Author Archives: Bill Johnson

S.D/T. Three Kings LT517 (Seasonal)

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach and Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 127357
Yard Number: 377
Completed: 1912
Gross Tonnage: 98
Net Tonnage: 41
Length: 86.0 ft
Breadth: 18.45 ft
Depth: 9.0 feet
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by James Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen
Built: John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen

History

1912: Launched by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.377) for for George Addison, Cullen & others as THREE KINGS.
1912: Completed (George Addison managing owner). Registered at Banff (BF495).
5.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.2419). Based at Larne.
1916: Sold to Alexander Mair, Buckie & others (Alexander Mair managing owner).
1919: Returned to owner at Buckie (Jas. Archibold, Buckie).
29.5.1920: Sold to John Victor Breach (64/64), Lowestoft. John Victor Breach appointed managing owner.
29.5.1920: Sold to Jack Breach Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. John Victor Breach appointed manager.
29.5.1920: Registered at Lowestoft (LT517).
1.6.1920: Banff registry closed.
9.6.1923: Stranded at Lerwick. Steam drifters EILEEN EMMA (LT342) and JUST REWARD (LT726) connected, refloated and returned to Lerwick.
26.7.1925: With steam drifters TWO BOYS (LT1157) and UNITED FRIENDS (LT55) succeeded in refloating the Norwegian steamer GEZINA (1828grt/1917), which had stranded on Dennis Head, North Ronaldsay in dense fog.
12.6.1926: At Lerwick sustained damage in collision with steam drifter CLOVERDALE (BF170).
18.7.1928: At Stronsay, Orkney with broken propeller.
1930s: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood (Alex Keay managing agent).
13.8.1930: At Fraserburgh with broken propeller.
31.8.1934: At Workington (Sk. H. Stone) with broken propeller.
5.5.1936: With Sk. A. Catchpole, sustained damage in collision with steam drifter CLARA SUTTON (HL88).
15.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (1-MG) (P.No.FY918) (Hire rate £27.0.0d/month).
1.1.1942: At Harwich LL sweep drifter (Hire rate increased to £27.013.6d/month).
1.1944: John Victor Breach died.
9.4.1944: Ronald H. Self appointed manager.
9.1944: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1945: Returned to owner. Laid up.
19.4.1945: Charles William Dance appointed manager.
26.7.1946: Jack Breach Ltd reconstituted as The Shoals Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Charles W. Dance, manager).
29.11.1946: Lowestoft fishing registry closed “No longer used for fishing”.
7.1947: Sold to Belgian principals for breaking up (Sanctioned by MOT letter No. GSP 6477 dated 9.7.1948).
14.6.1950: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Changelog

20/09/2011: Page published. 6 updates since then.

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

In Boston (Fleetwood) ownership. Did not fish from Fleetwood.

Technical

Official Number: 181351
Yard Number: 759
Completed: 1948
Gross Tonnage: 689
Net Tonnage: 249
Length: 181.7 ft
Breadth: 30.6 ft
Depth: 15.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Fitted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150 ° F
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley, 1948

History

24.5.1948: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.795) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BOSTON SEAFIRE.
6.10.1948: Registered at Hull (H584).
27.10.1948: Completed. Basil A. Parkes appointed manager.
19.1.1952: Sold to Hudson Brothers Trawlers Ltd, Hull (Thomas Hudson, manager). Registered at Hull as CAPE TARIFA (H584).
5.2.1960: Company and assets taken over by Ross Group, Grimsby.
26.11.1961: Registered at Hull as ROSS TARIFA (H584).
27.6.1967: Transferred to Grimsby.
1968: Sold to Van Heyghen Freres S.A., Ghent for breaking up.
6.3.1968: In tandem tow with ROSS DUNER (H85) by London motor tug MOORCOCK (272grt/1959 – 1600bhp) Humber for Zeebruges, lost ROSS DUNER off the South Falls Buoy. Stranded near Dunkirk but subsequently refloated and delivered to Zeebruges.
7.3.1968: Broke away from tug and stranded on Goodwin Sands 11/4 miles from East Goodwin Light Vessel. Settled and lost to sands.
3.1968: Hull registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture by Donald Innes courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Boston Seafire H584

S.T. Boston Seafire H584
Picture by Mike Thompson courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Cape Tarifa H584

S.T. Cape Tarifa H584
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Ross Tarifa H584

S.T. Ross Tarifa H584
Picture courtesy of The JanH Collection

Changelog

19/09/2011: Page published. 7 updates since then.
03/12/2019: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.D/T. King Herring LT401 (Seasonal)

Technical

Official Number: 128543
Yard Number: 201
Completed: 1909
Gross Tonnage: 100
Net Tonnage: 37
Length: 87.2 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.1 ft
Engine: C.2-cyl and boiler by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee
Built: Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee

History

1909: Launched by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.201for George H. Hansell, Gt. Yarmouth as KING HERRING.
10.1909: Completed. George H. Hansell appointed managing owner.
18.11.1909: Registered at Yarmouth (YH7).
10.1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr HA) (Ad.No.1922). Based Aegean Sea.
1919: Returned to owner at Gt. Yarmouth (George H. Hansell & John Thomas Cullen Salmon, Gt. Yarmouth).
1919: Sold to Great Yarmouth Steam Trawlers Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth (George H. Hansell, manager).
1927: Sold to George H. Hansell, Gt. Yarmouth (managing owner).
1928: Sold to Sydney E. Catchpole, Pakefield (managing owner).
12.9.1928: Yarmouth registry closed.
13.9.1928: Registered at Lowestoft (LT401).
1930/31: Seasonal whitefish trawling from Fleetwood.
1938: Sold to to Dutch principals for breaking up.
3.11.1938: Lowestoft registry closed.

