Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Princess Melton FD326

Additional information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 114192
Yard Number: 226
Completed: 1901
Gross Tonnage: 224.30
Net Tonnage: 88.83
Length: 120.3 ft
Breadth: 22 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Built: J. Duthie, Sons & Co, Aberdeen
Engine: 3-cyl by J. S. Vaux & Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

15.6.1901: Launched by J. Duthie, Sons & Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.226) for Aberdeen Icelandic Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as PRINCESS MELTON.
9.9.1901: Registered at Aberdeen (A440).
9.1901: Completed (John A. Gordon, manager).
1902: New boiler fitted.
2.1902: On an Iceland trip (Sk. Harry Ellis), fishing along with about fourteen trawlers off Grindavik. The Danish coastguard ship BESKYTTEREN (300disp/1900) normally patrolling the Faroe Islands coast had moved over to Iceland and came upon the trawlers which were fishing inside the limits. She was only able to arrest three, PRINCESS MELTON, POINTER (H500) (Sk. K. Kr. Poulsen) and OLIVER CROMWELL ((H490) (Sk. Thyge Andersen Enevoldsen). The arrested trawlers were brought to anchor in Reykjavík harbour, where they were caught in a violent storm on the night of February 5/6th. The harbour was then an open roadstead and two parted their cables. PRINCESS MELTON was driven ashore along with another steamer and a coaling hulk. OLIVER CROMWELL raised steam and dropping the guard along with a note saying Sk. Enevoldsen would return to face charges, made their escape. Each trawlers was fined £56 and catch and gear confiscated. To everybody´s surprise, Enevoldsen returned later to face his charges in court. But as it was believed that the ship had been full of prime fish, he probably did not lose financially by escaping.
4.1902: Refloated by Danish salvage ship FREDERIKSHAVN (214grt/1875), temporary repairs undertaken to allow a single voyage to Hull for permanent repairs.
Late 5. 1902: Sailed Reykjavik for Hull.
12.1907: Fishing Westerly grounds (Sk. Craig).
11.1.1907: Called St. Kilda with letter bag.
9.1.1912: Sold to Thomas Lauder & James McLean (joint owners), Aberdeen (Thomas Lauder managing owner).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 90.70 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.322).
13.11.1914: At Lowestoft, parent ship HALCYON.
5.11.1918: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Noah Ashworth & Rowland Morris, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager). Based Tyne.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
16.7.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
20.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD326).
1921: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Thornton (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
26.2.1925: Sold to Alexander Jack, Glasgow.
26.2.1925: Sold to Bowden Ramster, Fleetwood (Alexander Keay, manager).
23.12.1925: Sold to Dalby Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Bowden Ramster, manager).
1932: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Preston.
12.10.1932: Fleetwood registry closed, advise received from owners “Ship broken up”.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Princess Melton FD326
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.S. Beskytteren
Picture courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

S.S. Beskytteren
Picture courtesy of The Danish Maritime Museum

Princess Melton Stranding Location
Picture courtesy of The Danish Maritime Museum

Changelog
17/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
18/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from image.
16/07/2021: Updated history and technical details.
17/07/2021: Updated history and added images.

S.T. Charles Doran FD275

Additional information courtesy of Mike Thompson

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3610
Official Number: 145074
Yard number: 375
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 273.05
Net Tonnage: 111.94
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 22.7 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Built: Cooke, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl (in Hull register 500ihp) and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

