Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. G.M.B. FD422

Technical

Official Number: 127515
Yard Number: 327
Completed: 1909
Gross Tonnage: 93
Net Tonnage: 39
Length: 86 ft
Breadth: 18.1 ft
Depth: 8.8 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by J. Abernethy & Co, Aberdeen

History

6.1909: Completed by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd. No.327) for George McLeod & William Gault, Lossiemouth as G.M.B.
15.6.1909: Registered at Inverness (INS50). George McLeod designated managing owner).
1916: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S net drifter (Ad.No.1093). Based Longhope.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lossiemouth (George McLeod, Lossiemouth).
1920: Sold to William Smith & James Flett, Lossiemouth. James Flett designated managing owner.
11.1922: Sold to Alexander Keay, Fleetwood.
12.1922: Lossiemouth registry closed.
5.12.1922: Registered at Fleetwood (FD422). Alexander Keay designated managing owner.
12.1924: Sold to John A. Slater, William Slater & Alexander Mair, Portknockie, Banff.
22.12.1924: Registered at Banff as L’INDUSTRIE (BF73). Alexander Mair designated managing owner.
24.12.1924: Fleetwood registry closed.
25.2.1938: Sold for breaking up.
20.10.1938: Banff registry closed “Broken up”.

Changelog
21/12/2008: Page published. 2 updates since then.
28/11/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Glorie FD102

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow, Birgir Þórisson and Jan Harteveld

Technical

Official Number: 122697
Yard Number: 158
Completed: 1905
Gross Tonnage: 279.20
Net Tonnage: 113.70
Length: 130.0 ft
Breadth: 22.65 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built: Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee
Engine: 500ihp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

20.6.1905: Launched by Dundee Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Dundee (Yd.No.158) for Alick Black (32/64), Alfred William Baxter (16/64) and Walter Olney (16/64) all Grimsby as GLORIA.
7.1905: Completed.
24.7.1905: Registered at Grimsby (GY78).
31.7.1905: Alick Black appointed manager.
2.8.1905: Alfred William Baxter shares (16/64) mortgaged to The London Union & Smith’s Bank Ltd, Grimsby (A).
10.10.1905: Walter Olney shares (16/64) mortgaged to The Lincoln & Lindsey Banking Co Ltd, Lincoln (B).
18.12.1905: At Billingsgate landed from an Icelandic trip, 1,800 baskets mainly plaice and haddocks of very fine quality, which realised on a short market, nearly £1,400.
18.5.1906: Alick Black shares (32/64) mortgaged to The Lincoln & Lindsey Banking Co Ltd, Lincoln (C).
29.1.1907: Mortgage (C) discharged.
31.1.1907: Alick Black shares (32/64) mortgaged to The London Union & Smith’s Bank Ltd, Grimsby (D).
8.8.1908: Mortgage (D) discharged.
12.8.1908: Mortgages (A) & (B) discharged.
8.1908: Sold to Stoomvisscherij Mij Gloria, IJmuiden (A. G. Meeuwenoord Jnr, Velsen/ IJmuiden & F. M. Smith) through Maatschappij tot Beheer van Steamtrawlers en Andere Vaartuigen.
18.8.1908: Registered at IJmuiden as GLORIA (IJM24). A. G. Meeuwenoord Jnr & A. de Vries designated managers.
1.10.1908: Request to take vessel off the register on sale to Dutch owners.
3.11.1908: Grimsby registry closed.
9.2.1909: IJmuiden registration withdrawn by Lord Mayor of Velsen on legal grounds; owners informed but did not agree.
1909: Sold to Pêcheries Glorie, Boulogne.
1909: Registered at Boulogne as GLORIE (B1120).
6.1909: Sold to South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
6.1909: Boulogne registry closed.
24.6.1909: Registered at Fleetwood (FD102). Alick Black designated manager.
1912: Sold to Hlutafjelagid Kveldulfur, Reykjavik (R. Thors, manager).
6.1.1912: Fleetwood registry closed.
1912: Renamed SKALLAGRIMUR (RE145).
1916: Sank in Reykjavik outer harbour due to human error. Immediately refloated.
3.1920: Sold to George Hall (64/64), Grimsby.
20.3.1920: Registered at Grimsby as PELHAM (GY1088) (BoT Minute M3945/1920 dated 11.2.1920).
20.3.1920: John Wintringham Smethurst designated manager.
15.6.1920: Sold to Henry Smethurst Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
16.6.1920: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (E).
18.6.1920: John Wintringham Smethurst appointed manager.
27.11.1923: Mortgagee restyled Midland Bank Ltd, London.
16.5.1924: Mortgage (E) discharged.
17. 5.1924: Sold to South Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
17.5.1924: Sir Alec Black, Bart designated manager.
2.11.1925: Sold to Earl Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby.
7.11.1925: Sir Alec Black, Bart designated manager.
2.1.1939: Sold to Fishing Vessel Brokers Ltd (64/64), Hull, shipbrokers.
6.1.1939: John Oddsson designated manager.
1.1939: Sold for to The Netherlands for breaking up.
25.1.1939: Grimsby registry closed “… on sale of vessel to foreigners (Dutch subjects) for breaking up”..

