Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

S.T. Goth FD52

Positional information courtesy of Captain Hilmar Snorrason
Goth crew information courtesy of the late Fred Hobbs

Technical

Official Number: 148478
Yard Number: 468
Completed: 1925
Gross Tonnage: 394.48
Net Tonnage: 173.79
Length: 147.5 ft
Breadth: 25.5 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 700ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

8.6.1925: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.468) for Hellyer Brothers Ltd (64/64), Hull as GOTH.
12.8.1925: Registered at Hull (H211). Frank O. Hellyer & Owen S. Hellyer designated managers.
20.8.1925: Completed.
9.1925: Sailed for Greenland coast on an exploratory trip in an attempt to find new fishing grounds.
9.10.1925: At Hull landed 260kits mostly cod and codling and trip deemed successful.
1929: Fish carrier for halibut fishery in the Davis Strait, Greenland.
3.1.1930: Off Norway coast, stranded near Narvik, came afloat with engine but leaking and put into Lødingen. Divers plugged leaks.
15.2.1930: In collision Saltend with steam trawler MARCONI (H488). Both vessels taken in tow for Hull.
16.4.1931: Arrested in Icelandic water by Icelandic Coastguard ship AEGIR along with Hull trawlers CAPE DELGARDO (H47) and CAPE TRAFALGAR (H918) and escorted to Reykjavik. Each fined 10kroner for having fishing gear incorrectly stowed. Later fines rescinded and all three skippers admonished.
12.10.1933: On a Barents Sea trip (Sk. Herbert Brown). Fishing in company with steam trawlers KINGSTON PEARL (H296) (Sk. William Hornby) and LARWOOD (GY49) (Sk. S. Cantwell) at about 3.00pm. responded to distress message from Norwegian steamer HAUGLAND (3153grt/1896) disabled off the Murman coast with broken propeller shaft and drifting on a lee shore in a NE gale following loss of anchors. At about 6.30pm KINGSTON PEARL using DF was the first to reach casualty. In heavy sleet and and ground swell it was not until 10.00pm. that an attempt was made to connect via Schermuly rocket but line repeatedly parted. Closed vessel and managed to get a heaving line aboard and trawl warp made fast with difficulty as windlass damaged when anchors lost.
13.10.1933: Twice warps parted and it was not until 5.00am. that GOTH arrived on the scene and was able to connect by Schermuly rocket and between them hold the vessel off the shore. Again after about an hour the warps parted and by this time LARWOOD had arrived and succeeded in getting a line onboard and held the vessel for a further two hours. Shortly after 12.00 noon an attempt was made to tow the vessel away from the coast but the casualty was unmanageable, KINGSTON PEARL managed to get another line connected but shortly after both warps parted. KINFSTON PEARL and GOTH connected again but warps parted and GOTH was temporarily disabled with the wire round her propeller. With weather freshening and the vessel close to the shore the master requested that the crew be taken off. The trawlers closed the casualty, pumped oil on the water and GOTH managed to pick up all twenty-nine crew and later landed them at Vardø, Norway. HAUGLAND was subsequently refloated, repaired and returned to service.
25.7.1939: Insured value £13,700.
5.8.1939: Sailed Hull for White Sea last trip before requisition (Sk. J. W. Ellis).
29.8.1939: At Hull landed 1,461 kits grossed £1,664.
29.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.649) (Hire rate £152.13.6d/month).
25.2.1941: Re-registered to Hellyer Bros Ltd ((64/64), Hull.
3-6.1945: Restored, special survey and inclined at North Shields.
1.8.1945: Sold to The Ocean Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Hull. Leslie Barkworth designated manager.
30.11.1945: Insured value £30,000; for 1946 proposed £33,000.
14.12.1946: Sold to The ‘Wyre’ Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
14.12.1946: Hull registry closed.
12.1946: Registered at Fleetwood (FD52). Merchants (Fleetwood) Ltd designated managers.
4.12.1948: Sailed Fleetwood for Icelandic grounds (Sk. Wilfred Elliott); twenty one crew all told.
10.12.1948: Trawling NW of Straumnaes, north west coast of Iceland in company with steam trawler St. MELANTE (GY80).
11.12.1948: Storm, hauled and ran for shelter to Adalvik Bay.
13.12.1948: Reliable evidence that vessel was communicating by radio with other trawlers.
Post 13.12.1948: Presume foundered NNW of Halo, 43 miles to NW of Straumnes, Iceland in position 66.59.8N 24.28.9W; all twenty-one crew lost*.
23.2.1949: Posted missing. Fleetwood registry closed.
14.4.1950: At BOT Formal Investigation (No. S.416), the Court found that the casualty was probably caused by heavy weather, but other possibilities, mine explosion, boiler explosion, bunker explosion, could not be excluded.
15.11.1997: Icelandic trawler HELGA (RE49) (Sk. Vidar Benediktsson) fishing on NW Iceland grounds, trawled up a funnel which was identified in Reykjavik as belonging to the GOTH. Returned to Fleetwood.
12.2006: After repainting sited as a memorial to the lost trawlermen beside the Asda store at the corner of Dock Street and Station Road.