1917: Requisitioned by The Admiralty on the stocks, no instalment monies paid.
20.9.1917: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.375) (non-standard “Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JOHN ANDERSON (Ad.No.3610).
19.12.1917: Completed. Fitted with 1-12pdr and hydrophone.
12.1919: Renamed CHARLES DORAN.
27.10.1920: Registered by The Admiralty London (Part I & IV) O.N.145074 (LO480).
27.12.1922: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
24.11.1922: London registry closed.
27.11.1922: Registered at Hull (H760). Charles Frederick Foster designated manager on transfer of registry.
8.5.1931: Stranded Spurn Head.
9.5.1931: Failed to refloat, tug IRISHMAN (222grt/1929) in attendance.
12.5.1931: Refloated and proceeded to Hull under own power.
19.10.1931: William Henry Patterson designated manager.
5.8.1932: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
22.2.1937: George Sims Clark designated manager.
29.7.1937: Last landing at Hull (Sk. Harry Howard), fifteen days Faroe grounds 332 kits £293 gross. Transferred to fish out of Fleetwood.
30.8.1937: Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
31.8.1937: Mortgage (A) discharged.
7.9.1937: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
18.11.1937: Mortgage (B) discharged.
29.11.1937: Sold to Alexander Malcolm Morrice, Aberdeen.
11.12.1937: Hull registry closed.
14.12.1937: Registered at Aberdeen (A460).
29.12.1937: Alexander Malcolm Morrice designated managing owner.
19.9.1939 (sale registered): Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Basil Arthur Parkes, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager.
5.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY597) (Hire rate £79.12.6d/month).
19.8.1941: Sweeping with other trawlers (Sk. R. R. Snape RNR), engaged and shot down a Junkers 88.
16.11.1945: Returned.
19.11.1945 (sale registered): Sold to A. J. Tilbrook Ltd, Milford Haven.
21.6.1948 (sale registered): Sold to Sydney Bennett, Fleetwood.
21.6.1948: Aberdeen registry closed.
6.1948: Registered at Fleetwood (FD275).
1949: Sold to Medway Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Merchants (Fleetwood) Ltd, managers).
23.10.1952: Sheltering in Broad Bay, Isle of Lewis (Sk. Charlie Robinson). At 3.00 am in total darkness, steam trawler WYRE LAW (FD48) (Sk. George Wood) stranded in the bay and immediately started to flood in the stokehold. Boat launched and siren sounded. Hearing the distress siren, weighed anchor and moved in close to enable survivors to be taken onboard from the boat. Crew landed at Stornoway.
1954: On sale of Merchants (Fleetwood) Ltd, to Associated Fisheries Group, Sydney Bennett, Fleetwood designated manager.
1957: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
25.3.1957: Delivered Barrow-in-Furness.
3.1957: Fleetwood registry closed.

(John Anderson, AB (prest), age 27, b. Exeter, Devon – VICTORY (SB375))
(Charles Doran, Landsman (prest), age 35, b. Wicklow, Co.Wicklow – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB631))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Charles Doran FD275
Picture from the Internet

HMT Charles Doran
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
17/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
11/03/2017: Removed disputed image.
13/01/2019: Added information.
23/11/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Jacinta (1) FD235

Technical

Admiralty Number: 1976
Official Number: 139206
Yard Number: 634
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 289
Net Tonnage: 115
Length: 130.2 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Engine: 84rhp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

