Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Princess Louise FD365

Stranding information courtesy of Laurence H Dettman

Technical

Official Number: 121084
Yard Number: 83
Completed: 1905
Gross Tonnage: 289.30
Net Tonnage: 113
Length: 133.3 ft
Breadth: 22.5 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 70nhp T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

31.8.1905: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley (Yd.No.83) for Armitage’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as PRINCESS LOUISE.
19.10.1905: Registered at Hull (H837). George Thomas Armitage designated manager.
10.1905: Completed.
27.1.1909: In thick fog in the Humber estuary in collision with Hull steamer WHITNY ABBEY (1183grt/1908) and both vessels damaged.
15.11.1913: Sailed Hull for White Sea grounds off the coast of Lapland (Sk. Hermann Dettman) (2nd hand George Henry Batty); twelve crew total.
23.12.1913: Left fishing grounds off Sem Islands for home picking up a Norway coast pilot at Honningsvåg.
25.12.1913: Called Gibostad to obtain medical assistance for the skipper suffering from an acute bowel disorder.
27.12.1913: Arrived Lødingen and dropped pilot setting course for Vest Fjord. When in vicinity of Lødingen Light shortly after 4.30am. the skipper was again indisposed and had to leave the wheelhouse telling the second hand the course to steer. On his return there was an exchange concerning the course and shortly afterwards the vessel struck heavily amidships and again aft and heeled to starboard and came fast. Endeavoured to free the vessel by working the engine but ingress of water into the stokehold was rapid; fires were drawn. Crew abandoned and vessel settled by the stern. Picked up by Norwegian coastal steamer and landed at Svolvaer. Skipper and Chief Engineer proceeded to Lødingen and took passage in the salvage steamer that was to attend the wreck. which was lying in 10fms to the west of Root Var with some chance of salvage. Crew returned to Hull via Bergen.
6.3.1914: Hull registry closed “Vessel lost”. *
30.9.1914: Having been salved and returned to Hull, repaired and re-registered at Hull (H140).
3.11.1914: Returned to service and transferred to fish out of Fleetwood. George T. Armitage, Hull designated manager.
2.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.1176). 14.5.1915: Registered at Hull as Princess Louis II (H140). Based Milford Haven.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
1.1920: Sold to Thomas Herbert Smith, Fleetwood. Thomas Herbert Smith designated managing owner.
15.1.1920: Hull registry closed.
16.1.1920: Registered at Fleetwood (FD365).
11.2.1920: Sale to John Gallen, Donegal, Co, Donegal not concluded.
2.6.1921: Sold to James William Armitage, Fleetwood. James William Armitage designated managing owner.
1.4.1922: Sold to The Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood James W. Armitage designated manager.
1926: Sold to Cie Belge de Pecheries Maritimes, Ostend.
5.8.1926: Fleetwood registry closed.
1926: Re measured (Belgian Rules) 277g 100n 133.6 feet.
3.1926: Registered at Ostend as PASTOOR PYPE (O176).
1929: Sold to Dewsland Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
11.1929: Ostend registry closed.
1929: Re measured (BoT) 289.30g 115.15n 133.6 feet.
18.11.1929: Registered at Fleetwood (FD58). William A. Stonebanks designated manager.
28.11.1929: Registered at Fleetwood as DANELAND (FD58).
1935: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Joseph A. Marr designated manager.
8.2.1935: Mortgaged to William Deacons Bank Ltd, London.
5.1.1937: Arrived Fleetwood under own power having been ashore at Tobermory for a fortnight.
Pre 8.1938: Laid up at Fleetwood.
6.4.1941: Sunk by German aircraft 30 miles N by 1/2 W of Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim; twelve crew rescued.
6.6.1941: Fleetwood registry closed “Sunk by enemy aircraft 6/4/41”.

Note* – Following BoT Inquiry at Hull the findings were published on 24.3.1914 concluding that;
“The stranding of, and serious damage to, the steam trawler PRINCESS LOUISE was caused by the wrongful act and default of the skipper and of the second hand. As the skipper on the early morning in question was suffering from very severe indisposition, as he bears an exceptionally good character and as he gave his evidence with absolute straightforwardness the Court suspends his ticket (No.6483) for three months only from the date hereof. The Court suspends the certificate (No.10696) of the second hand, who in his evidence displayed both ignorance and indifference and did not adequately assist the skipper, at a time when he most needed it, for a like period.”
BOT Stranding Report

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Daneland FD58

S.T. Daneland FD58
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

S.T. Princess Louise H837

S.T. Princess Louise H837
Picture courtesy of the James Cullen Collection

Changelog
12/04/2014: Picture added.
08/10/2014: Picture added.
21/09/2015: Stranding information added.
04/11/2015: Posted BOT stranding report.
19/03/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
15/07/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Princess Juliana FD357

