Author Archives: Bill Johnson

S.T. Helgi Magri EA290

Additional information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: Unknown
Yard Number: 109
Completed: 1891
Gross Tonnage: 137
Net Tonnage: 27.7
Length: 32.15 m
Breadth: 6.34
Depth: 3.11 m
Built: J. C. Tecklenborg, Geestmünde, Germany
Engine: 260ihp C.2-cyl by J. C. Tecklenborg, Geestmünde

History

1891: Completed by J. C. Tecklenborg, Geestmünde, Germany (Yd.No.109) for Gebruder Thomae, Boizenburg, Elbe, Germany as LILLY. Registered at Hamburg (HH5). F. W. E. Thomae designated manager.
2.1913: Sold to Ásgeir Pétursson (5/6) and Sk. Stefán Jónasson (1/6), Akureyri, Iceland. Hamburg registry closed.
27.2.1913: Registered at Akureyri as HELGI MAGRI (EA290).
1916: Stefán Jónasson share (1/6) sold to Ásgeir Pétursson. Mostly employed in the Icelandic summer herring fishery, also trawling and transport as well as experimenting with other activities.
1913-1918: Fished for herring in the winter off Norway and Sweden.
26.10.1918: Reported arrived Fleetwood along with the ex whaler VARANGAR (RE 181) (g/1881) and the Elías Stefánsson trawler ÍSLENDINGUR (RE 120) (143g/1893), to fish out of the port over the winter. J. Marr & Son Ltd, managing agents. During their stay
some crew members fell ill with influenza and one crew member died along with one from ÍSLENDINGUR. The crews were so well nursed in
a Seamens’ Home that the skippers invited the nurses to Iceland in the summer of 1919 on a holiday tour. (Jan 1918-Dec 1920 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic, the so called “Spanish Flu” – about 50 million dead worldwide.)
4.6.1919: Arrived Reykjavik from Fleetwood, overhaul before heading North for the summer herring fishery. Reported that catches had been good. Experimented with Danish Seine.
1921: Icelandic ship register – 103,3 (31,39)x 20,4 x 9,4 Danish feet (metres)(From Lloyd’s Register 1925) 136g 51n 103.3 x 20.4 x 9.4 feet (Danish feet mistaken for imperial)
1925: Iceland ship register – 136g 51n 32,43 x 6,40 x 2,95 metres (Danish feet converted to metric)
Early 1928: Properties auctioned off.
21.4.1928: Ownership re-styled h/f Ásgeir Pétursson & Co. Operated in the name of Sigurður Bjarnason, skipper/shipowner, Akureyri.
1929: Iceland ship register – 32,78 x 6,03 x 3,27 metres
19.6.1929: Registered at Akureya as NONNI (EA 290). Classified as a longliner.
12.1929: Sold to h/f Barðinn, Þingeyri, Iceland. 1931 Operated by a fishermens’ cooperative at Þingeyri. 1931-33: Official register of ships recorded as owned by h/f Barðinn.
1933-34: Longlining from Reykjavik (but only recorded in 1933, then operated by Sk. Þórarinn Dúason).
By 1934: Register of ships records owner as Ásgeir Pétursson, Akureyri.
10.1.1935: Sank in Reykjavik harbour in fierce storm. Refloated, slipped but condemned and broken up.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Helgi Magri EA290
Picture courtesy of The Birgir Þórisson Collection

Changelog
06/06/2019: Page published.

S.T. Íslendingur RE120

Information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical
Official Number: 102924
Yard Number: 112
Completed: 1893
Gross Tonnage: 151
Net Tonnage 64
Length: 101.5 ft
Breadth 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Hull
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co, Hull

