Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

Technical

Official Number 185862
Yard Number: 871
Completed: 1953
Gross Tonnage: 595
Net Tonnage: 217
Length: 170.1 ft
Breadth: 29.2 ft
Depth: 14.5 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 925ihp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Boiler: Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull (No.1841)
Fitted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F
Speed: 13 knots

History

4.12.1952: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.871) for Heward Trawlers Ltd, London & Fleetwood (Robert S. Hewett, manager) as ELLA HEWETT.
3.1953: Registered at London (LO47).
19.3.1953: Completed.
8.4.1953: First landing at Fleetwood.
2.11.1962: Sailed Fleetwood at 0145 for Icelandic fishing grounds via Heysham to bunker (Sk. William Storm Gregson); nineteen crew. At Heysham, cook, Russell Harvey fell down an open grating. At 0530 sailed Heysham for fishing grounds. At about 1530 skipper decided to land the cook in Church Bay, Rathlin Island and left the 2nd Hand (Mate) James Rixom in command. With good visibility and calm sea entered the Bay and sometime after 1830, struck wreck of HMS DRAKE and was held fast port side aft. No serious attempt was made to get the vessel off. At 2210 serious ingress of water noted, Ch.Eng, Harold Huntingford, made best possible use of pumps. At 2230 with water rising and oil in bilge, Ch. Eng. drew fires.
3.11.1962: At 0053 with pumping no longer possible a May Day message was transmitted. Portrush lifeboat, Liverpool steamer MARKLAND (6032grt/1953) and Glasgow motor vessel LAIRDS LOCH (1736grt/1944) proceeding. By 1100 starboard list had increased and fourteen crew taken off by Portrush lifeboat and landed at Ballycastle. At 2115 with remaining five crew members taken on board the lifeboat, vessel heeled on her beam ends and sank. Survivors landed at Portrush. 11.1962: Wreck attended by salvage vessel DISPENSER (775grt/1943) on charter to Liverpool & Glasgow Salvage Association. After survey, agreement reached with Underwriters that it was uneconomical to raise the wreck and declared a Total loss.
14/15.5.1963: At BoT Inquiry (No.S.461) at Fleetwood, the Court found that the stranding and subsequent total loss were caused by the wrongful act or default of Skipper Gregson and the 2nd Hand (Mate) James Rixom. Sk. Gregson’s ticket was suspended for three years and the skippers ticket held by James Rixom was cancelled.
8.1964: Wreck sold by Underwriters to Metal Recoveries (Newhaven) Ltd, Newhaven.
28.9.1964: Metrec Salvage Ltd, Maidstone formed by Metal Recoveries (Newhaven) Ltd & Shipbreaking (Queenborough) Ltd, Queenborough.
8.1966: Metrec Salvage Ltd entered into an agreement with Commissioners of Irish Lights, owners of the wreck of HMS DRAKE, to clear the seabed of the wreck. 1974: MOD took over ownership of the wreck of HMS DRAKE putting an end to salvage attempts. HMS LAYMOOR attended and munitions removed from HMS DRAKE by divers.
18-29.9.1978: Wreck dispersed to prevent pollution from bunker oil. Remains of wreck lie in 15m in position 55°17.17N/06°12 .43W.
BOT Inquiry Report

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47
Picture courtesy of the JJ Collection

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47

S.T. Ella Hewett LO47
Aground in Church Bay. Picture courtesy The Osta Collection.

Changelog
23/03/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
24/08/2015: Picture added.
02/11/2015: Added BOT inquiry report.
16/01/2017: Removed disputed image.
08/06/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Manxman GY34

Technical

Official Number: 118937
Yard Number: 330
Completed: 1904
Gross Tonnage: 196
Net Tonnage: 76
Length: 115.5 ft
Breadth: 21.5 ft
Depth: 11.4 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

12.10.1904: Launched by Cochrane & Sons, Selby (Yd.No.330) for Walter H. Beeley & Blanchard, Grimsby as MANXMAN.
11.1904: Completed (Walter H. Beeley managing owner).
16.11.1904: Registered at Grimsby (GY34).
4.1911: Sold to The South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby & Fleetwood (Alick (Alec) Black, Grimsby, manager).
4.1912: Sold to The Marshall Line Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Alick (Alec) Black, manager). Fishing from Fleetwood.
12.1912: Sold to Thomas W. Baskcomb, Grimsby (managing owner).
9.1915: Sold to Sleights’ Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Walter H. Beeley, manager).
14.4.1917: Stranded on Westmann Isles.
14.5.1917: Grimsby registry closed “Vessel lost”.

Changelog

16/03/2009: Page Published. 4 updates since then.

