Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S. T. Kilda FD144

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 132403
Yard Number: 136
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 243
Net Tonnage: 93
Length: 126.7 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 9.7 ft
Engine: 500ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole

History

16.2.1911: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.136) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as KILDA.
24.3.1911: Registered at Fleetwood (FD144).
3.1911: Completed (James Herbert Marr, manager).
13.4.1914: Sold to The Admiralty for £6750 and engaged in target towing.
28.7.1914: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.1914: Fitted out as a minesweeper (1-12pdr). Renamed HMS JANUS (Ad.No.167).
1.1920: Registered by The Admiralty in the Registry of British Ships at London as KILDA (7/1920).
4.5.1920: Sold by auction at Milford to Joseph Davison (16/64), William Upham Carlile Westoby (16/64) and Isaac Bunch (32/64), Grimsby for £5500.
11.6.1920: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (A).
21.6.1920: Registered at Grimsby (GY1138).
22.6.1920: Isaac Bunch appointed manager.
11.10.1920: Registered at Grimsby as TUBAL CAIN (GY1138).
3.4.1922: Isaac Bunch shares (16/64) sold to Thomas Toombs (16/64), Grimsby.
3.4.1922: Mortgage (A) discharged.
3.4.1922: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (B).
26.4.1922: Isaac Bunch appointed manager.
15.8.1938: Mortgage (B) transferred to Ada Sarah Ann Davison (64/64), Grimsby.
17.10.1938: Sold by mortgagee under mortgage (B) to Charles Hugh Emerson, Grimsby.
18.10.1938: Charles High Emerson appointed manager.
11.1938: Sold for breaking up in Germany.
8.11.1938: Grimsby registry closed “… on sale of vessel to foreigners (German subjects) for breaking up”.

Click to enlarge image

S. T. Kilda FD144

S. T. Kilda FD144
Picture courtesy of John Stevenson

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
13/05/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Hazelglen BCK145 (Seasonal)

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3882
Official Number: 141956
Yard Number: 271
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 108
Net Tonnage: 39
Length: 92.1 ft
Breadth: 19.1 ft
Depth: 9.1 ft
Built: Fellows & Co Ltd, Gt Yarmouth
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt Yarmouth
Boiler: Riley Bros (Boilermakers) Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

1917: Requisitioned by The Admiralty on the stocks, no instalment monies paid.
19.12.1917: Launched by Fellows & Co Ltd, Gt Yarmouth (Yd.No.271) (non-standard “Admiralty drifter”) for The Admiralty as DAYSPRING.
1.1917: Completed (1- 6pdr) (Ad.No.3882).
10.8.1920: Transferred to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, London.
1920: Leased to Henry Dingle, Thornton-le-Fylde (managing owner).
6.8.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (Part I & Part IV) as CASTLEBAY O.N.141956 (FD377).
5.6.1922: Sk. Jeffrey Wright fined £40 at Campbeltown for engaging in otter trawling within the prohibited limit in the Firth of Clyde.
8.1923: Returned to Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, London.
25.8.1923: Fleetwood registry closed “Not used for fishing”.
11.1.1924: Sold to John Utting, Lowestoft (managing owner).
11.1.1924: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1295).
8.1.1927: Sold to Nelson George Utting, Lowestoft (John Utting, manager).
9.9.1929: Sold to Mrs Anne Elizabeth Grace (22/64), Norwich; Thomas Albyn Utting (21/64) and Albert Edward Stock (21/64) both Lowestoft (John Utting, manager).
30.4.1931: Sold to John Utting (22/64); Thomas Albyn Utting (21/64) and Albert Edward Stock (21/64), all Lowestoft (John Utting, manager).
15.12.1931: Sold to John Utting (32/64) and Albert Edward Stock (32/64), both Lowestoft (John Utting, manager).
1935-1937: Fishing from Fleetwood (Alex Keay, managing agent).
11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (Hire rate £32.0.0d/month).
4.1943: Employed on miscellaneous Naval duties.
1.2.1944: Sold to British & American Salmon Curing Co Ltd, London (Alfred John Llewellyn, Essex).
7.1946: Returned to owner. Laid up.
3.1947: Sold to Karl Ogard & others, Craverne, Sweden. To be renamed DRAGO.
24.3.1947: Decommissioned for voyage but sale not concluded.
10.10.1949: Sold to John Cameron, Peterhead.
16.11.1949: Registered at Peterhead (PD101).
1951: Sold to Andrew Wilson, Buckie & others (Hazael Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood, managers) and fitted out for trawling. Peterhead registry closed. Registered at Buckie as HAZELGLEN (BCK145).
1951-1956: Seasonal trawling from Fleetwood (Hazael Fishing Co Ltd (J. Thain, manager)).
1956: Converted by Hamilton Brothers Ltd, Buckie, fitted with 4stroke 8-cyl 275bhp oil engine by R. A. Lister & Co Ltd, Dursley (engine built 1941).
6.1957: Fishing from Fleetwood.
1960: Re-engined with 2stroke 5-cyl 320bhp oil engine by Crossley Bros. Ltd, Manchester.
Pre 1964: Owners restyled William Wilson, Fleetwood c/o Hazael Fishing Co Ltd (J. Thain, manager).
10.1968: Laid up.
1969: Sold to Messrs C. & J. Davies Ltd, Fleetwood for breaking up.
1975: Buckie registry closed.

