Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Scorpio GY467

Additional information courtesy of Göran Olsson, Bill Blow and Douglas Paterson

Technical

Official Number: 94080
Yard Number: 308
Completed: 1888
Gross Tonnage: 145
Net Tonnage: 91
Length: 101.6 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 10.6 ft
Engine: 300ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull

History

8.3.1888: Launched by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull (Yd.No.308) for The Grimsby & North Sea Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as VIRGO.
19.4.1888: Registered at Grimsby (GY150).
19.4.1888: John Richardson Mackrill appointed manager.
4.1888: Completed.
25.9.1900: Sold to A/S Zodiac, Brevik, Norway (Cornelius Röe, manager) en bloc with steam trawlers, GEMINI (GY885), PISCES (GY271), SAGITTARIUS (GY137), SCORPIO (GY136), AURUS (GY883), and ZODIAC (GY286). Continued to fish from Grimsby.
27.9.1900: Grimsby registry closed. Registered at Brevik (No PLN for Norwegian ports before 1920).
1903: New boiler by Gt. Grimsby Coal, Salt & Tanning Co Ltd, Grimsby.
5.1906: Sold to Grimsby & North Sea Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby (John R. Mackrill, manager) again en bloc with steam trawlers previously named.
5.1906: Remeasured 144.66 grt 77.49 net.
17.5.1906: Registered at Grimsby (GY144).
9.1908: Sold to A.B. Planet, Landskrona, Sweden (Lars Peter Jönsson, manager) en bloc with CORONA (GY778), SAGITTARIUS (GY149) for £2,000 each.
11.9.1908: Grimsby registry closed. Registered at Landskrona (LA644).
5.1909: Sold to Grimsby & North Sea Steam Trawling Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby with SAGITTARIUS (LA645).
26.5.1909: John Richard Mackrill appointed manager.
27.5.1909: Registered at Grimsby as SCORPIO (GY467).
8.3.1913: Sold to Aldersyde Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
17.04.1913: Edwin Beacock appointed manager. Transferred to Fleetwood.
7.7.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (A).
25.10.1915: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to National Provincial Bank Ltd, London (B).
26.10.1915: Mortgage (A) discharged.
9.11.1916: Mortgage (B) discharged.
8.11.1916: Sold to James Johnson (64/64), Scarborough.
2.12.1916: James Johnson designated managing owner.
5.12.1916: Grimsby registry closed.
6.12.1916: Registered at Scarborough (SH270).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
1919: Released. 24.4.1919: Sold to The Scorpio Steamship Co Ltd (64/64), Scarborough.
20.12.1920: Sold to James Johnson (64/64), Scarborough.
23.7.1923: Sold to James Beswick (64/64), Newby, nr. Scarborough.
18.12.1935: Scarborough registry closed “Ship being broken up”.

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S.T. Virgo GY467

S.T. Virgo GY467
Sale letter courtesy of Bill Blow

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.

S.T. Scomber (2) FD98

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 136898
Yard Number: 615
Completed: 1914
Gross Tonnage: 321
Net Tonnage: 127
Length: 130.3 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Depth: 13.1 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