History

14.9.1893: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Hull (Yd.No.112) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as OSPREY.
10.1893: Completed.
5.10.1893: Registered at Hull (Part I & IV) O.N.102924 (H225). Henry A. L. Rees designated manager.
8.1906: New boiler fitted.
23.10. 1908: Sold to Elías Stefánsson, Reykjavik on behalf of Hf. FRAM, Reykjavik for a reported 60-70 thousand krónur (£3,350-£3,385),
1-2.3.1908: Arrived Reykjavik.
11-14.3.1908: Renamed ÍSLENDINGUR. Elías Stefánsson designated manager.
21.5.1908: Registered at Reykjavik (RE 120).
1908: Remeasured (Iceland registry) 142.62g 65n.
23.10.1908: Hull registry closed.
1916: Company dissolved, ownership transferred to Elías Stefánsson, Reykjavik (sometimes ownership shown as Hf. Eggert Ólafsson a limited company in which
Elías Stefánsson was the majority shareholder).
26.10.1918: Reported arrived Fleetwood along with the ex whaler VARANGER (RE 181) (g/1881) and the ÁSGEIR PÉTURSSON – Elías Stefánsson trawler HELGI MAGRI (EA 290) (136g/1891), to fish out of the port over the winter. J. Marr & Son Ltd, managing agents. During their stay some crew members fell ill with influenza and one crew member died along with one from HELGI MAGRI. The crews were so well nursed in a Seamens’ Home that the skippers invited the nurses to Iceland in the summer of 1919 on a holiday tour. (Jan 1918-Dec 1920 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic, the so called “Spanish Flu” – about 50 million dead worldwide.)
9.4.1919: Sailed Fleetwood and returned to Iceland. Reported that catches had been good. Experimented with Danish Seine.
By Autumn 1920: Elías Stefánsson and companies in financial difficulties.
17.12.1920: Already an ill man, Elías Stefánsson (41) died of stomach cancer. Estate put into liquidation by creditors. Attempts to sell the ÍSLENDINGUR were unsuccessful. Ship leased to various parties mainly during summer herring season and laid up over winter.
9.12.1926: Sank at winter moorings at Eiðisvík, Reykjavík.
1942: After salvage, refitted and converted to motor. Fitted with 500hp Fairbanks-Morse oil engine by Fairbanks-Morse & Co, Beloit, WI. 77hp Greyhound
trawl winch engine and 20hp Lister generator.
1942: Remeasured 146.11grt 66.20n 31,09 (102.0) x 6,25 (20.5)x 2,92 (9.6) metres (feet)
4.11.1942: On completion registered by Sveinbjörn Einarsson, Ágúst Ingvarsson and Stephan Stephensen, Reykjavík at Reykjavik (RE 73). Operated by Díseltogorar hf, Reykjavik.
18.5.1949: Sold to Bjarni Sigurðsson, Kristján Guðlaugsson, both Reykjavík, Ingibjörg Pétursdóttir, Reykjum Mosfellssveit, (all Iceland) and Þorvaldur Stephensen, Sörvaag, Faroe Islands.
19.06.1951: Ingibjörg Pétursdóttir shares sold to Kristján Guðlaugsson.
1954: Last reported fishing with cod nets.
By 1956: Had been laid up in Reykjavik and sank at the berth. Refloated and sold by auction for breaking up.
15.10.1957: Removed from Icelandic registry.
2.2.1961: Final deletion from Icelandic registry.
Early 1970s: Remains only finally removed from beach at Reykjavik.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Íslendingur RE120

S.T. Íslendingur RE120
Picture courtesy of The Birgir Þórisson Collection

S.T. Íslendingur RE120

S.T. Íslendingur RE120
Picture courtesy of The Birgir Þórisson Collection

S.T. Íslendingur RE120

S.T. Íslendingur RE120
Picture courtesy of The Birgir Þórisson Collection

Changelog
06/06/2019: Page published.
15/06/2019: Added images.
04/02/2021: Minor correction to history.

S.D. Formidable LT100

Additional information courtesy of Barry Banham

Technical

Official Number: 139977
Yard Number: 483
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 87.38
Net Tonnage: 40.26
Length: 85.6 ft
Breadth: 19.6 ft
Depth: 9.4 ft
Built: John Chambers Ltd, Lowestoft
Engine: 175ihp C.2-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Southtown, Gt. Yarmouth
Boiler by Riley Brothers (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1917: Completed by John Chambers Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd. No.483?) for Frederick Spashett (32/64) and William Catchpole (32/64), Kessingland, Lowestoft as FORMIDABLE.
28.9.1917: Registered at Lowestoft (LT100). William Catchpole designated managing owner.
2.1915: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.3074). Assigned as a Harbour Defence drifter (1-6pdr HA). Based Kingstown, Co. Dublin.
20.2.1918: Sold to Wilkins Edward Catchpole (32/64) and Edward Catchpole (32/64), Kessingland, Lowestoft. Edward Catchpole designated managing owner.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft.
1928: Seasonal fishing out of Fleetwood.
2.7.1928: Typical landing 35 boxes.
8.11.1933: Damaged in collision with steam drifter CARPE DIEM (LT1207).
5.12.1933: Damaged in collision with steam drifter RENOVATE (LT307).
16.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter. Renamed FIDGET (P.No.FY551) (Hire rate £26.0.0d/month).
26.5.1940: At 1857 ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
29.5.1940: Arrived Ramsgate with 114 troops.
30.5.1940: At 0810 arrived Ramsgate with 150 troops.
31.5.1940: At 1350 arrived Ramsgate with 304 troops.
4.6.1940: ‘Operation Dynamo’ terminated.
9.1941: Employed on miscellaneous naval duties.
5.1942: Employed on miscellaneous duties with RAF.
5.1944: Employed on miscellaneous naval duties.
1.1946: Returned to owner at Lowestoft. Reverted to FORMIDABLE (LT100).
14.4.1946: Sold to Albert George Catchpole (32/64) and Edward Catchpole (32/64), Kessingland, Lowestoft.
1946: Sold to Norway.
27.9.1946: Lowestoft registry closed. Registered at ? as TRIX (R-103-SH).
1.10.1946: Sailed Lowestoft for Norway. Later converted to a motor cargo vessel. Fate?

