Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

S.T. Star of the Sea A538

Technical

Official Number: 115567
Yard Number: 394
Completed: 1902
Gross Tonnage: 197
Net Tonnage: 64
Length: 113.0 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

24.5.1902: Launched by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.394) for The Walker Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STAR OF THE SEA.
6.1902: Completed (Thomas Walker, manager).
14.6.1902: Registered at Aberdeen (A538).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 76.12 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
9.5.1914: Sold to Andrew Walker, Aberdeen.
1916: Sold to The Croston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Ernest Taylor, Thornton, managers).
21.1.1917: Stopped by U-boat (U.45) 43 miles NWxW1/2N of Inishtrahull Island, Co. Donegal and sunk by gunfire. Crew abandoned in boat.
30.1.1917: Aberdeen registry closed “Sunk by submarine”.

Changelog

22/03/2011: Page published. 3 updates since then.

S.D/T. Beacon Star LT770 (Seasonal)

Additional information courtesy of Barry Banham and Tim Poppy

Technical

Official Number: 132942
Yard Number: 509
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 99
Net Tonnage: 44
Length: 88.1 ft
Breadth: 18.65 ft
Depth: 9.25 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Elliott & Garrood Ltd, Beccles
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

8.11.1911: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.509) for The Star Drift Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft as BEACON STAR.
23.12.1911: Registered at Lowestoft (LT770).
6.1.1912: Completed (George Catchpole, Kessingland, manager).
9.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence drifter (fitted out as workshop). Based Scapa.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft.
1930s: Seasonal trawling from Padstow and Fleetwood (Lowestoft Fish Selling Co Ltd, Lowestoft, managing agents).
17.2.1937: Sailed Lowestoft for Padstow (Sk.Harold Hambly) in company with CONSTANT STAR (LT1158) and ONE ACCORD (LT324).
18.2.1937: In rough weather off the Devon coast came upon a fleet of French trawlers and in passing them safely became detached. Last spoken to when off the Eddystone Light and agreed to call next morning.
19.2.1937: No response to call and with weather worsening, CONSTANT STAR and ONE ACCORD put into Newlyn. With no response to further calls and no sign of vessel inwards to Newlyn, reported missing. Offer of The Admiralty to carry out a search accepted by Mr Catchpole.
16.3.1937: Search by warship, seaplane and enquiries along the French Coast, negative. Lowestoft registry closed. “Missing from 19.2.1937”.
Early 4.1937: Ship’s boat found off Cherbourg. No survivors.

Lost: Sk. Harold Hambly (35), 4. Waveney Crescent, Lowestoft, married one child; Louis William Schillings (51), Mate, Park Road, Lowestoft, married three children (wife Violet H. M. (nee Poppy) b.1889); George Sabberton (38), Third Hand, 28 Steven Street, Lowestoft, married three children; Henry Wigg (49), Ch Eng, 2 Council Houses Frostenden, married five children; Harold Ernest Chaston (43), 2nd Eng, 16 Southwell Road Lowestoft, married no children; Henry Alexander (51) 9 Sussex Road, Lowestoft, married two children and L. Bray (19), 38 Winnipeg Road, Lowestoft, single, both Deckhands; William Flowers (20), Trimmer, 39 Rochester Road, South Lowestoft, single; Clifford Edward Read (27), Cook, 3 Elms Cottages, Kessingland, single.

Click to enlarge image

S.D/T. Beacon Star LT770

S.D/T. Beacon Star LT770
Picture courtesy of Ashley Gardiner

Changelog
18/03/2011: Page published. 5 updates since then.
20/02/2015: Picture added.
18/11/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
22/12/2018: Updated information.
23/12/2018: Updated information.

s.v. Spray FD147

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 56959
Completed: 1873
Net Tonnage: 26
Rig: Sloop – Trawling
Built: ??, St. Ives