Note. Vessel was to have been renamed WYRE GALLANT (FD52) on her return.

Download the BOT Inquiry Report here.

* Lost (all Fleetwood unless stated):
Skipper: Wilfred (Wink) Elliot aged 36, Warbreck Hill Rd, Blackpool
Mate: A. E. Plummer, aged 47, Preston
Bosun: John Edwards, aged 35, Hathaway Place, Fleetwood
Chief Engineer: G. H. Knight, aged 52, Garfield Rd Fleetwood
2nd Engineer: Alfred Patterson, aged 24, Dock St Fleetwood
Wireless Operator: Stanley Bowles, aged 19, Newton-le-Willows
Fireman: Thomas Dagger, aged 25, Springfield Terrace, Fleetwood
Fireman: Harvey Ramsden, aged 24, Layton Blackpool
Fireman: J. Beattie, aged 24, Liverpool
Cook: H. P. Blyth, aged 51, Bolton
Assistant Cook: Albert Silcock, aged 20, Preston
Deckhand: Ernest Parker (DSM) aged 28, Heathfield Rd Fleetwood
Deckhand: John Tandy, aged 27, Victoria St. Fleetwood
Deckhand: Harry Buckley, aged 24, Carr Rd Fleetwood
Deckhand: William Durbin, aged 26, Shakespeare Rd Fleetwood
Deckhand: Norman Grisenthwaite, aged 24, Heathfield Rd Fleetwood
Deckhand: Harry Smith, aged 23, Heathfield Rd Fleetwood
Deckhand: Richard Snasdell, aged 23, Oak St Fleetwood
Deckhand: Benjamin Redman, aged 27, Blackiston St Fleetwood
Deckhand: J. Davies, aged 60, Gordon Rd Fleetwood
Brassie: Robert Rhimes, aged 16, Broomfield Rd Fleetwood

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Goth FD52

S.T. Goth FD52
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Goth H211

S.T. Goth H211
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Goth FD52

S.T. Goth FD52
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Goth FD52

Goth memorial and funnel
Picture courtesy of Alan Duggan

Changelog
19/09/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
24/10/2015: Added BOT Inquiry report.
25/04/2016: Updated information.
25/01/2017: Removed disputed image.
12/12/2020: Updated history.
03/10/2021: Minor update.

S.T. Wasp FD169

Additional material courtesy of Holger Munchaus Petersen

Technical

Official Number: 98707
Yard Number: 13
Completed: 1890
Gross Tonnage: 149
Net Tonnage: 49
Length: 100.5 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 10.7 ft
Built: Mackie & Thomson, Govan
Engine: T.3-cyl by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow

History

14.10.1890: Launched by Mackie & Thomson, Govan (Yd.No.13) for British Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as WASP.
1890: Completed (William L. Robins, manager).
1.12.1890: Registered at Hull (H112).
1891: New boiler.
8.11.1912: Sold to James Alexander Robertson, Fleetwood (managing owner).
15.11.1912: Hull registry closed.
16.11.1912: Registered at Fleetwood (FD169).
1912: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood (James A. Robertson, manager).
1914: Re-measured 160g.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 55.16 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
6.1914: Sold to Fiskeri-A/B Salen, Gothenburg for £1350.
28.6.1914: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.1914: Registered at Gothenburg.
1917: A. Th. Amundsen manager. Registered at Gothenburg as GUNNER.
1919: Owned by C. S. Plantén, Gothenburg.
1919: Burnt.
1920: Owned by Sven P. Larsson, Malmö. Gothenburg registry closed. Registered at Malmö.
1927: Laid up owners not recorded.
1928: Sold to Robert Schou, Frederikshavn, Denmark.
1929: Sold to Petersen & Albeck, Copenhagen probably intended for breaking up. Cut down to a lighter. Registered at Copenhagen as P.& A.4.
1930s-1941: Unrecorded sales but latterly owned by Skandinavisk Union Handelshus, Copenhagen.
12.1941: Sold to ??.
8.1943: Sold to Frederik Vilhelm Christian Hall, Charlottenlund (managing owner). Converted to a cargo motorship.
1944: Engined with a Alpha-Diesel 2 stroke 4-cyl oil engine by A/S Fredrikshavns Maskfbk, Fredrikshavn (Engine built 1943).
1943-1944: Converted to cargo.
1944: Registered at Copenhagen as TAJO.
3.1944: Returned to service.
8.1944: Sold to I/S Kähler & Braum, Køsor.
6.1946: Sold to Sandvad & Co, Copenhagen. Registered as a combined cargo/fishing vessel at Copenhagen as ABBA (K.126).
16.1.1953: Sailed Kopervik, Karmøy for Ålesund in ballast.
18.1.1953: A lifeboat marked ABBA and various pieces of wreckage found off Rugsund, Bremanger and in following days oil noted coming to surface south of Marøy, Norway. Vessel presumed foundered in heavy weather in the Frøysjøen fjord near Halenes Lighthouse. Eight crew lost.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Wasp H112