Changelog
04/06/2019: Page published.
26/09/2020: Updated history.
17/09/2021: Updated technical details.

S.T. Pochard II LL21

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Andy Hall

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3826
Official Number: 140620
Yard Number: 162
As built: 310.7disp 115.0 x 22.0 x 13.0 feet
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 203.50
Net Tonnage: 87.83
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 22.2 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Built: Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith
Engine: T.3-cyl (430ihp) by Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith

History

Note: Landing at Fleetwood as catch and market dictated.

9.1918: Launched by Hawthorns & Co Ltd, Leith (Yd.No.162) (“Strath” class) for The Admiralty as ISAAC HARRIS (Ad.No.3826).
3.1919: Completed.
4.4.1919: Advertised for sale by tender.
10.4.1919: Tenders closed. Sold to Harley & Miller Ltd, Liverpool.
12.4.1919: Delivered as a fishing vessel (ex fishing gear).
6.5.1919: Registered at Liverpool (Part I & IV) as POCHARD II O.N.140620 (LL21). Alfred J. Harley designated manager.
1927: Charles C. Miller designated manager.
10.10.1927: Arrived Mersey with steam trawler GOOSANDER (LL118) in tow, picked up on fishing grounds disabled with fouled propeller.
11.7.1928: At Fleetwood landed 134 boxes, mainly hake (chat 60s – selected 84s per box).
1934: Richard H. Jones designated manager.
1935: Sold to Wilson Buchan, Aberdeen.
5.4.1935: Registered at Aberdeen (A262).
18.4.1935: Liverpool registry closed.
13.6.1935: Registered at Aberdeen as BELLA BUCHAN (A262) (Minute RG.1195/35). Wilson Buchan designated managing owner.
04.03.1939: At Wick Sheriff court Sk. John Alexander Sutherland, Torry, Aberdeen charged with illegal trawling at a point 1.6 miles from Sarclet Head, Caithness, on March 10th, and failing to show proper lights. Sutherland also admitted a previous conviction. Fined £15 or 60 days in respect of the first charge, and £5 or 30 days on the second charge. One month was allowed to pay.
28.05.1947: Steamed 80-mile from fishing grounds off Cape Wrath to Scrabster, Caithness to land seriously ill 16-year-old apprentice deckhand Joseph Pirie, Victoria Road, Aberdeen. Landed and taken to Dunbar’s Hospital, Thurso.
14.9.1939: Sold to David Buchan, Aberdeen. David Buchan designated managing owner.
4.1951: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Shipbreaking Industries Ltd, Charlestown, Fife for breaking up (Contract No.20D).
19.4.1951: Delivered Charlestown from Aberdeen under own power.
13.6.1951: Breaking up commenced.
1.5.1952: Aberdeen registry closed. “Vessel broken up. Advice from owner and shipbreaker. ”

Changelog
03/05/2019: Page published.
05/05/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Nason O127

Occasional visitor
Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Maurice Voss

Technical

Official Number: 132109
Yard Number: 488
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 264
Net Tonnage: 106
Length: 130.1 ft
Breadth: 22.5 ft
Depth: 12.0 ft
Completed: 1911
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

30.5.1911: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.488) for The Anchor Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as PRINCEPS.
28.7.1911: Registered at Grimsby (Part I & IV) O.N.132109 (GY636).
17.8.1911. Completed. George S. Letten designated manager.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1504).
1918: Based Malta.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
29.6.1923: Sold to Société Anonyme “Pêcheries Ostendaises” (Richard & Henri Aspeslagh and Alphonse De Ceuninck) (company formerly Henri P. Aspeslagh), Ostend, Belgium.
28.6.1923: Grimsby registry closed.
29.6.1923: Arrived Ostend.
7.1923: Remeasured 263,42Bg 87,29n 39,65 (130.1) x 6,6 (22.5) x 3,66 (12.0) metre (feet).
3.7.1923: Registered at Ostend as NASON (O127).
22.10.1928: Transferred to fish out of Fleetwood, initially for the herring fishery. After taking onboard new nets and gear, sailed for Klondyke grounds off West Coast of Scotland; Sk. J. Tomlinson embarked as pilot to show location of herring fishing area.
3.11.1928: First landing at Fleetwood. Coaled and iced and sailed for Iceland grounds.
10.12.1928: At Ostend landed 5,300kg 25,000 franks gross (4,75 franc per kg).
27.9.1929: Sold to Zunequin & Cie, Boulogne.
10.1929: Ostend registry closed.
16.10.1929: Registered at Boulogne as JEAN DORÉ (B1384).
1931: Sold to Société Boulonnaise d’Armement à la Pêche, Boulogne.
1934: Laid up at Boulogne.
1935: Sold to Hanse-Lozinguez, Boulogne and broken up. Boulogne registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Nason O127

S.T. Nason O127
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog

20/03/2019: Page published.