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Gloria RE145

S.T. Skallagrimur RE145
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Skallagrimur

S.T. Skallagrimur
Picture courtesy of The Museet for Söfart Collection

Changelog
21/12/2008: Page published. 4 updates since then.
19/05/2016: Information updated.
12/03/2018: Information updated and picture added.
19/11/2020: Updated history.
21/09/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Glenroy GY817

Technical

Official Number: 105527
Yard Number: 392
Completed: 1895
Gross Tonnage: 137
Net Tonnage: 55
Length: 100 ft
Breadth: 20.4 ft
Depth: 10.6 ft
Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

2.9.1895: Launched by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.392) for William H. Johnson, Grimsby (managing owner) as Glenroy.
21.9.1895: Trials.
24.9.1895: Registered at Grimsby (GY817).
9.1895: Completed.
1896: Sold to John O. Spence, Grimsby (managing owner).
1899: Sold to Ellis, Spence & Co, Grimsby (William Ellis, manager).
7.1913: Sold to William Ellis, Grimsby (managing owner).
1914: New boiler fitted.
19.12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.595).
9.1918: Sold to James Coombes, Grimsby (managing owner). Based Egypt.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
9.1925: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
By 6.1926: Registered office established at Fleetwood.
8.1928: Sold to Daniel Thorpe, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft (managing owner).
15.8.1928: Grimsby registry closed.
16.8.1928: Registered at Lowestoft (LT400).
1930: Sold to Henry Thrower, Lowestoft (William Hutchings, manager).
1930s: Seasonal trawling from Fleetwood (John V. Breach managing agent).
1932: Sold to Sidney A. Loose, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft (managing owner).
1935-36: Trawling from Fleetwood (John V. Breach managing agent).
3.1936: Joseph Robert Searles appointed manager.
2.4.1936: Last landing at Fleetwood, 78 boxes £125 gross. Laid up.
4.1936: Sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up at Preston.
20.4.1936: Sailed Fleetwood for Preston.
8.9.1936: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Glenroy GY817

S.T. Glenroy GY817
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Changelog
21/12/2008: Page published. 3 updates since then.
17/03/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
18/11/2020: Updated history.

S.L. Glenogil A282

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical

Official Number: 115716
Yard Number: 274
Completed: 1902
Gross Tonnage: 203.50
Net Tonnage: 68
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.9 ft
Post WW2: Re-measured 220g. 82.11n
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Built: Mackie & Thomson, Glasgow