S.T. Fortuna GY140

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number:123567
Yard Number: 108
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 258.77
Net Tonnage: 110.69
Length: 128.4 ft
Breadth: 22.0 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd. Beverley
Engine: 465ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co, Hull

History

14.3.1906: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd. Beverley (Yd.No.108) for Alick Black (64/64), Grimsby as FORTUNA.
5.1906: Completed.
8.5.1906: Registered at Grimsby (GY140).
8.5.1906: Alick Black designated managing owner.
15.8.1906: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Charles Denton Holmes, Hull for the sum of £3,00 with interest at 5% (A).
27.8.1908: Mortgage (A) discharged.
27.5.1908: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
16.6.1909: Mortgage (B) discharged.
16.6.1909: Sold to The South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
16.6.1909: Alick Black, Grimsby appointed manager.
18.6.1909: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
1.7.1912: Mortgage (C) discharged.
31.7.1912: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to George Jeffs, Grimsby for the sum of 3,000 with interest at 5%.(D).
31.7.1912: Registered office transferred to Grimsby.
5.5.1913: Mortgage (D) discharged.
5.5.1913: Sold to Thomas William Baskcomb (64/64), Grimsby.
6.5.1913: Thomas W. Baskcomb designated managing owner.
6.5.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (E).
27.9.1915: Sold to Spurn Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
1.10.1915: Mortgage (E) discharged.
5.10.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (F).
6.10.1915: Alfred Bannister appointed manager.
29.11.1916: Mortgage (F) discharged.
29.11.1916: Sold to George Frederick Sleight (64/64) Grimsby.
30.11.1916: George Frederick Sleight designated managing owner.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
By 11.8.1917: Fitted 1-6pdr HA (in house aft) & W/T.
1.1.1918: George Frederick Sleight knighted.
1919: Released.
5.6.1920: Sir George Frederick Sleight created a baronet.
19.3.1921: Sir George Frederick Sleight, Bart died.
18.10.1922: Probate granted to Raymond Lawrence Humphrey, Healing as sole surviving executor. Ownership registered to Raymond Lawrence Humphrey (64/64), Healing.
1.10.1933: Sold to George Frederick Sleight, Grimsby and Raymond Lawrence Humphrey, Healing (64/64 joint owners).
17.11.1933: George Frederick Sleight designated managing owner.
28.11.1933: Sold to Dobson Ship Repairing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
7.12.1933: Charles Dobson appointed manager.
11.6.1946: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (Hire rate £64.15.0d/month).
2.4.1941: Attacked and sunk by German aircraft off St. Abbs Head. No survivors.
14.3.1947: Grimsby registry closed.

Lost – Ty/Skipper William T. M. Charlton; Samuel E. Foote, 2nd Hand; William E. Nicholson & Edward Robson, enginemen; Adam H. M. Bruce, Lawrence E Glyde, Henry Jones, William J. Smith, Gilbert J. Whyte, Stanley G. Winsor & Josiah V. Wright, seamen; Ernest E. Harris, O/S; Edward V. Feeney & Sidney Phillips, stokers.

Changelog

16/03/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
01/10/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Caliph M197

Technical

Official Number: 121610
Yard Number: 804
Completed:: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 226
Net Tonnage: 87
Length: 120.5 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: T.3-cyl by W.V.V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge

History

1906: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.804) for David Pettit,Milford; Morgan W. Howells, Hakin & Joseph W. Johnson, Neyland as CALIPH.
8.1906: Completed.
27.8.1906: Registered at Milford (M197) (David Pettit, managing owner).
19.11.1907 Fishing 180 miles WNW of Isles of Scilly (Sk. Alfred J. Kersey), at 6.30 pm. George Lednor (19), caught in sheave and lost leg. Landed at Queenstown but subsequently died.
18.5.1908: When fishing some 300 miles west of Lundy (Sk. Thomas Leggett) in collision with Cardiff owned steam trawler EUPHRATES (H329) (Sk. Bush) which sustained heavy damage to port side shell plating at bow.
20.5.1908: EUPHRATES arrived Swansea.
27.7.1908: Sold to David Pettit & Joseph W. Johnson, Milford Haven.
7.3.1911: About 18 miles off St. Ann’s Head (Sk. Thomas Leggett) in collision with drifter VERA (SN353); damage to bow.
21.1.1912: Sold to David Pettit, Milford Haven (managing owner).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 86.61 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA, 1-3.5” A/S Howitzer and Hydrophone) (Ad.No.133).
1917: Based at Portland. In company with HMTrawler MARISTO (Ad.No.1987)(M14) attacked a German submarine and claimed an unconfirmed kill.
1919: Returned to owner.
1.1928: Stranded at Helvick Head, nr Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, sustaining damage to rudder and after peak.
27.1.1928: Refloated by Cork tug MORSECOCK (325grt/1877)
28.1.1928: Arrived Passage West, Co. Cork for repair.
3.1.1933: Left Valentia (Sk. Jack H. Ryan) to assist Norwegian steamer HEILO (989g/1921). Stood by.
5.1.1933: Connected but tow parted. 6/7/1.1933: Stood by HEILO.
8.1.1933: To Valentia and located tug. Returned and stood by.
9.1.1933: At 9.30 am. released and left for Milford.
25.10.1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Blackpool manager).
21.11.1934: Sold to Harley & Miller Ltd, Liverpool (Richard H. Jones, Wallasey, manager).
1934: Milford registry closed.
22.11.1934: Registered at Liverpool (LL46).
6.1937: Sold to Edgar E. Carter, Milford Haven (managing/owner).
10.7.1937: Liverpool registry closed.
12.7.1937: Registered at Milford (M234).
7.12.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Hire rate £56.10.0d/month).
13.1.1940: Returned.
21.6.1940: In Western Approaches, picked up nine crew members of the Newcastle registered steam tanker SARANAC (12,049grt/1918) (Capt Vernon H. Alcock) Convoy QA172, which had foundered about 270 miles SW of Lands End having been torpedoed and hit by gunfire from U-boat (U51). Landed survivors at Berehaven, Co. Cork. Master and thirty survivors picked up by HMS HURRICANE (P.No.H06) (Lt Cdr H. C. Simms RN) and landed at Plymouth.
2. 11.1941: On Irish grounds (Sk. ??). About 12 miles south of Old Head of Kinsale foundered after being bombed by German aircraft. Crew picked up by SLEBECH (M199) and landed at Milford.
4.11.1941: Thomas Swingler, Bosun died in hospital of injuries sustained in attack.
17.11.1941: Milford registry closed.
6.1942: Sk. Thompson, Hakin, skipper of SLEBECH awarded MBE and Ch. Eng. George Henry Springer awarded BEM, for bravery in rescuing crew of CALIPH.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Caliph M197

