Category Archives: Steam Trawlers

S.T. Caldy FD66

Additional information courtesy of Barry Johnson Milford Trawlers

Technical

Official Number: 127420
Yard Number: 385
Completed: 1908
Gross Tonnage: 222
Net Tonnage: 85
Length: 120.5 ft
Breadth: 21.5 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Boiler: David Rowan, Glasgow

History

9.9.1908: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.385) for Neyland Steam Trawling & Fishing Co, Neyland as CALDY.
10.1908: Completed (Alexander Scott, Llanstadwell, manager).
20.10.1908: Registered at Milford (M228).
7.6.1911: Berthing at pontoon at Neyland collided with BUSH (M227) coaling, striking her amidships.
14.4.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1372). Based Stornoway
6-8.8.1916: Assisted in salvage of Norwegian steamer ARANDA (1838grt/1890) (after-part) in Lough Foyle. ARANDA had been mined 5.8.1916 between Hebrides and North Channel and was towed into Lough Foyle where she settled on bottom (Mines laid by U.boat (U78)).
14.2.1919: Sold to Jonathan Uttley, Fleetwood (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
7.3.1919: Milford registry closed.
8.3.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD66).
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
1920: Sold to Mrs A. A. Uttley & F. A. Wadsworth (Joseph A. Taylor, manager).
24.4.1921: Fleetwood registry closed.
10.5.1921: Sold to Joseph Samuel Pettit, Frederick Steer, Walter Edward Wales, Charles Harold Bird, Milford & Joseph Baron Bardsley Huddlestone, Hakin (Joseph S. Pettit managing owner).
10.5.1921: Registered at Milford (M198).
11.1925: At Aran District Court, fined for fishing within the prohibited area. Also in court were the skippers of KEYES (LT580) and PHINEAS BEARD (LO283). Total fines £350.
23.9.1927: Sold to Joseph Baron Bardsley Huddleston, Hakin, Frederick Steer, Joseph Samuel Pettit & Horace Samuel Fiddy (64/64 joint owners), Milford Haven (Joseph S. Pettit, managing owner).
16.4.1937: Sold to Westward Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven (Edgar Erel Carter & Richard S. Bowen, Port Talbot) (Edgar Erel Carter, manager).
4.1938: Fishing on the Western grounds (Sk. J. Binham). Connected to steam trawler ARACARI (M101)(Sk. W. Parry) which had broken down and commenced tow to Milford.
7.4.1938: Delivered Milford.
27.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service, appointed as a minesweeper (Hire rate £55.10.0d/month).
22.1.1940: Returned.
10.9.1961: Landed her last trip at Milford (Sk. Bruno Linke).
9.1961: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
14.10.1961: Delivered Briton Ferry from Milford Haven under own power.
21.10.1961: Milford registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Caldy FD66

S.T. Caldy FD66
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 6 updates since then.
25/02/2015: Information updated.
03/12/2018: Added an image.
21/10/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Belmont FD64

Additional material courtesy of Bill Blow

Technical

Official Number: 122939
Yard Number: 183
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 209
Net Tonnage: 54
Length: 117.5 ft
Breadth: 21.6 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Engine: 380ihp T.3-cyl by Gauldie, Gillespie & Co, Aberdeen
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow
Built: Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling

History

27.3.1906: Launched by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling (Yd.No.183) for the Double Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as BELMONT.
4.5.1906: Registered at Fleetwood (FD64). Charles Henry Double appointed manager.
5.1906: Completed. Insured value £6,000.
21.5.1906: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Manchester & County Bank Ltd, Manchester with interest at 41/2% (A).
30.10.1906: Harry Melling, Preston designated manager.
18.11.1906: Leaving Fleetwood for fishing grounds suffered machinery problems and in freshening weather drove ashore on Pilling Sands. Repair/salvage team put onboard.
19.11.1906: Weather deteriorated to full WNW gale and vessel was swept by seas, rolling heavily and driving further across the sands. Fleetwood lifeboat MAUD PICKUP launched and with great difficulty in the shallow waters and gale force winds succeeded, after several attempts, in taking off all 32 men onboard. Subsequently salvage team returned onboard, vessel was lightened by removing bunkers and ice to carts and when complete, 100 paraffin cans placed under and at high water each day, working the propeller scoured a channel to bring her 3/4 mile to deeper water.
12.1906: In continuing heavy weather anchored with three anchors and cables and position maintained by steaming ahead whilst awaiting tug which could not approach for three days. Paddle tug/tender LUNE (252grt/1892) connected and safely delivered Fleetwood. Repaired and returned to service.
25.2.1907: Title changed to The Lune Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
26.5.1908: William Leadbetter appointed manager.
9.2.1909: Henry Melling appointed manager.
14.3.1911: In collision with steam trawler ROMULUS (FD128) in Wyre Channel when outwards for the fishing grounds.
1.5.1911: Damaged slipway cradle when quarter irons failed to position her keel on centre line aft when sueing; fell on port side.
28.12.1912: Mortgage (A) discharged.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 81.43net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.3248).
10.12.1918: William Would appointed manager.
11.12.1918: Sold to William Would (64/64), Grimsby (managing owner).
14.12.1918: Fleetwood registry closed.
19.12.1918: Registered at Grimsby (GY1262).
1919: Returned to owner.
1.4.1920: Sold to The Woodbury Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby.
10.4.1920: Harold Arthur Jeffries appointed manager.
1.4.1920: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to William Would, Grimsby for the sum of £10,250 with interest at 5% (B).
16.11.1920: Mortgage (B) transferred to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London.
14.8.1922: Mortgage (B) discharged.
14.8.1922: Sold to William Would (64/64), Grimsby.
4.9.1922: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd, London (C).
13.11.1922: William Would appointed manager.
27.11.1923: Mortgagee restyled to Midland Bank Ltd.
20.2.1925: Sold by order of the mortgagee under mortgage (C) to Thomas Thorburn Irvine, Aberdeen.
3.4.1925: Thomas Thorburn Irvine appointed manager.
4.4.1925: Grimsby registry closed.
7.4.1925: Registered at Aberdeen (A101).
26.1.1928: Leaving Peterhead (Sk.James Sinkins), struck by heavy seas crossing the bar and drove ashore on Horseback Rocks, Peterhead. Lost propeller and holed; crew saved by life-saving brigade, before vessel rolled over on her beam ends. Declared a constructive total loss by the underwriters and put in the hands of a shipbreaker and broken up in situ.
17.3.1928: Aberdeen registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Cynthia Collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst “Dodds” collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst “Dodds” collection

S.T. Belmont FD64

S.T. Belmont FD64
Picture courtesy of The Cynthia Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 9 updates since then.
24/05/2015: Information updated and pictures added.
21/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
16/08/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Cairnwell FD45

Technical

Official Number: 105526
Yard Number: 128
Completed: 1895
Gross Tonnage: 141
Net Tonnage: 57
Length: 93.6 ft
Breadth: 20.3 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Built: Cochrane & Cooper, Beverley
Engine: T.3-cyl by Earle’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Hull

History

26.6.1895: Launched by Cochrane & Cooper, Beverley (Yd.No.128) for Grimsby Union Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby as the URSULA.
5.9.1895: Registered at Grimsby (GY806).
7.9.1895: Completed.
5.1906: Sold to Companhia Portuguesa de Pesca, Lisbon (Bastos & Bernardo).
18.5.1906: Grimsby registry closed.
1906: New boiler fitted.
5.1906: Registered at Lisbon as ALDA BEMVINDA (B489).
25.3.1908: Sold to The Grampian Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen.
3.1908: Lisbon registry closed.
25.3.1908: Registered at Aberdeen as CAIRNWELL (A198).
5.9.1910: Sold to John Walker, William Alexander Leith & William John Duncan, Aberdeen (William A. Leith, managing owner).
8.9.1911: Sold to Henry Maunder, Aberdeen (managing owner).
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 60.30 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
21.12.1915: Sold to Edward Walmsley, Fleetwood, Richard Gore, Tarleton, Preston, Joseph Blackburn, Croston & Ernest Taylor, Thornton-le-Fylde (Ernest Taylor, Thornton-le-Fylde, manager).
1916: Sold to The Croston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Ernest Taylor, Thornton-le-Fylde, manager).
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve. Working under Admiralty control from Liverpool.
23.2.1918: Fitted with (1-6pdr & W/T).
1919: Released.
3.3.1919: Aberdeen registry closed.
9.3.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (FD45).
23.4.1919: Sold to Cairn Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Liverpool (Alfred J. Harley, manager).
1.1920: Sold to Viuda & Sobrinos de Manuel Camara, Spain.
16.1.1920: Fleetwood registry closed.
1920: Registered at San Sebastian as PEREZ GALDOS.
1925: Sold to Ciriza & Cia, San Sebastian. Renamed FELISA CIRIZA.
1930: Sold to Augustin Ciriza, San Sebastian.
1931: Renamed Félix Ciriza.
1950: Sold to Casa Ciriza S.L., San Sebastian.
1977: Sold to Pedro Salas Asensio, San Sebastian.
1981: Removed from Lloyd’s Register.