History

3.9.1902: Launched by Mackie & Thomson, Glasgow (Yd.No.274) for John Stewart Boyle, Glasgow as GLENOGIL.
10.1902: Completed as a great liner/trawler.
3.10.1902: Registered at Glasgow (GW8). John Stewart Boyle designated managing owner.
8.12.1902: At Aberdeen, when outward for fishing grounds in collision with incoming steam trawler OCEAN RACER (A.871). Both vessels severely damaged and returned to berth. Repaired at a cost of £100.
10.9.1903: Towed disabled steam trawler JOHN S. BOYLE (GN10) from Granton to Aberdeen.
1905: Worked Icelandic herring fishery from Akureyri, Iceland with seine net in company with GLENISLA (GW10).
9.6.1906: Sailed Aberdeen in company with GLENISLA and GLAMIS CASTLE (GW12) for Akureyri, Iceland via Haugesund to pick up Norwegian crew members to prosecute the Icelandic herring fishery. Working drift and seine net with GLENISLA landing to curers at Aukureyri. Cured herring transported to Bremen by German herring carrier DARMSTADT (BB9)(151g/1896).
17.9.1906: Returned to Aberdeen in company with GLENISLA, having landed Norwegian crewmen at Haugesund.
6.11.1906: Fishing Shetland grounds (Sk. George Warman). Arrested by Fishery cruiser BRENDA (174grt/1898) (Capt Murdoch) allegedly fishing within the three mile limit on the west coast of Shetland; escorted to Lerwick.
7.11.1906: At Lerwick Sheriff Court, Warman pleaded guilty and was fined £50 with his port side trawl and gear confiscated.
8.12.1907: Fishing off Fair Isle in heavy weather when at about 6.00am. in collision with steam trawler OCEAN KING (A174) sustaining damage below the waterline and making water. Decided to run before the wind and set course for Lerwick arriving safely later in the day.
9.12.1907: Taken in hand for temporary repairs to allow passage to Aberdeen.
10.12.1907: Sailed for Aberdeen.
19??: Operating from Aberdeen as a great liner.
10.8.1911: Landed record line shot at Aberdeen, 30tons (just under 500 boxes) – £450.
1914: Fishing from Aberdeen (Sk. Robert Armour).
28.11.1911: In the North Sea in very bad weather, about 160 miles from Aberdeen sighted the Norwegian steamer BALDUIN (1017grt/1899) flying signals of distress, having lost her propeller. Agreed with the master that salvage should be rendered but it took some three hours in the prevailing weather conditions before the wire hawsers could be made fast and it was not until the afternoon that the tow got underway for Aberdeen.
30.11.1911: In the afternoon when off Aberdeen, and in a freshening wind, with coals getting short, summoned the steam trawler LACERTA (GY641) by whistle and asked to standby. Subsequently LACERTA asked to put a warp on the BALDUIN’s starboard bow which was accepted by the crew and made fast; she remained with the steamer until she was safely delivered to Aberdeen and berthed in Victoria Dock.
6.3.1912: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court an action was raised at the insistence of John S. Boyle, owner of the GLENOGIL for salvage services rendered, against Fred Olsen, Christiania, Norway, owner of the BALDUIN. The claim was for salvage remuneration, loss and damage stated at £5,000 in respect of the salvage services rendered by the GLENOGIL, her master and crew and interest from 30.11.1911, the date BALDUIN was safely delivered to Aberdeen.
25.5.1912: At the Court of Sessions, Edinburgh, two actions were brought before Lord Dewar; by the GLENOGIL, her master and crew for salvage services rendered to the BALDUIN and a claim of £5,000 and by the LACERTA, master and crew for salvage services rendered to the BALDUIN and a claim for £500. The defendants Counsel stated that the value of the BALDUIN did not exceed £5,500 and her cargo of pit props did not exceed £5,250. The Counsel also stated that the service of the LACERTA was not rendered in circumstances of difficulty or danger and the warp was accepted and secured in the belief that her skipper was acting on the instructions, and at the request of and arrangement with, the master of the GLENOGIL.
14.11.1913: Court of Sessions, Edinburgh. Case due for reconsideration, outcome unknown. *
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 82.11net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907
8.9.1914: Homeward from the fishing grounds (Sk. Robert Armour). At about 1.30am. observed distress signals. Great care and seamanship was required before they could close the vessel to discover HM Armed Merchant Cruiser OCEANIC (17274grt/1899) (Capt. William Slayter RN – Cdr H. Smith RNR, Master) stranded on Hoevdi Grund Rocks, 2.5 miles E by S of South Ness, Foula, Shetland Isles (60.07N 01.58W). Connected and with others attempted to tow off but hawsers broke several times. Abandoned salvage and with skilful manoeuvring through the heavy swell and fog secured alongside the OCEANIC, embarked all 400 crew. Sk. Armour then steamed to the HM Armed Merchant Cruiser ALSATION (18481grt/1913) (P.No.M.50) which was laid off in deeper water. Returning to the OCEANIC, the remaining 200 crew members were embarked and ferried to the cruiser. Returning for a third time, a large amount of gold bullion was taken onboard along with other valuables and transferred to ALSATION.
10.9.1914: Arrived Aberdeen to land.
8.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence trawler (Ad.No.103). Based Swarbacks Minn, Shetland.
1919: Sold to Archibald G. Brown, Granton Archibald G. Brown designated managing owner.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Scarborough.
1920: Sold to Thomas Davidson, Alexander Aitkin Davidson, William Wood Snr & William Wood Jnr, Aberdeen.
2.1920: Glasgow registry closed.
10.2.1920: Registered at Aberdeen (A282). Alexander A. Davidson designated managing owner.
30.12.1927: Homeward from Longstone grounds (Sk. William Wood), off mouth of Firth of Forth, picked up crew of steam trawler EBOR (H360) which had foundered and landed them at Leith.
4.11.1933: Sold to Alexander Aitkin Davidson, William Wood Snr & William Wood Jnr, Aberdeen. Alexander A. Davidson designated managing owner.
3.4.1939: Sold to William Wood Snr & William Wood Jnr, Aberdeen. William Wood Jnr designated managing owner.
24.1.1940: Sold to William Wood Jnr, Aberdeen. William Wood Jnr designated managing owner.
25.1.1941: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood. Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys designated manager.
17.2.1943: Sold to Robert Alfred Colby Cubbin (64/64), Douglas, IoM.
17.2.1943: Robert Alfred Colby Cubbin designated managing owner.
15.4.1943: Aberdeen registry closed.
19.4.1943: Registered at Peel (PL59).
1943: Working Faroe grounds from Fleetwood.
3.6.1943: Typical landing. 409 kits, cod/codling-250, haddock-23, whiting-58, flats-63, ling/coley-15.
1951: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos W. Ward, Sheffield for breaking up.
20.8.1951: Arrived Preston.
1951: Peel registry closed.