S.T. Wasp H112
Picture courtesy of The
Jonathan Grobler Collection

Changelog
18/01/2008: Page published. 6 updates since then.
01/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Red Gauntlet (2) LO33

Technical

Official Number: 163160
Yard Number: 578
Completed: 1933
Gross Tonnage: 422
Net Tonnage: 162
Length: 154.6 ft
Breadth: 25.6 ft
Depth: 13.9 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 111nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed 11.4 knots

History

6.9.1933: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.578) for Hellyer Bros. Ltd, Hull as ARAB.
7.10.1933: Registered at Hull (H516).
12.10.1933: Completed (Frank O. Hellyer & Owen S. Hellyer, joint managers).
10.10.1935: Sailed Hull for Bear Island on last trip (Sk. E. Garret).
29/30.10.1935: At Hull landed 2,172 kits £1,011 gross.
11.1935: Sold to The Admiralty.
14.11.1939: Hull registry closed. Fitted out as a “Tree” class minesweeper . Renamed HMS CEDAR (P.No.T.01).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings (PLUTO project).
6.1944: Carried PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Sea) reconnaissance party to beach head.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
7.1946: Sold to Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Cdr. E. D. W. Lawford DSO, manager). Registered at London as RED GAUNTLET (LO33).
7.1946: Converted at Barrow-in-Furness for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
26.7.1947: Sailed Fleetwood for Spitzbergen/Bear Island grounds (Sk. William H. Hicks); twenty crew (At Honningsvaag took on two Norwegian gutters).
10.8.1947: After fishing to the W of the southern tip of Spitzbergen decided to move grounds but failed to obtain an accurate position and about 12.00 noon set course (SE x E1/2E) for grounds between Bear Island and Hope Island – little wind and smooth sea. At about about 2.30 p.m. a rock was observed to port and the land was visible but ahead was a fog bank. At about 3.15 p.m. stranded on the southern tip of the rocks south of Sorkapp, Spitsbergen. Vessel pounded and filled, lifeboat launched and all crew including the two Norwegian gutters abandoned the vessel but stayed in the vicinity for a while until the fog lifted and they were able to pull over to steam trawler NORTHERN SPRAY (GY190) (Sk. Martin Peterson) which had responded to SOS. An attempt was made by by part of the crew to return to the vessel but this was unsuccessful. Crew were landed at Grimsby.
19.12.1947: At the BOT Formal Investigation (No. S.406), the Court found that the loss was caused by the fault or default of the skipper, William Henry Hicks and by fault or default of the second hand, Richard Wright. The skippers ticket was suspended for six months with £100 costs and that of the second hand (skippers ticket) for three months with £25 costs.

For BOT investigation click HERE

Click to enlarge images

HMS Cedar
Picture from the Internet

HMT Cedar

HMS Cedar
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33

S.T. Red Gauntlet LO33
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
29/06/2019: Information updated and image added.

S.T. Alberia GY588

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number 132091
Yard Number 474
Completed: 1910
Gross Tonnage 286
Net Tonnage 112
Length 125 ft
Breadth 23.5 ft
Depth 12.3 ft
Engine 550ihp T.3-cyland boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