History

1873: Completed by ??, St. Ives as SPRAY.
1874: Owned by Isaac M. Sibbald, Morecambe.
18.5.1874: Registered at Lancaster.
18.5.1874: Appropriated.
4.11.1875: At Whitehaven in company with AMETHYST (FD107), CONFIDENCE (FD121) and PETREL (FD59). Attempted to leave harbour. Informed by Mr Dawson, collector of dues, that they could not leave until harbour dues paid. As they refused to pay, the harbour tug was moored across the entrance to prevent them leaving. CONFIDENCE and PETREL skippers decided to pay, but AMETHYST and SPRAY continued their attempt to leave, one of the crew of SPRAY cut the tug’s head ropes and AMETHYST fell foul of the tug, smashing her boat. AMETHYST and SPRAY boarded by harbour master and mainsails confiscated.
6.11.1875: Skippers attended at the office of the solicitors to the Harbour Trustees and consented to pay all dues, damages and costs. Sails returned and allowed to sail.
1.1.1880: Owned by William Hudson, Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood (FD147).
1.1.1888: Owned by Mrs Margaret Hudson, 48 Warren Street, Fleetwood.
1.1.1889: Owned by James Armour, Adelaide Street, Fleetwood (managing owner).
6.11.1890: In SSE force 8 gale, seeking shelter and beating up the Wyre channel (Sk. David Cawell), when near the Knottspit Buoy, in going about missed stays. An attempt was made to wear ship, but this failed and about 6.30pm she was carried on to a bank on the east side of the channel. The sea was very rough and with the gale force wind, the situation was critical for the crew of four.
8.11.1890: At low water about 3.00am the fishermen, with the exception of the skipper, left the smack and walking across the sands to reach Knott End. The skipper had remained behind to fasten up the cabin and in trying to catch up with his crew he unfortunately got into the Knott Gulf. The tide was flowing at the time and he was unsure whether to return to the smack. Fortunately he decided to make a long detour to eastward and reached the shore. From Fleetwood the smack was seen to be submerged all but for her mast and there was concern for the safety of the crew. At about 8.00am three ferry men and three fishermen took one of the ferries across to Knott End and found the crew safe in the Bourne Hotel. The boat returned across the Wyre with the crew and received a hearty welcome from the assembled crowd. In the afternoon James Armour accompanied by fourteen fishermen and two carts went out to the smack and saw that she was already about eight feet deep in the sands. All loose gear, such as sails, ropes etc was brought ashore.
9.11.1890: Having dug out around her and removed all the ballast with the incoming tide she came afloat, but gradually sank again and it was discovered that she was holed.
12.11.1890: A further attempt to salve the smack was made but the tow rope parted and the attempt was abandoned. The SPRAY was valued at £400 and was insured. Fleetwood registry closed.

Changelog
07/03/2011: Page published. 2 updates since then.
05/07/2016: Information updated.
10/10/2021: Information updated.
16/05/2022: Information updated.

sv Herring ??

Technical

Official Number: 1566
Completed: 1837
Net Tonnage: 32
Rig: Smack
Built: ??, Douglas

History

1837: Completed by ??, Douglas, IoM as Herring.
1849: Registered at Liverpool.
1.1.1870: Owned by Joseph Newton, Liverpool.
1874: Owned by William Hudson, Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood (FD??).
22.1.1874: Wrecked.
1874: Fleetwood registry closed.

Changelog

28/02/2011: Page published.

sv Industry FD22

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number:
Completed: 1830
Net Tonnage: 21
Rig: Smack – Trawling
Built: ??, Freckleton

History

1830: Completed by ??, Freckleton for ??, ?? as INDUSTRY.
07/11/1831: At the house of Thomas Rimmer. “TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION”, “That remarkable sailing smack “INDUSTRY”, burthen 27 tons, copper fastened with sails etc., all complete, together with an excellent assortment of Fishing Tackle. The above Vessel was built at Freckleton about eight months ago. For further particulars apply to THOMAS WRIGHT, at Freckleton; or to JOHN ALLINSON at Sollom, near Tarleton.
25/06/1852: At Fleetwood.
1854: Thomas & William Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
1/1/1875: Owned by Thomas Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
08/02/1862: Fleetwood Chronicle; “FORTY PUNCHEONS OF WHISKY PICKED UP AT SEA. On Wednesday last, thirty-nine puncheons of whiskey were handed over to Mr. Walker (as receiver of wreck for the district) which had been picked up at sea on the previous day by the following Fleetwood fishing boats:- SURPRISE. (R. Leadbetter), 11 puncheons; MARYS, (T. Wright), 9; ELIZABETH, (R. Wright), 6; FAWN, (Ball), 5; PURSUIT, (R. Wilson), 3; and the MARY ELLEN, (N. Leadbetter), 5. On being tested, the liquor was found to be 40% over proof; the 39 puncheons thus yielding 7,100 gallons of proof spirits. The barrels were found floating about 20 miles west of Blackpool and appear to have been in the water for a long time, and it is supposed they formed part of the cargo of a wrecked vessel, which is now breaking up. All are marked either “McNab, Glenochil” or “John Bold, Carse Bridge;”
The value of the whiskey, exclusive of duty is from £800 to £900. The finders will probably receive a salvage of one third.
If not claimed at the end of twelve months it will be sold and, after salvage, the proceeds will go to the crown.
On Thursday, the fishing vessel INDUSTRY brought another puncheon in.
1895: In ownership of John Duffy, Whitehaven. Registered at Whitehaven.
1898: In ownership of William Peet, Whitehaven.
09/10/1898: About 3/4 miles W of Danger Patch buoy, in collision with the Fleetwood vessel DOTTERELL, which sank in 30 fathoms of water. All crew saved an returned to Fleetwood aboard INDUSTRY.
09/12/1898: Off St. Bees Head. Run down and sunk by the steamer JOHN BURBERRY. Captain saved but two crew lost.

Changelog
26/02/2011: Page published.
16/02/2024: Update to history.