17.7.1915: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.634) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as JACINTA.
14.12.1915: Completed (James Herbert Marr, manager).
22.11.1915: Registered at Fleetwood (FD235). Requisitioned from the builders and fitted out as minesweeper (1-6pdr and 1-7.75” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1976). 4.11.1916: James Herbert Marr died. James Alexander Robertson appointed manager. Based Moray Command.
23.10.1918: Re-registered at Fleetwood (FD235).
1920: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
28.12.1921: During WNW Force 8 gale in off Maughold Head, Isle of Man picked up twelve crew of steam trawler JOSEPH HODGKINS (A168) which foundered after being in collision with steam trawler CUIRASS (GY436) and landed them at Fleetwood. Returned to Fleetwood with extensive damage.
12.10.1924: James A. Robertson died. Alan Marr appointed manager.
1.12.1925: Alan Marr died. Joseph Arthur Marr appointed manager.
4.1929: Geoffrey Edwards Marr appointed manager.
14.10.1932: In the early hours, struck submerged rock eight miles off Rathlin Island, losing all blades on her propeller. Taken in tow by DORINDA (FD198).
15.10.1932: Arrived Fleetwood.
12.8.1934: On St. Kilda ground in collision with steam trawler DAILY CHRONICLE (FD69) sustaining damage to starboard side. DAILY CHRONICLE suffered no damage.
29.12.1938: William Pye (50) Ch.Eng signed on as deckhand fell down forecastle ladder and died.
Pre 4.1940: Employed on Fishery Protection (WA/Fort William/Fleetwood) (1-12pdr, 4 Lewis guns).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
27.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service (Hire rate £79.9.6d/month) (Ty/Sk. Jim Bettess RNR – mate). Fleetwood Flotilla sailed North End, Fleetwood for English Channel with GAVA as Leader (Ty/Sk. F. Day RNR. Senior Officer Fleetwood Flotilla, P/Ty/Lieut. Francis Joseph Jordan RNR), in company with DHOON (FD438), EDWINA (FD205)(Ty/Sk. Percy Bedford RNR), EVELYN ROSE (GY9) (Ty/Sk. Arthur John Lewis RNR) and VELIA (FD49) (Ty/Sk. John Clarkson RNR).
30.5.1940: Arrived Dover.
31.5.1940: At 0730 sailed for Ramsgate, entering harbour at 0910. At 2030 moved to anchor outside.
1.6.1940: At 0725 sailed Ramsgate for Dunkirk. Attacked by enemy aircraft all the way; returned fire. Arrived Dunkirk at 1125. Embarked 150 allied troops. With Fleetwood Flotilla, cleared harbour at 1230 bound Ramsgate. At 1400 concentrated enemy air attack. Aircraft returned at 1430. At about 1700 when some 2miles S of North Goodwin Light Vessel, ran on submerged wreck of steamer MERL, taking a 25° list to port. Steam tug JAVA (128grt/1905) (W. Jones, Master. Cdr J. S. M. Glendenning RNR, Naval Officer) came to assist and it was decided to remove troops before attempting to refloat; landed them at Ramsgate. Later refloated by JAVA with assistance of HMS NELSON’s motor launch, which had left Ramsgate at 1645 en route to Dunkirk. At 1800, motor launch FERVENT (Lt Cdr. Clements), returning from an aborted trip to Dunkirk found the trawler in the Downs, drifting with the tide and deserted, but seaworthy. Lt Cdr. Clements allowed her to drift to a safe anchorage and then anchored her.
2.6.1940: Towed to Ramsgate by one of the Fleetwood Flotilla trawlers; she was found to be making a little water. Repaired and fitted out for auxiliary patrol duties (P.No.4.138).
4.6.1940: Ty/Sk. J. Chard RNR appointed CO. Commenced 3 day patrols in the English Channel as part of ‘invasion’ defence.
10.1941: Fitted out for minesweeping duties.
2.1.1942: Ty/Sk. Henery George Stone RNR appointed CO.
2.1942: Ty/Lieut. John A. H. Lumbus RNVR appointed CO.
7.1943: Fitted out for wreck dispersal duties.
9.12.1943: Ty/Lieut. Ernest Walter Busby RNR appointed CO.
6.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings; held in readyness at Sheerness.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1944: Sold to Harold Barber Ingram, Fleetwood for £10500.
5.1946: Returned.
19.12.1952: Last landing at Fleetwood. Laid up.
9.1953: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
11.9.1953: Delivered Barrow under own power.
9.1953: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Jacinta FD235
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Jacinta FD235
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

HMT Jacinta
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
17/01/2009: Page published. 8 updates since then.
03/06/2016: Minor information update.
27/01/2017: Removed disputed image.
14/06/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Vera Grace FD211

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 124700
Yard Number: 195
Completed: 1908
Gross Tonnage: 232.48
Net Tonnage: 89 .23
Length: 126.0 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 10.1 ft
Built: Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee
Engine: 400ihp T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Boiler: Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne
Armament 1 x 6 pdr AA