Additional information courtesy of Jan Harteveld and Göran Ollson

Technical

Official Number: 121065
Yard Number: 507
Completed: 1905
Gross Tonnage: 266
Net Tonnage: 102
Length: 129.3 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull

History

1.8.1905: Launched by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull (Yd.No.507) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as LORD CURZON.
25.8.1905: Registered at Hull (H824).
8.1905: Completed (John McCann & Edward Cartwright, joint managers).
1906: Sold to Yorkshire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (John McCann, manager).
1913: Sold to Armitage’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (George T. Armitage, manager).
3.4.1913: Registered at Hull as PRINCESS JULIANA (H824) (BoT Minute M9754/13).
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.199).
1918: Sold to The Croston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Ernest Taylor, manager). Based Humber.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
28.11.1919: Hull registry closed.
29.11.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD357).
1924: William W. Brierley appointed manager.
20.12.1924: Sold to Hampshire, Birrell & Co (Fish Exports) Ltd, Liverpool (John A. Miller, Leith, manager).
1926: Sold to A.B. Capto, Gothenburg (A. J. Edvards, manager).
1926: Re measured (Swedish Rules) 254g 95n.
11.6.1926: Fleetwood registry closed.
6.1926: Registered at Gothenburg as CAPTO (GG54).
1929: Sold to F. Erenst, IJmuiden. Registered at IJmuiden.
1930: Sold to N.V. Visscherij Maatschappij “Protinus”, IJmuiden (Erenst & Weimar, manager). Registered at IJmuiden as ADELANTE (IJM19).
1930: Re measured (Dutch Rules) 256g 118n.
1937: F. J. F. Erenst appointed manager.
1952: Sold for breaking up. IJmuiden registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Princess Juliana FD357

S.T. Princess Juliana FD357
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker

Changelog
03/01/2009: Page published. 6 updates since then.
01/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Pretoria FD212

Technical

Official Number: 113070
Yard Number: 336
Completed: 1900
Gross Tonnage: 159
Net Tonnage: 61
Length: 103.3 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11.3 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

26.6.1900: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.336) for The Irvin Steam Fishing Co Ltd, North Shields as PRETORIA.
25.7.1900: Registered at North Shields.(SN245).
7.1900: Completed (Richard Irvin, manager).
1908: Sold to Richard Irvin & Sons Ltd, North Shields (Richard Irvin, North Shields & John H. Irvin, Aberdeen, managers).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve. Armed.
7.7.1917: Sold to Ernest Taylor, Fleetwood (managing owner).
1919: Released.
6.1919: Sold to Arthur Jonckheere, London (Joseph A. Taylor, Fleetwood, manager).
30.6.1919: North Shields registry closed.
3.7.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD212).
1923: Sold to Alexander A. Davidson, Aberdeen (managing owner).
29.1.1923: Fleetwood registry closed.
22.2.1923: Registered at Aberdeen (A941).
4.2.1936: Sailed Aberdeen at 11.00 a.m for the fishing grounds (Sk. William W. Scarborough); eight crew.
5.2.1936: At 4.40 a.m. stopped in position Buchan Ness bearing NW by N five to six miles hauling gear. Skipper on deck assisting no one in wheelhouse. Observed vessel approaching, realised collision was imminent. Despite crew shouting, vessel was struck by GEORGETTE (A352) (Sk. John C. Summers) in after part of port bunker and again at port after gallows. Taking in water, crew abandoned in boat and stood off. Some 40 minutes later vessel foundered. Picked up by GEORGETTE and landed Aberdeen at 9.00 a.m.
10.2.1936: Aberdeen registry closed “Total loss 5.2.1936”.
3.4.1936: BoT formal investigation (No.S.378) at Sheriff Court, Aberdeen found Sk. John S. Summers (GEORGETTE) in grave default and suspended his ticket for 12 months for failing to set a proper look-out when handing over the watch; John C. Spence, 2nd Hand (GEORGETTE) in default, severely censured and ordered to pay £10 costs for leaving the bridge without informing the skipper or being properly relieved. Sk. William W. Scarborough was also found in default, severely censured and ordered to pay £15 costs for failing to sound his whistle and manoeuvre his engine in sufficient time to avoid a collision.
(Wreck lies 6 miles SE by S of Buchan Ness Light.)

Changelog
03/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.

S.T. Plover FD173

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 108529
Yard Number: 552
Completed: 1897
Gross Tonnage: 144
Net Tonnage: 43
Length: 106 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 10.9 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by N.E. Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Edward Bros, North Shields

History

1.6.1897: Launched by Edwards Bros, North Shields (Yd.No.552) for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd, Manchester (64/64) as PLOVER.
6.7.1897: Registered at Fleetwood (FD173).
7.1897: Completed (John E. A. Kelsall & George Beeching, Fleetwood, managers).
24.2.1898: Fishing off Dubh Heartach Light (Sk. Wragg) with other trawlers of the K&B fleet. In total darkness and in Force 6 S by W winds at about 1.30am. run down by Norwegian steamer SAINT ANDREW (2984g/) Manchester for Gothenburg which did not stop. Because of the darkness, other trawlers in the fleet did not notice that PLOVER was missing for some time. Area searched and crew picked up by steam trawler TEAL (FD166) but 2nd Eng, Joseph Whiteley, Birkenhead missing.
27.2.1898: Survivors arrived Fleetwood in fish carrier SWALLOW (FD167).
7.3.1898: Fleetwood registry closed “… foundered… after being run down by …”.

