboat ex auxiliary merchant cruiser BAYANO (5948grt/1913) torpedoed 3 miles west of Corsewall Point, Rhins of Galloway (55.03N 5.26W) by U-boat (U27).
11.3.1915. Put in to Ramsey to land body later identified as CPO H. B. Williams.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA). Renamed ADVENTURE II (Ad.No.2771).
6.6.1916: Sold to Brooklyn Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Richard W. Mason, manager).
26.3.1917: Sold to Margaret Fawns, Granton.
4.10.1917: Sold to Archibald Glen Brown, Granton.
14.10.1917: Reverted to ADVENTURE (FD154).
1919: Returned to owner.
1.1920: Sold to John Mitchell, Peterhead. Robert S. Mitchell designated manager.
25.2.1920: Fleetwood registry closed.
26.2.1920: Registered at Peterhead (PD239).
1921: Sold to Imperial Cold Storage & Supply Co Ltd. Aberdeen.
6.1.1922: Trawling off Buchan Ness (Sk. William Cowe); ten crew in total. On hauling 10 miles SSE of Buchan Ness, mine in trawl exploded causing hull damage on the starboard side in way of the fishroom. Pumps could not cope with ingress of water and abandoned before foundering. All crew saved by another trawler.
13.1.1922: Peterhead registry closed “Totally lost”. Wreck lies upright in 71metres in position 57.24N 01.37W facing south-east.
Click to enlarge image

S.T. Adventure HL19

S.T. Adventure HL19
Picture from the Internet

Note Adventure’s Bell salvaged by Buchan Shipwrecks. Wreck found & dived 24 August 2007 at 57 24.097N 01 37.318W 7 miles east of Cruden Bay.

Adventure's Bell

Adventure’s Bell
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 8 updates since then.
27/07/2015: Information updated.
02/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
11/06/2019: Minor information update.

S.T. Betty Johnson FD168

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical
Admiralty Number: 3782
Official Number: 143256
Yard Number: 403
Completed: 1919
As built: As built 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290 (later 280.59)
Net Tonnage: 127 (later 107.82)
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 550ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