6.10.1914: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.615) for The Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as SCOMBER.
3.12.1914: Registered at Fleetwood (FD98). George E. J. Moody, Grimsby designated manager.
23.12.1914: Completed. Requisitioned from the builders and fitted out as a minesweeper(1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.445). Based Humber.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
4.1.1922: At Grimsby landed a record catch of 2,000 boxes from a White Sea trip which realised £5,900.
10.10.1923: Returning from fishing grounds through the Inner Sound. In a heavy rain squall ran at full speed on rocks off Eilean Beag, Crowlin Islands off the southern tip of the Applecross peninsula . Took to boat and picked up by Macbrayne’s steamer PLOVER (208grt/1904) on passage Kyle to Harris. Skipper and four crew decided to stay on Crowlin Island standing by the vessel.
11.10.1923: Insurance Surveyor attended in drifter FLOWER O’ MORAY (84grt/1908) (INS584). Found water in engine room, fish hold and fore hold.
12.10.1923: Carried out external examination; no serious damage.
12-21.10.1923: Lightening ship, plugging rivet holes and tallowing seams. Laid out anchors astern and on both quarters. Considered seaworthy.
22.10.1923: After heaving on anchors and with FLOWER O’ MORAY towing astern, came afloat. Berthed at Kyle of Lochalsh at 8.30 pm.
23-26.10.1923: Cleaning engine room and storing.
26.10.1923: At daylight sailed for Fleetwood, via Oban to rectify boiler tube leaks.
28.10.1923: Arrived Fleetwood. Subsequently repaired and returned to service.
1.1926: Sir George E. J. Moody, Grimsby designated manager.
7.3.1926: Inwards from northerly grounds when some 2 miles west of Lune lightship sighted the mast of a sunken steamer projecting about 4 ft out of the water. On a rising tide unable to identify the vessel but placed a lighted bouy near the scene. On arrival at Fleetwood notified harbour authorities and tug FYLDE (256grt/1904) was despatched to scene. The buoy was picked up but no trace of the mast or sunken ship.
11.10.1929: On arrival at Fleetwood, Sk. Charles Brewster reported that while laid-to in stormy weather north-east of St. Kilda, struck by an immense wave which flooded the deck several feet deep. The majority of the crew saw the wave coming and escaped, but the Bosun, James Green, Fleetwood, and deckhand, William Miller, Blackpool, were both hurled against the ship’s casing and narrowly escaped being swept overboard. Green was carried below unconscious with cuts about the head and eyes. Miller had his chest, arms, and shoulders injured. Both men were given first aid by the skipper and course set for Castlebay, Barra, 130 miles away, to obtain medical assistance. At Castlebay the injured men received attention by a doctor and later sailed for Fleetwood.
193?: W. M. Kelly, Fleetwood designated manager.
11.11.1937: Arrived Fleetwood from a six day trip (Sk. Charles Brewster) and landed the largest herring catch of the season, with 7,000 stone in addition to 300 stone of mixed fish.
18.3.1938: Relaid message to Wick Radio from Grimsby steam trawler BLAKKUR (GY378)- ‘Took heavy sea, boat lost, bridge smashed, casing broken, radio damaged one man injured, proceeding Thórshavn’.
29.5.1938: At about 9.30pm. arrived Buncrana, Co. Donegal from the Tory Island grounds to land Sam Robinson, 2nd Eng, who had sustained severe lacerations to his right hand when caught in revolving machinery.
30.5.1938: Robinson put ashore at daylight.
2.9.1938: On sailing from Oban at 12.30 am. stranded next to beacon at entrance and held hard and fast. At 10.20 am. came afloat and berthed at Oban for inspection.
18.07.1939: At Fleetwood Magistrates Court, William Holden (34) fisherman, Fleetwood, was fined 20/-, ordered to pay one guinea advocates fee and to refund his 6/- advance, having pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to join the trawler the day before. Prosecuting. Mr. R. Blackburn stated that Holden should have appeared at noon to sail, but at 1:30p.m. was found in a club. He then promised to go to the ship but did not arrive and a search was made of a number of hotels and clubs, but he could not be found; the trawler was delayed two hours. Holden said this was only the third time in 17 years that he had missed his ship, he got a drop too much beer.
6.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.183)(Hire rate £85.12.0d/month). Cost of conversion £25,036. Based Milford Haven.
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
5.6.1944: Sailed Solent for Mulberry B with Convoy ETC27W.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1944: Based at the Humber (J. Gibson-Johnston & Co, Hull, agents).
1947: Re-conditioned and surveyed at an estimated cost of £8,750.
1947: Remeasured 319g. 127n on completion of re-conditioning and survey.
2.1947: Sold to Inch Fishing Co Ltd, Edinburgh. Registered at Granton as INCHTURE (GN44).
9.2.1948: In severe weather, Sk. Norman Lyle, using the wireless direction finding equipment, steamed 90 miles and located the disabled steam trawler INCHMICKERY (GN29) adrift some 220 miles off Aberdeen. With great difficulty connected and commenced tow to Aberdeen.
8.2.1948: Delivered Aberdeen after a four day tow during which the hawser parted four times.
02.12.1948: In North Sea (Sk. Magnus Young) received a radio message from the Dundee steam trawler FRASER FENTON (DE 23) (Sk. Alex Dorwood D.S.C) disabled with boiler trouble and awash in heavy seas. Made for the position indicated and reached the FRASER FENTON after dark. Attempted to come alongside four times but the seas threatened to set both trawlers into each other and it was hours before a line was got on board. Two trawl warps were connected and tow commenced, but the gale was so fierce that the vessels could make only three knots all through the first night.
05.12.1948: Delivered Granton fifty seven hours after making contact.
1953: Sold to Clyde Fishing Co Ltd, Edinburgh.
1953: Sold to Cantieri Navali del Golfo, Genoa for breaking up.
9.1953: Broken up at Le Spezia.