Changelog

09/09/2011: Page published. 8 updates since then.

S.D/T. Humorous LT691 (Seasonal)

Additional material courtesy of Roy Breach

Technical

Official Number: 136622
Yard Number: 32
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 101,35
Net Tonnage: 38.79
Length: 87.5 ft
Breadth: 18.5 ft
Depth: 9.0 ft
Built: Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby
Engine: 190ihp C.2-cyl by Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby
Boiler: Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1.1916: Launched by Charlton & Co Ltd, Grimsby (Yd.No.32) for George Thomas Hume (64/64), Lowestoft as HUMOROUS.
5.1916: Completed.
20.5.1916: Registered at Lowestoft (LT691). Requisitioned from the builders for war service as an A/S net drifter (1-3pdr) (Ad.No.2744). Based in Aegean Sea.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft (George T. Hume, Lowestoft).
1921: White fish trawling from Scarborough (Sk. Harry “Whisper” Cammish and Jim “Batten’er down” Crawford). Richard Wardle Crawford managing agent. At Scarborough alongside pier, at low water heeled over and fell on starboard side causing damage. Richard Wardle Crawford sought compensation from Scarborough Harbour Commissioners citing the state of the harbour bottom as the cause.
16.6.1922: Case heard before the High Court of Justice, Admiralty Division.
17.1.1926: At Brixham delivered steam drifter EVENING PRIMROSE (LT1117) which had been picked up disabled with a fouled propeller.
30.1.1926: Sold to Hollingshurst Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. George Breach appointed manager.
21.9.1926: George Breach died. Share ownership transferred to executors, Louisa Breach, George Alan Breach & Wm. Hutchings all Lowstoft (64/64 joint owners). George Alan Breach designated managing owner.
1928: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Fleetwood.
19.6.1928: typical landing 55 boxes.
1930/31: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
25.1.1933: To be sold by Order of the High Court of Justice, Admiralty Division.
24.2.1933: Sold by Order of the Admiralty Marshal at Lowestoft to Peacock & Co (Lowestoft) Ltd (64/64), Lowestoft. Arthur Gouldby, Kessingland appointed manager.
13.10.1936: Frederick Ernest Beane appointed manager.
22.9.1934: At Lowestoft (Sk. W. Durrant) delivered steam drifter ACCUMULATOR (LT655) picked up disabled with broken propeller.
7.1939: Sold for breaking up.
18.1.1940: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel broken up … ”.

Changelog
08/09/2011: Page published. 4 updates since then.
15/01/2021: Updated history and technical details.

Coal

“In Fleetwood as in other fishing ports, a close link was developed between the trawler owners and the collieries supplying the steam coal, in this instance from the Lancashire and West Yorkshire coalfields. From the start of the steam trawling era, coal from Duxbury Park Colliery and Ellerbeck Colliery, Adlington – only 30 miles from Fleetwood; Orrell Colliery, Wigan and Westleigh Colliery, Leigh was in regular supply and in 1904 the colliery agent for Adlington Coal Company, Chorley took a major shareholding in the steam trawler CITY OF YORK (FD16).

The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd had their own rail wagons and used them to advertise with the slogan “Fleetwood Fish” and when BDSF&I Co moved to the port it was not long before they too had their own railway wagons transporting coal mined by the Earl Fitzwilliam’s Collieries at their Elsecar Main pit at Barnsley.

The Great Grimsby Coal Salt & Tanning Co Ltd also had their own private user wagons and supplied bunker coal at all the major fishing ports.

The firing of the boiler in a steam trawler, demanded physical strength and stamina from the firemen and there was no room for poor quality coal, although this sometimes had to be taken when fishing Iceland or the Faeroe Islands in the early days, when insufficient coal could be carried for the trip. Firemen became familiar with the quality of coal from particular collieries, although, like railway locomotives, it was not unusual for sister ships to have widely varied coal consumption and steaming characteristics.

In all steam plants a certain amount of water is lost on each cycle, raising steam, driving the engine and returning to the boiler via the condenser, due in the main to steam leaks. Many older trawlers used sea water in the boiler as make up feed water and this was acceptable so long as the boilers were regularly blown down and scaled. When water tube boilers were introduced however, this lead to corrosion and the tankage of make-up feed water was increased. The bunker capacity, feed water, potable (drinking) water and ice storage for the three Admiralty trawler types, typical of the vessels built pre and post WW1 was:-

BUNKERS USE/DAY FEED WATER POTABLE WATER ICE
“Strath” Type 102 tons 8 Tons 19 Tons 1.3 Tons 25 Tons
115ft (123ft)
“Castle” Type 164 tons 9 Tons 11 Tons 4 Tons 50 Tons
125ft (134ft)
“Mersey” Type 184 tons 10 Tons 11 Tons 4 Tons 65 Tons
138ft (148ft) (Reserve 20 Tons)

Click to enlarge images

Typical coal wagon

Typical coal wagon

National Railway Museum

Coal wagons on the dockside

Coal wagons on the dockside

Coaling in progress

Coaling in progress