7.9.1910: Launched by Cochrane & Sons, Selby (Yd.No.474) for Crown Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as ALBERIA.
7.11.1910: Registered at Grimsby (GY588).
7.11.1910: Completed.
7.11.1910: George Edward James Moody designated manager.
20.12.1910: Vessel mortgage (64/64) to London City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
1913: Fishing from Fleetwood.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.768). Fitted with 1-12pdr, W/T and mine-sweep. Based Falmouth.
7.7.1918: On patrol off Lizard, struck by shells from an unknown source causing considerable damage. Returned to Falmouth. (Possibly shelled by US Submarine Chasers in the vicinity).
19.8.1918: Repairs completed.
7.9.1918: Mortgage (A) discharged.
1.10.1918: At Falmouth General Patrol and Escort work (Lieut. RNR).
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
9.5.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
27.11.1923: Mortgagee restyled Midland Bank Ltd, London.
20.6.1928: Used to test the new Side Slipping Patent Slipway outside the dock with a large crowd of dignitaries and workers present. Under the guidance of Mr. R. Leach, foreman carpenter of Messrs J. Robertson & Sons, worked into position by the tugs FYLDE (256grt/1904) (Capt Saer) and LANDY (51grt/1919) (Mr. J. Whiteside) and placed on the cradle. Hauling out was slow to test the facility, but once in position, transferred first to one side and then the other and back to the slipway to be scraped and cleaned by the men of Messrs H. M. Johns & Co, prior to painting. The trial was judged to be a success.
9.10.1928: On arrival at Fleetwood and berthing in the Fish Dock collided with the fish staging, causing damage to staging.
10.10.1920: Landed 459 boxes.
5.3.1934: Mortgage (B) discharged.
6.3.1934: Sold to George Edward James Moody, Harry Kelly & Will Bancroft Moody (64/64 joint owners), Grimsby.
6.3.1934: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
12.3.1934: George Edward James Moody designated managing owner
23.4.1934: Mortgage (C) discharged.
24.4.1934: Sold to The Cevic Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
3.5.1934: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (D).
14.5.1934: Charles Henry Friswell designated manager.
25.9.1934; Mortgage (D) discharged.
26.9.1934: Sold to The Alberic Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. Charles H. Friswell designated manager.
27.9.1934: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (E).
10.10.1934: Registered at Grimsby as ALBERIC (GY588) (BoT Minute M/R.G.No.1305/1934 dated 10.8.1934).
10.10.1934: Charles Henry Friswell designated manager.
25.4.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.NA) (Hire rate £71.10.0d/month). Based North Shields with M/S Group 63.
2/3.5.1941: Sunk in an accidental collision with destroyer HMS St. ALBANS (P.No. I.15) in Pentland Firth (T/Lt R. M. Johnson RNVR); fourteen crew lost.
27.10.1942: Mortgage (E) discharged.
18.3.1947: Grimsby registry closed “Ship lost on Government service in May 1941”.

(MPK – Ty Sub Lieut. Charles S. Whitehead RNR; Edward G. Northing, 2nd Hand; Livingstone Izatt, Charles S. Merriman, Enginemen; Alexander Duncan, Ldg Seaman; Ralph Chesnutt, Michael Real, Charles R. Weston, Seamen; Cyril Jones, Seaman/Steward; John T. Taberham, Ord Seaman; Arthur Reay, Telegraphist; Albert W. H. Arthur, Ord Signalman; James C. Annand, Stoker; Thomas M. Murray, Stoker 2c.)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The David slinger Collection.

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The David slinger Collection.

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The David slinger Collection.

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Alberia GY588

S.T. Alberia GY588
Picture courtesy of The Davis Slinger Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
26/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
25/01/2019: Updated information and added an image.
15/02/2019: Added an image.
15/06/2019: Updated information.
10/12/2002: Added images.

S.T. Gothic FD140

Technical

Official Number: 105913
Yard Number: 505
Completed: 1895
Gross Tonnage: 153
Net Tonnage: 33
Length: 105.8 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11 ft
Built: Edwards Bros, North Shields
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by N. E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

3.10.1895: Launched by Edwards Bros, North Shields (Yd.No.505) for John Kelsall, Manchester as GOTHIC.
31.10.1895: Registered at Fleetwood (FD140).
11.1895: Completed (John E. A. Kelsall, Fleetwood, manager).
1897: Sold to Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester (John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood, managers).
1899: Transferred to Hull .
30.3.1899: Registered at Hull (H67).
12.5.1899: Fleetwood registry closed.
1.10.1905: In heavy weather in North Sea, transferring boxes to cutter JACKDAW (H727), H. Brewster (26), Bosun, fell between boat and ship and was swept away and drowned.
25.1.1910: On a North Sea trip (Sk. Nicholson), nine crew. In early hours in storm force conditions, and blizzard, lost wheelhouse, funnel and boat. Burnt bedding etc to attract attention. Steam trawler OLDHAM (GY538) (Sk. Marshall) responded and took off four crew before boat was smashed. Stood by overnight.
26.1.1910: In early morning managed to get a line onboard and remaining five crew rescued but Robert Beech (61) cook/steward dead on recovery. Foundered soon afterwards.
27.1.1910: Survivors landed at Grimsby.
12.2.1910: Hull registry closed “Ship foundered in North Sea on 26th January 1910”.

(Richard James Hart who with Edward Downs manned the Oldham’s boat in the rescue of four crew members was awarded BoT Bronze Medal for Gallantry at Sea for his part in the rescue.)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Gothic FD140

S.T. Gothic FD140
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

Changelog
18/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
13/12/2020: Updated history.