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S.T. ScomberFD98

S.T. Scomber FD98
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
05/06/2016: Minor information update.
20/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
04/04/2018: Significant information update.

S.T. Scawby BN187

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3678
Official Number: 146933
Yard Number: 358
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 277
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.7 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Engine: Fraser & Chalmers, Erith
Built: Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd, Paisley

History

10.5.1918: Launched by Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd, Paisley (Yd.No.358) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JAMES DINTON (Ad.No.3678).
27.5.1918: Commissioned.
29.5.1918: Completed (1 – 12pdr, hydrophone and W/T).
1922: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston (F. Parkes, Wyberton, Boston, manager). Registered at Boston as SCAWBY (BN187).
23.9.1925: Homeward encountered thick fog and struck the Ness of Duncansby. Refloated with the help of local fisherman and returned to Boston. Survey revealed extensive bottom damage; repaired and returned to service.
1926: Transferred to Grimsby (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
1926: Transferred to Fleetwood.
6.1929: Sold to McRae Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven (John McR. Knight, manager).
5.1930 Boston registry closed.
28.6.1929: Registered at Milford (M19).
22.7.1929: Registered at Milford as LILY McRAE (M19).
11.1936: Sold to Milford Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Milford Haven Harry E. Rees, manager).
25.11.1936: Registered at Milford as MILFORD DUKE (M19).
19.9.1938: James C. Ward appointed manager.
29.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.125) (Hire rate £83.2.0d/month).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
3.4.1945: Milford registry closed.
3.1946: Laid up C&M at Inverness.
1948: Sold to Manor Steamship Co Ltd, Milford Haven (Reginald L. Hancock, manager).
9.1948: Restored and reclassed at Milford Haven.
6.9.1948: Registered at Milford as MANOR (M301).
31.1.1951: Sailed Milford for South-West Ireland grounds (Sk. R. Robson).
4.2.1951: Dodging about 40 miles west of Bull Rock in increasingly severe weather; bunkers shifted, shipped heavy seas and part wheelhouse carried away, wireless and compass inoperative. Made contact with GROSMONT CASTLE (SA77) which came alongside and then escorted to Berehaven, Co Cork, dodging the weather all the way.
11.2.1951: Sailed Berehaven for Milford after effecting temporary repairs.
11.1951: Sold to Ashley Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (John Wood, manager).
8.11.1951: Milford registry closed.
11.1951: Registered at Aberdeen (A691).
6.1959: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Malcolm Brechin, Granton for breaking up.
23.7.1959: Arrived Granton from Aberdeen under own power.
(James Dinton (aka Denton), OS, age 24, b. London – VICTORY (SB74))

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S.T. Manor A691

S.T. Manor A691
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
12/02/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Saxon FD159

Technical

Official Number: 127401
Yard Number: 358
Completed: 1907
Gross Tonnage: 239
Net Tonnage: 93
Length: 120.3 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Engine: 57hp T.3-cyl by MacColl & Pollock Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields

History

19.9.1907: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.358) for Neale Bros, Milford Haven (Wilfred Neale, Cardiff; Howard K. Neale, Morley H. Neale, Joshua S. Neale & Douglas E. Neale, Penarth) as SAXON.
10.1907: Completed (Morley H. Neale, manager).
29.10.1907: Registered at Milford (M211).
16.9.1909: In Bantry Bay (Sk. H. Hewer?), at about 4.00 am. in collision with Milford trawler CAYLPSO (M168) (Sk.Christopher Masterton). Sustained damage to stem and bow plating.
12.1910: Sold to Neale & West Ltd, Cardiff (Wilfred Neale, Morley H. Neale & Joshua S. Neale, managers).
15.12. 1910: Milford registry closed.
12.1910: Registered at Cardiff (CF31).
9.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.627).
1919: Returned to owner.
4.1919: Sold to The New Docks Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
29.4.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD159).
17.7.1919: Sold to The Saxon Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
1924: William W. Brierley appointed manager.
8.1930: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Arthur Christie): twelve crew all told.
21.8.1930: Fishing off Barra Head, decided to change grounds and set course for the Cairns of Coll off Tiree. With the skipper, mate, James Compton and a deckhand Samuel Harringham in the wheelhouse in gale force winds and a blinding rainstorm with visibility reduced, stranded on Hough Skerries, Tiree. Vessel was held amidships on the skerry and despite working the engine was held fast. The mate, with Samuel Harringham and George Stables volunteered to man the boat and lay out a kedge and in the rough seas it proved very difficult and once set took over an hour to pull back the 200yds to the trawler. Shortly after their return the Ch. Eng came on deck and said that the engineroom was flooding and the position was hopeless. The skipper ordered the crew into the boat and they pulled away for the shore which they could barely see through the slanting rain and rough waters. After pulling for five miles they landed on a Tiree beach where there were no rocks and although exhausted started to walk to Kilkenneth.
22 – 25. 8.1930: Broke up in heavy swell. Declared a total loss.
8.9.1930: Fleetwood registry closed “Totally lost 21/8/30”.

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
06/06/2016: Information updated.

S.T. Sarrail FD373

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 139954
Yard Number: 531
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 255
Net Tonnage: 95
Length: 120.2 ft
Breadth: 22.5 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: 500ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

2.1917: Launched by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.531) for John Edward Rushworth, William Henry Bellamy, Joseph Davison, William Upham Carlile Westaby, all of Grimsby (64/64 joint owners) as SARRAIL.
12.7.1917: Registered at Grimsby (GY1071).
12.7.1917: John Edward Rushworth designated managing owner.
13.7.1917: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (A). Requisitioned from the builders and fitted out as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.3050).
6.11.1917: Mortgage (A) discharged.
6.11.1917: Sold to The Yarborough Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
8.11.1917: John Edward Rushworth appointed manager.
8.11.1917: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (B).
5.3.1918: Mortgage (B) discharged.
8.3.1918: Sold to The Great Northern Steamship Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Hull.
11.3.1918: William Richard Nowell appointed manager.
1.7.1918: Sailed Devonport for Falmouth.
6.7.1918: Sailed Falmouth escorting Convoy O.F.42 to Mediterranean.
21.8.1918: Grimsby registry closed.
22.8.1918: Registered at Hull (H730).
3.12.1818: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager). Based Malta.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
4.1920: Sold to Arthur Jonckheere, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
3.5.1920: Hull registry closed.
7.5.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (FD373).
1925: Sold to Mrs Isabella Grant Skoyles, Pitfodell, Aberdeenshire (Harry A. Skoyles, manager).
23.1.1925: Fleetwood registry closed.
27.1.1925: Registered at Aberdeen (A77).
1926: Re-measured 242g 95n.
1926: Sold to Pesquera Vasco Gallega Soc. Ltda, Cadiz.
16.4.1926: Aberdeen registry closed.
1926: Registered at Vigo as AROSA.
1929: Sold to Archibald G. Brown, Granton (managing owner).
1930: Reverted to 254.87g 100.92n.
1930: Vigo registry closed. Registered at Granton as BILSDEAN (GN15).
28.2.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.503) (Hire rate £70.11.8d/month).
1944: Sold to Miss Jemima Porter, Aberdeen (James Porter, manager).
1.11.1945: Returned to owner.
1.11.1945: Granton registry closed.
1.11.1945: Registered at Aberdeen (A605).
1960: Sold to J. Cameron, Peterhead (not in Register).
17.10.1960: Resold to Jacques Bakker & Zonen, Bruges for breaking up.
27.10.1960: Delivered Bruges.
3.11.1960: Aberdeen registry closed.

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.