History

18.1.1908: Launched by Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.195) for William Henry Sutcliffe (64/64), Fleetwood as VERA GRACE.
2.1908: Completed.
9.3.1908: Registered at Fleetwood (FD211).
9.3.1908: William Henry Sutcliffe designated managing owner.
10.3.1908: Sold to William Henry Sutcliffe (16/64); John Sutcliffe (16/64); John W. Cockroft (16/64); Vera Grace Cockroft (8/64) and John William Sutcliffe (8/64), Fleetwood (trading as Rockcliffe Steam Fishing Co Ltd).
5.7.1909: John Potter designated manager.
10.11.1910: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood. James H. Marr designated manager.
2.2.1911: Stranded off Isle of Man and badly damaged.
8.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.135).
11.8.1914: Sailed Fleetwood for Portsmouth.
1914: Based Portsmouth.
1918: Based Portland.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood (James A. Robertson, manager).
11.3.1924: Stranded four miles W of Point of Ayre, IoM. Refloated next HW, no damage.
24.10.1924: James A. Robertson died.
10.1924: Alan Marr designated manager.
1.12.1925: Alan Marr died.
12.1925: Joseph Arthur Marr designated manager.
16.12.1928: With steam trawler EDWARD CATTELLY (FD204) stood by trawler BUSH (FD60) ashore on rocks off Mull of Cantire, entrance to Islay Sound and on evening tide unsuccessfully attempted to refloat.
1.4.1929: Joseph A. Marr retired to manage Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd.
4.1929: Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
22.9.1930: Arrived Oban with body of crewman Henry Firth, drowned at sea.
16.4.1932: Trawling in the Firth of Clyde with with port letters and numbers concealed with bags and other material, failed to indicate to other vessels that he was fishing and refused to comply with a direction to stop given by the commander of the Scottish Fishery Board’s cruiser VIGILANT. Pursued for over one hour and eventually apprehended and escorted into Ayr.
13.7.1932: At Ayr Sheriff Court, Sk. William Henry Nash was fined £140 with one month to pay or the option of 60 days imprisonment.
19.2.1935: At Bangor Magistrates Court, Sk. Oliver W. Watson was fined £20 on each of two charges of illegal trawling off the Welsh coast.
16.10.1937: Arrived Fleetwood in tow of Glasgow tug FLYING KITE (260grt/1929) from Scotland having suffered flooding and with engine trouble.
27.8.1940: Requisitioned for war service and appointed for minesweeping duties.
29.8.1940: Returned.
27.2.1941: Sold to Thornton Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood for £3,500. (Registered owner 3.3.1941). Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
2.7.1942: Sold to Harold Barber Ingram, Fleetwood. Harold Barber Ingram designated managing owner.
1943: Working Home Waters/Icelandic grounds.
26.5.1943: Typical landing, Home Waters. 492 kits – hake-146, cod/codling-35, flats-1, ling/coley-296, roker-6, dogs-4, sole & prime-2.
16.6.1943: Typical landing, Iceland grounds. 1125 kits – cod/codling-500, haddock-400, flats-25, cats-200.
24.4.1946: Fishing in North Sea, rescued one crew member of trawler EARL of ESSEX (GY48) which foundered having hauled a mine in the trawl which subsequently exploded; ten crew lost.
27.12.1952: Last landing at Fleetwood.
1.1953: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
15.1.1953: Sailed Fleetwood for Barrow. Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Vera Grace FD211
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Vera Grace FD211
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
04/12/2015: Information added.
04/02/2016: Minor information update.
03/07/2020: Information updated.

S.T. St. Philip FD199

Technical

Official Number: 148292
Yard Number: 829
Completed: 1927
Gross Tonnage: 301
Net Tonnage: 113
Length: 130.0 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

3.2.1927: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.829) for Neale & West Ltd, Cardiff as KUNISHI.
4.1927: Launched. Registered at Cardiff (CF20).
8.1939: Sold to The Admiralty and fitted out for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.692).
8.1939: Cardiff registry closed.
1.1946: Sold to Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Basil A. Parkes,Cleveleys, manager).
20.2.1946: In heavy seas and NW gale ran aground on Pilling Sands on passage to Glasson Dock for docking and restoration. Attended by Barrow lifeboat N.T. but could not approach due to depth of water. Fleetwood lifeboat ANN LETITIA RUSSELL (Cox J. Wright) was launched after clearing slipway of shingle and on the flood took off the ten man crew. Subsequently refloated and proceeded to Glasson Dock.
4.1946: Re-classed at Glasson Dock and registered at Fleetwood as St. PHILIP (FD199).
16.4.1955: Sold to Jacques Bakker & Zonen, Bruges for breaking up.
21.4.1955: Delivered Bruges.
1955: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. St. Philip FD199
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection.

S.T. St. Philip FD199
Picture from the Internet.

S.T. Kunishi CF20 undergoing post war restoration
Picture from the Internet

HMT Kunishi,br />Picture from the Internet

S.T. St. Philip FD199
Newsclipping courtesy of Phil Rogers.

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
17/01/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and added an image.
26/07/2021: Added news clipping.
19/06/2022: Added an image.

The Bosun's Watch

Fleetwood Steam and Sailing Trawlers

Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Princess Melton FD326

S.T. Charles Doran FD275

S.T. Jacinta (1) FD235

S.T. Vera Grace FD211

S.T. St. Philip FD199