24.9.1918: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.403) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JOHN GULIPSTER. (Ad.No.3782).
5.2.1919: Forms for tender to purchase received by the Admiralty.
3.1919: Sold to James Johnson, Scarborough.
17.4.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel
6.5.1919: Registered at Scarborough Part I & IV as BETTY JOHNSON, Official No.143256 (SH50).
5.1919: Sailed Scarborough for Iceland.
22.5.1919: Fishing Icelandic grounds. At 8.00am. net came fast when hauling. Frederick Trever (25), Hull was working near winch when gilson wire parted causing bobbins to fall on him; dragged clear but found to be dead.
12.4.1920: Sold to Prince Fletcher Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Harry Melling & P. Fletcher appointed managers.
7.3.1922: In Wyre Dock. At about 4.00pm Messrs J. Preston & Sons delivered two one cwt drums of carbide and placed them under cover in the engine room alley-way. At about 5.10pm vessel left Wyre Dock and proceeded down river. Meanwhile. one of the two firemen, named Henry C. Corns, who had only reported himself on board a few minutes before the vessel left the quay, and who had gone forward to change his clothes, came on deck. On reaching the alley-way he saw the drums of carbide, and not wishing to go down below empty-handed carried one of them down the ladder and handed it to the Second Engineer in the engine-room and went back for the other. His method of carrying the drum down the ladder was to hold on to the rails with both hands and support the drum on his left knee, and this was the method commonly adopted on this vessel. When carrying the second drum and when nearing the foot of the ladder, described by another witness as a very steep one, both his feet for some unaccountable reason slipped off the ladder and the drum of carbide fell into the engine crankcase and was crushed with the next revolution of the engine. With water in the bilge and a lamp burning in the room the acetylene generated by the contact of the carbide with the bilge water was immediately ignited and an explosion followed. The Chief Engineer, Harry Jackson, was blown by the force of the explosion into such a position under the boiler that he could not extricate himself, and when after some time had elapsed it was found possible to reach and remove him, life was found to be practically extinct. His cries for help show, however, that he was not even rendered unconscious by the initial explosion. Corns, the unwitting cause of the accident, was blown towards the door of the stoke-hold and eventually escaped with difficulty up the ladder, and Joseph Wiley, the Second Engineer, had his leg so badly fractured that amputation was necessary, and he was badly burned as well. John Bateman, the cook, who for some reason was standing at the top of the ladder, was so injured by the burst of flame as to lose his eyesight and sense of smell. Material damage to the vessel was small.
26.6.1922: At an Inquiry held at Fleetwood by Major A. Cooperkey CB, HM Chief Inspector of Explosives concluded that “ The explosion was not an unavoidable accident, and would not have occurred (a) if the carbide had been removed below before the engines were started, or (b) if proper means had been adopted to remove it below.”
7.9.1925: Trawling in Firth of Clyde off Pladda Light (Sk. James Scott). Sighted by Scottish Fishery Board’s cruiser VIGILANT and signalled to heave to, but steamed away and chased for 24 miles. Escaped but name and port of registry noted.
23.9.1925: At Rothesay Sheriff Court, James Scott pleaded guilty to illegal fishing by means of otter trawl; concealing name, number and port of registry; refusing to stop when ordered by Fishery Cruiser. The defence was that Scott had come into the Firth to seek medical attention for the mate who had injured a finger. Found guilty on all counts and fined a total of £100 or alternatively 120 days imprisonment.
24.11.1927: Scarborough registry closed.
1927: Sold to Melling Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
29.12.1927: Registered at Fleetwood as ANNIE MELLING (FD168). Henry Melling appointed manager.
25.04.1929: Sailed Fleetwood for St. Kilda, onboard was Mrs. Jack Carter, 25 years-old wife of Skipper Jack Carter, who is probably the only member of her sex who goes regularly to sea on a steam trawler. Skipper Carter is also 25 years of age, and they been married about two years. Mrs. Carter says the reason she goes to sea is because she becomes lonely on shore when her husband is away. While the crew are engaged in fishing operations Mrs. Carter either sits on deck watching the crew or reads in her husband’s cabin. Among the deep-sea fishermen at Fleetwood Mrs. Carter has been dubbed “The Bride of the Sea”. She is said to be the only Manx woman who has spent a night on the island of St. Kilda.
13.10.1930: Fishing off Morecambe Bay (Sk. Jack Carter). Whilst preparing to shoot the trawl, one of the otter boards dropped crushing the fingers on the right hand of Sk. Carter. First aid rendered and on docking taken to hospital where end of middle finger was amputated.
1930: Henry Melling ceased to be manager.
12.1931: Sold to William C. Farrow, Hull.
17.12.1931: Fleetwood registry closed.
21.12.1931: Registered at Hull (H399).
12.1.1932: Registered at Hull as ANDREW MARVEL (H399).
23.3.1933: Sold to Hudson Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. (Hudson Brothers Trawlers Ltd, managers.
8.7.1935: Sailed Hull for Faroe grounds.
9.7.1935: Arrived Hull to report the loss of trimmer Leonard J Beavers (28) on his first trip. When loss discovered, searched vessel and then retraced course but despite every effort and hampered by darkness failed to find any trace of man.
12.1935: Sold to Thomas L. Devlin & Sons, Granton.
18.12.1935: Hull registry closed.
1.1936: Registered at Granton as COMITATUS (GN39). Thomas L. Devlin Jnr appointed manager.
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.633) (Hire rate £90.12.6d/month).
1942: Sold to Mrs Elizabeth D. Breen, Edinburgh
9.10.1945: Returned to owner after restoration and survey at Glasson Dock. Sold to Dinas Steam Trawler Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
12.1949: Fishing in The Minch (Sk. Horace Blyth). Sighted and apprehended by HMS WELCOME (P.No.J386), Fishery Protection Squadron, fishing 11/2 miles offshore near Stornoway Harbour.
16.12.1949: Pleaded guilty by letter claiming visibility was only half-a-mile at the time, but the Sheriff accepted the evidence of HMS WELCOME that visibility was five miles and fined Blyth £50; gear was not ordered to be confiscated Blyth lost his job on account of this incident.
2.1952: Sold to Queen Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby. Charles Alford Osborne appointed manager.
2.1952: Granton registry closed.
8.2.1952: Registered at Grimsby (GY228).
12.6.1956: Grimsby registry closed “… on sale of vessel to foreigners (Belgian subjects).
19.6.1956: Sold to Van Heyghen Freres S.A., Ghent for breaking up.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Annie Melling FD168

S.T. Annie Melling FD168
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Commitatus GY228

S.T. Commitatus GY228
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Andrew Marvel H399

S.T. Andrew Marvel H399
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
17/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
06/06/2015: Picture added.
29/09/2016: Significant information update.
29/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
21/08/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Ava FD145

Technical

Official Number: 105916
Yard Number: 514
Completed: 1896
Gross Tonnage: 162
Net Tonnage: 52
Length: 107.0 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by N. E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edwards Bros Ltd, North Shields

History

1.2.1896: Launched by Edwards Bros Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.514) for George Beeching, Fleetwood as AVA.
17.2.1896: Registered at Fleetwood (FD145).
2.1896: Completed. George Beeching designated managing owner.
1897: Sold to Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester. John E. A. Kelsall, Fleetwood appointed manager.
1899: Transferred to Hull.
1.4.1899: Registered at Hull (H78).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
24.2.1910: Foundered in North Sea.
24.3.1910: Hull registry closed “ Vessel foundered in North Sea 24th February 1910”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Ava FD145

Scanned from an Icelandic publication by Birgir Þórisson
S.T. Ava FD145

Changelog
17/05/2012: Page published. 6 updates since then.
22/08/2017: Removed FMHT watermark.