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S.T. Hazleglen BCK145

S.T. Hazleglen BCK145
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Hazelglen BCK145

M.T. Hazelglen BCK145
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
19/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
02/11/2019: Updated information.
20/10/2020: Added an image.

S.T. Michael Griffith FD249

Technical

Admiralty Number: FY3781
Official Number: 145118
Yard Number: 402
Completed: 1919
As built: 360disp
Gross Tonnage: 282
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.2 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

5.9.1918: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.402) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as MICHAEL GRIFFITH (Ad.No.3781).
5.4.1919: Completed.
12.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) O.N.145118.
12.6.1920: Paid off at Devonport. Laid up.
22.9.1921: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO529).
1922: Sold at auction at Milford Haven to Henry Leetham & Sons Ltd, York (Raymond D. T. Birt, Milford Haven, manager).
11.12.1923: Sold to Phoenix Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven (Raymond D. T. Birt, Milford Haven, manager).
6.11.1929: Sold to James Ritchie & William T. Davies, Hakin, joint managers (trading as West Coast Trawlers, Milford Haven).
10.6.1933: Suffered machinery breakdown 45 miles W of St. Ann’s Head. Trawler WILLIAM DOWNES (LO530) directed to position, connected and delivered Milford.
27.5.1939: Reported picked up disabled Milford trawler WILLIAM HUMPHRIES (LO533) and proceeding Milford Haven.
30.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.567) (Hire rate £90.12.6d/month).
7.1943: Fitted out as a boom defence vessel.
1.1945: Returned.
1945: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood (FD249).
29.1.1953: Sailed Fleetwood for fishing grounds (Sk. Charles Singleton); thirteen crew.
30.1.1953: Having returned to Fleetwood for repairs to the feed pump, sailed again at 12.30 am. for the fishing grounds. At 8.30 pm. sighted by Fleetwood trawler AIGRET (FD180) which, with gear stowed was dodging W1/2S of Dubh Artacht Light in the hope of an improvement in the weather. A short time after an adverse weather forecast was received by the AIGRET and the skipper decided to seek shelter and set a course to the E of Skerryvore. Passing close to the AIGRET, Skipper Singleton continued northwards and his stern light was visible until about 11.10pm. By now a NW gale force 9 was blowing, veering between NNW and N and increasing to force 10, with snow, very rough sea and 30 ft waves.
31.1.1953: At 9.23 am. trawlers VELIA (FD116) and WYRE GENERAL (FD258) picked up a distress message. “All ships – MICHAEL GRIFFITH, 7 – 8 miles south of Barra – full of water, no steam. Am helpless. Will some ship please come and help us”. Both trawlers were too far away but relayed the distress message. The trawlers WARDOUR (GY523) and BRACONBANK (A237) were at least 85 miles away but proceeded in appalling conditions to the given position. HMS TENACIOUS (P.No.F44) was ordered to sail from Londonderry and an air search was carried out by the RAF. Castlebay and later, Islay lifeboats were launched and searched for seven hours but found nothing; two crew members of Islay lifeboat died from fumes and exhaustion.
7.2.1953: Lifeboat washed ashore on Inishtrahull, Co Donegal. Presumed foundered approx 7 miles south of Barra Head with loss of all thirteen crew *.
30.4.1954: At the MoT formal inquiry in Fleetwood, the court was unable to find the cause of the disaster, but probably exceptionally heavy weather (HMS TENACIOUS recorded 100mph wind, 50 ft waves and snow storm in the vicinity). The court found that the trawler was seaworthy and properly equipped. (The loss of the MICHAEL GRIFFITH heralded the The Great Storm-1953, which resulted in the loss of the ferry PRINCESS VICTORIA (2694g/1947) , other vessels in the North Sea and the flooding and loss of life in the South East, particularly Canvey Island).