S.T. Caliph M197
Picture courtesy of Milford Trawlers

Changelog
11/03/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
24/10/2019: Updated information and added an image.

s.v. Syren FD30

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 9903
Launched: 1846
Gross Tonnage: 31
Net Tonnage: 24
Length: 50
Rig: Smack – netting
Built: ??, Brixham

History

1846: Completed by ??, Brixham as SYREN.
3.6.1846: Took part in the Sailing Match for Trawlers sponsored by the Dublin & Kingstown Railway Company.
1853: Registered at Dublin (54/1853).
By 1860: Registered at Galway.
1.1.1967: Owned by George Green, Londonderry. Registered at Londonderry.
1869: Owned by Thomas Seed, Fleetwood.
1869: Registered at Fleetwood (FD30).
187?: Sold to J. Wright, Fleetwood.
1.1.1875: Owned by Thomas Wright, Fleetwood.
6.8.1979: Coming up the Lune in a severe gale, struck by a sudden squall blowing out the belly of the mainsail. Arrived Fleetwood without more damage.
3.9.1879: On arrival at Fleetwood, Skipper Tomlinson reported that while trawling north of the Barrow Ironworks at about 1.00pm fisherman James Scott ( 32) was carried overboard when a sea swept over the deck. No one saw him go overboard but when the water cleared he was missing and observed in the sea close by. Pieces of wood were thrown overboard in the hope that he would catch one and hold on but he disappeared. The smack was kept in the area for some time but nothing more was seen of him. Scott had a narrow escape on the previous trip when a sea broke close by on the starboard side, before sweeping the deck.
1.1.1880: Owned by Thomas Leadbetter, Fleetwood & others.
23.8.1881: At Fleetwood in the Sailing Match for Fishing Boat’s Punts, came third (John Wright).
17.11.1883: In a strong southerly gale, Henry Fisher (46), bosun of the Liverpool registered steamer ANNIE (411grt/1883), on passage Belfast – Fleetwood, was a adjusting the port navigation light when the vessel pitched heavily and he was thrown on deck and died within an hour. The body was landed at Ramsey where examination showed that he died of spinal injuries. Transferred to the SYREN (Sk. Henry Leadbetter) for passage to Fleetwood.
24.11.1883: Arrived Fleetwood, Body placed on train for journey to his home at Freckleton.
24.10.1887: Sold to ??, Fleetwood.
1902: Off the Cumberland coast (Skipper Robert C. Sumner). Reported that the trawler was driven ashore on Drigg beach, Ravenglass, Cumberland. Skipper and two crew safe.
13.9.1902: FOR SALE by AUCTION on FRIDAY 19.SEPTEMBER 1902 at Half-past Three o’clock, as she now lies Stranded on the Beach near Drigg Station. She is a Wood-built Smack, in Good Order, 24 Tons Register, with Iron Knees and Keel. A Splendid Pitch Pine Mast and Rigging, 2 Windlasses and Large Pitch Pine Boom (new) and Top Mast lying at Drigg Station. The Smack has lately cost £250 in Repairs and can be easily Floated and may prove a profitable speculation. Also several TONS of Copper Dross as Ballast. Terms -Cash.
12.2.10.1902: Fleetwood registry closed. “Broken up”.

Changelog
24/02/2009: Page published.
14/02/2015: Information updated.
12/05/2022: Information updated.