* The case was heard again on 14.11.1913 but unfortunately we have no detail of the judgement.

(Record line shot for Aberdeen fish market, 1911)
From the 1880s, Aberdeen became well known for its fleet of steam trawlers. Line fishing was also carried out though. The advantage of line fishing was that the fish were much better quality. Fish caught in a trawl can be crushed or damaged. This was not the case with line-caught fish.
‘Record, line caught prime fish for Aberdeen fish market, Steam Liner “GLENOGIL”, August 16th 1911, £450 – 30 tons’, equivalent to just under five hundred boxes, fishing vessel owned by John S. Boyle.)

Changelog
21/12/2008: Page published. 2 updates since then.
27/11/2017: Major information update.
15/11/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Glenbervie FD42

Technical

Official Number: 137805
Yard Number: 572
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 224
Net Tonnage: 100
Length: 120.7 ft
Breadth: 22.7 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

23.8.1915: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd Aberdeen (Yd.No.572) for John Stewart Boyle, Glasgow as GLENBERVIE.
9.1915: Completed. John Stewart Boyle designated managing owner.
18.9.1915: Registered at Glasgow (GW14).
18.10.1915: From an Icelandic trip, landed 31 tons of fish – 600 boxes and 40 score of cod, £1035 gross.
11.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.438). Based Harwich.
1918: Sold to The Hesketh Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Ernest Taylor designated managers.
3.1919: Glasgow registry closed.
4.3.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD42).
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
1922: Joseph A. & Harold Taylor designated managers.
3.1924: Sold to John Lewis Ltd Aberdeen.
23.3.1924: Fleetwood registry closed.
2.10.1924: Registered at Aberdeen (A53). Andrew Lewis designated manager.
4.11.1924: Sold to John Lewis Ltd & Sk. James Porter, Aberdeen. Andrew Lewis remains manager.
03.06.1929: Sir Andrew Lewis designated manager.
6.7.1929: Sold to Thomas L. Devlin, Granton. Thomas L. Devlin designated managing owner.
6.7.1929: Aberdeen registry closed.
7.1929: Renamed CONQUISTADOR (GN10).
01.09.1938: Responded to distress call from steam trawler CONCERTATOR (GN8) disabled close to Dubh Artach Lighthouse after her trawl warp fouled propeller. Connected and after 40 mile tow delivered Oban; beached to clear propeller.
1939: Sold to Thomas L. Devlin Ltd, Granton.
27.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Hire rate £61.12.0d/month). Based Queenborough with M/S Group 120 (WILDFIRE II base ship).
15.8.1940: In company (Temp Sk. J. Paterson RNR) with LIBRA (Dutch) (P.No.FY867) (Temp. Sk. R. Aughton RNR) shot down a German aircraft.
13.11.1940: Acting Skipper John Paterson R.N.R. and Seaman Harold White mentioned in despatches.
25.11.1940: Foundered after collision in Thames estuary while returning to harbour with some rescued crewmen from the previously sunk HMT KENNYMORE (P.No.FY857)(GY 38); Temp Sk. J. Paterson RNR and all crew rescued. Subsequently salved and broken up.ntly salved and broken up.

Changelog
21/12/2008: Page published. 2 updates since then.
14/11/2020: Updated history.