* Sk. Charles Singleton; Leonard Grundy, Mate; J. T. Wilson, Bosun; Harry Anderson, Ch. Eng; Thomas Burns, 2nd Eng; James Tucker, Stanley Johns, Charles Murdoch & J. Cryson, deckhands; George Palin, deckie-learner; A. Bindle, cook; W. Hargreaves & R. Bodden, firemen

(Michael Griffiths (note ‘s’), OS, age 23, b. Waterford, Co. Waterford – VICTORY (SB843))

Click Here to download the BOT inquiry into the loss.

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S.T. Michael Griffith FD249

S.T. Michael Griffith FD249
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
15/06/2021: Updated history and technical details and added the BOT inquiry report.

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 164418
Yard Number: 1008
Completed: 1936
Gross Tonnage: 458
Net Tonnage: 164
Length: 164.6 ft
Breadth: 27.1 ft
Depth: 15.1 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 825ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Boiler: Richardsons Westgarth & Co Ltd, Hartlepool

History

6.8.1936: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.1008) for Rutlandshire Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), London as HERTFORDSHIRE.
11.9.1936: Registered at Grimsby (GY332).
11.9.1936: Harry Markham Cook appointed manager.
9.1936: Completed.
17.9.1936: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (A).
30.11.1937: Mortgage (A) discharged.
1.12.1937: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
1937: H. Markham Cook, Grimsby appointed manager.
3.10.1939: Requisitioned for war service as an anti-submarine trawler (P.No.4.34) (Hire rate £297.14.0d/month).
19.3.1940: Sold to Shire Trawlers Ltd (64/64), London.
3.4.1940: William Alfred Bennett, Sanderstead appointed manager.
4.5.1940: Mortgage (B) discharged.
4.5.1940: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
3.1942: Transferred on loan to US Navy.
10.1942: Returned to Royal Navy.
25.2.1944: Mortgage (C) discharged.
26.10.1945: Returned to owner.
3.1950: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
4.4.1950: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd (64/64), London.
5.4.1950: John Bennett appointed manager.
23.11.1950: Alteration to tonnage and other particulars, Certificate of Survey at Grimsby dated 23.10.1950. 443.53g 159.01n.
8.11.1951: Renamed NORTHERN GIFT (GY332).
25.6.1954: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood .
30.6.1954: First landing at Fleetwood 1659 boxes £4892 gross.
9.7.1954: Leslie Wheildon appointed manager.
13.7.1954: Landed 1430 boxes from a nine day Icelandic trip £5069 gross.
21.8.1954: Company re-styled Wyre Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood (Certificate of Registration of Companies dated 7.7.1954).
27.9.1954: Grimsby registry closed.
8.1954: Registered at Fleetwood as WYRE GLEANER (FD23).
28.9.1954: First landing 1057 boxes £3703 gross.
1954: Wyre Trawlers Ltd transferred to Associated Fisheries Group on purchase of Merchants (Fleetwood) Ltd.
9.1963: Sold to West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd, Troon for breaking up.
9.10.1963: Sailed Fleetwood for Troon under own power.
10.10.1963: Arrived Troon Harbour (draughts 7’0”/16’6”).
28.10.1963: Breaking commenced.
31.1.1964: Reberthed.
18.3.1964: Beached 8’3”/10’6”).
10.6.1964: Rebeached.
9.7.1964: Rebeached.
6.8.1964: Breaking completed.
1964: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23

S.T. Hertfordshire GY332
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23

S.T. Northern Gift GY332
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23
Picture courtesy of Robert123 (shipsnostalgia)

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23

S.T. Wyre Gleaner FD23
Picture courtesy of The Greenday Collection

S.T. Wyre Gleaned FD23

S.T. Wyre Gleaned FD23
Picture courtesy of The Phillip Dell Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
02/05/2017: Removed disputed image and FMHT watermarks.
13/09/2019: Updated information and added an image.