Changelog
03/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
04/02/2016: Information updated.

S.T. Pintail H982

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 124830
Yard Number: 110
Completed: 1908
Gross Tonnage: 199
Net Tonnage: 63
Length: 110 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: 300ihp T3-cyl and boiler by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull

History

19.3.1908: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.110) for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd (64/64), Hull as PINTAIL.
4.1908: Completed.
18.4.1908: Registered at Hull (H982). George Beeching, Hull & John E. A. Kelsall, London appointed managers.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 72.83 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
10.1914: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.382).
10.1914: Fitted with Hotchkiss 12pdr and 6pdr HA Based Penzance/Falmouth.
1.10.1918: At Penzance for General Patrol and Escort work.
12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
7.6.1919: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to The London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank Ltd, London (A). John Slater appointed manager.
6.3.1923: Mortgagee re-styled as Westminster Bank Ltd, London.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to William Augustus Hayward, Eastbourne.
14.10.1927: Mortgage (A) transferred to Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd, London.
28.9.1928: Robert Burton appointed manager.
16.9.1932: Charles Hugh Emerson appointed manager.
10.1932: Mercantile Marine Finance Corporation Ltd in liquidation.
1.11.1932: Mortgage (A) transferred to Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Chelsea and Ernest Norton, London (joint mortgagees).
3.1936: Combined boxing and trawling fleet of Kelsall Bros. & Beeching Ltd and the Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd consisting of 59 vessels laid up at Hull (declining catches, coal bill and increased maintenance costs had made the venture uneconomical).
6.3.1936: At Extraordinary General Meeting at Hull, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd placed in Creditors’ Voluntary Winding-up (Richard Field Helm of Messrs Hodgson Harris & Co, London appointed liquidators).
26.10.1937: Sold by order of the mortgagees under mortgage (A) to Brixham Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Brixham.
27.10.1936: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Harold Frank Hayward, London; Maud Florence Katherine Rogers, Corfe Castle and Ernest Norton, London (joint mortgagees) for £500 with interest at 5% (B).
12.1937: Transferred to Fleetwood when Brixham Trawlers Ltd moved to the port.
9.12.1937: Sailed Brixham for Fleetwood in company with AUK (H755), fishing round.
19.12.1937: First landing at Fleetwood, 74 boxes grossed £140.
2.12.1938: Brixham Trawlers Ltd registered office transferred to Fleetwood. Ralph S. Dugdall appointed manager.
9.2.1939: Mortgage (B) discharged.
13.2.1939: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
26.4.1943: Typical wartime landing. 145 kits – hake-3, cod/codling-39, haddock-9, whiting-49, flats-11, ling/coley-14, roker-8, gurnard-12.
15.2.1949: Sailed Fleetwood for Donegal ground (Sk. R. Stafford); twelve crew all told.
25.2.1949: Aborted trip at about 1.30 pm. with winch defect and made for home.
26.2.1949: At 5.30 am. in WSW gale force winds and heavy seas, but with good visibility between squalls, stranded about 300yds southward of Bull Point Light, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim, 50yds from shore at base of cliff. Schermuly rocket line from ship secured by Lighthouse keepers and Clifford Whitehead volunteered to swim to the shore and landed safely. Portrush lifeboat (Cox. Sam Cunningham) attempted to take off remainder of crew but driven back by heavy seas. Rathlin Island Life-Saving Co alerted and at about 10.30 a.m. remaining eleven crew safely landed. Rathlin Island had been cut off for two weeks due to bad weather, but the Portrush lifeboat managed to embark the crew and took them to Portrush. Wreck in position 55.17,42N 06.17,30W later declared a total loss.
27.2.1949: Crew returned to Fleetwood.
14.3.1949: Mortgage (C) discharged.
4.4.1949: Hull registry closed “Vessel stranded on Rathlin Island and abandoned as a total loss on 2nd April 1949”.
23.8.1949: At the BOT Formal Investigation (S.414) held at Fleetwood, the Court found Sk. Robert Stafford lacking in proper seamanlike care in navigation and suspended his ticket for six months with £100 costs. Remains of wreck lies in 6m.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Pintail H982

S.T. Pintail H982
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Pintail H982

S.T. Pintail H982
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

Changelog
03/01/2009: Page published. 3 revisions since then.
20/10/2014: Picture added.
30/12/2015: Information updated.
23/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
30/08/2019: Updated information and added an image.
15/07/2021: Updated information.