S. T. George Adgell FD368

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4402
Official Number: 141953
Yard Number: 418
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 127
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

18.6.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.418) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as GEORGE ADGELL (Ad.No.4402).
31.1.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel.
2.1920: Sold to Henry Blackburn, Fleetwood.
5.2.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (Part I & Part IV) O.N.141953 (FD368).
17.2.1920: Sold to Blackburn Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Henry Blackburn designated manager.
28.5.1928: At Fleetwood landed a 5ft sturgeon caught on the West of Scotland grounds.
15.3.1930: Off Northern Ireland coast (Sk. Dilver Collinson), fireman, John Ronson of Fleetwood was swept overboard and drowned.
10.9.1935: Sold to Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys & Walter Holmes, Fleetwood.
5.12.1935: Sold to Parkholme Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes & Walter Holmes). Basil A. Parkes designated manager.
14.3.1939: Sold to The Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Basil A. Parkes designated manager.
11.6.1940: At Hull last landing before requisitioning. Iceland trip, 18 days – 1.071kits £2,410 gross.
12.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel (P.No.FY1926) (Hire rate £94.5.0d/month).
9.1941: Fitted out for minesweeping (P.No. FY.1926).
1.1942: Based Ipswich with M/S & Patrol Group 79.
14.2.1946: Sold to Joseph L. Yolland, John Yolland & Thomas S. Yolland, Milford Haven.
8.7.1946: Sold to Yolland Brothers Ltd, Milford Haven (John T. Leslie & T. Stuart Yolland). J. Yolland designated manager.
17.1.1946: Returned to owner after restoration and survey at Aberdeen.
10.7.1948: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £13,086.
30.6.1953: Last landing at Fleetwood.
1953: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
3.7.1953: Delivered Preston.
9.7.1953: Fleetwood registry closed. (CHR states “Closed 19.3.1955” suspect on repayment of a mortgage)

The Following information kindly provided by Patricia Bailey

ARTICLE FROM THE FLEETWOOD CHRONICLE, FYLDE NEWS

THE CRY IN THE NIGHT.

FLEETWOOD MAN’S DISAPPEARANCE

Mysterious Fall Overboard

A graphic account of the loss of a member of the crew of the Fleetwood steam trawler, George Adgell, belonging to Messrs Blackburn Trawlers, Ltd., was given when the vessel arrived at Fleetwood yesterday.

Leaving Fleetwood on March 14th for the Rockall, Atlantic fishing grounds, the trawler had proceeded as far as Innistrahull, off Northern Ireland, when at 4.15 the following morning, a cry of “Man overboard” was raised. In spite of a search, lasting till daylight, no trace of the missing man was found. The victim was John Ronson, aged 37, of 6 Avon Green, Fleetwood, who was a fireman on the vessel.

Interviewed by a “Fleetwood Chronicle” reported, Mr Richard Wright of Sagar Terrace, Fleetwood, deck hand, said that he was the last to see Ronson.

“Over the Side”

“The skipper, Mr Dilver Collinson, had just gone below to his bunk, and I was on watch” he said. “Suddenly I saw the legs and feet of a man disappearing over the side.

“The alarm was raised, and the skipper was on the bridge in a few seconds. The weather was calm at the time, and there was no swell on the sea.

“Although it was dark, we had all our deck lights on. We did not hear any cry from Ronson, and never saw him again. How he came to fall overboard is a mystery, and he must have been stunned by something.

“At the time he was very near the ash lift and was dumping ashes over the side. We cruised about for two hours without seeing anything of him.”

Ronson leaves a widow and six children, the eldest of whom is only 11 years of age.

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S. T. George Adgell FD368

S. T. George Adgell FD368
Picture courtesy of The John Stevenson Collection

S.T. George Adgell FD368

S.T. George Adgell FD368
Picture from the Internet

George Treece Birch

George Treece Birch
Picture courtesy of The John Elrick Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
02/11/2020: Updated information.
25/06/2022: Added an image.