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
14/10/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Blaefell FD40

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and Mike Thompson

Technical

Official Number: 166657
Yard Number: 1239
Completed: 1942
Gross Tonnage: 380
Net Tonnage: 142
Length: 147.8 ft
Breadth: 25.1 ft
Depth: 13.2 ft
Engine: 650ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History
10.1.1941: Ordered. A/S trawler based on commercial GULFOSS.
11.7.1941: Keel laid.
8.10.1941: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1239) (“Fish” class) for The Admiralty as BONITO (P.No.T231).
3.4.1942: Completed as a A/S trawler (1-12pdr HA/LA, 4-MG, ASDIC, DC).
09.04.1942: Commissioned. Mediterranean station.
1943: Armament increased by 3-20mm.
1946: Laid up at Rosyth on Disposal List (SORF, Rosyth).
20.5.1946: Sold to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (64/64), Grimsby for the sum of £18,857. Converted to steam trawler at a cost of £29,725. (Total £48,582).
4.2.1947: Registered at Grimsby as BLAEFELL (GY456). O.N.166657. 650ihp.
4.2.1947: Thomas Rowan Ronald appointed manager.
11.3.1947: Sir John Denton Marsden, Bart appointed manager.
22.4.1947: First trip.
31.12.1954: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
5.1.1955: Grimsby registry closed.
5.1.1955: John ? Channock, Cleveleys appointed manager.
6.1.1955: Registered at Fleetwood (FD40).
28.6.1956: Company taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood. (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
5.9.1956: Sold to B. Gelcer & Co (Proprietary) Ltd, Cape Town.
1956: Fleetwood registry closed.
1956: Registered at Cape Town (CTA387).
12.1956: Registered at Cape Town as BENJAMIN GELCER (CTA387).
Pre 1966: Company sold to Irvin & Johnson Ltd, Cape Town, who became managers.
2.1967: Stripped of all usable parts and non-ferrous metal and scuttled off Cape Town. Cape Town registry closed.

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HMT Bonito

HMT Bonito
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Blaefell GY456

S.T. Blaefell GY456
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 9 updates since then.
15/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
24/08/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Cameo FD38

Technical

Official Number: 109027
Yard Number: 188
Completed: 1898
Gross Tonnage: 172
Net Tonnage: 67
Length: 110.2 ft
Breadth: 21.0
Depth: 10.9 ft
Built: Mackie & Thomson, Govan
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow

History

A design submitted by Mackie & Thomson, Govan was approved by the Kingston board and four vessels were ordered. Contracts were signed with the shipyard to build the vessels, and supply engines and boilers. The names chosen were AMBER, AMETHYST, BERYL and CAMEO. Total cost with amendments, fees, classification, fishing gear, stores and coal £5,208.9s.6d.

5.3.1898: Launched by Mackie & Thomson, Govan (Yd.No.188) for The Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as CAMEO.
5.1898: Completed trials and accepted (Lawrence Spring, manager).
12.5.1898: Registered at Hull (H394).
5.9.1914: On a North Sea trip (Sk. Frederick William Wollaston). Picked up several crew members and passengers from the Hull steamer RUNO (1654grt/1902) which was mined after entering a known minefield off the East Coast whilst on passage, Hull-Archangel with Russian reservists and their families.
1.10.1915: The Lord Mayor of Hull presented Sk. Wollaston with a gold watch and the Albert Medal for his part in the rescue of survivors. Later awarded BoT Silver Medal for Gallantry at Sea
2.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-3pdr later 1-12pdr) (Ad.No.1216). Based Peterhead Unit 42.
16.7.1915: Unit 42, at 0830 am. in position 57.20N 0.40E patrolling in a rough line to the NW in the following order SEA RANGER (Ad.No.1219) (H188) (Lieut. H. J. Bray RNR), EASTWARD HO (Ad.No.1217)(H415) and CAMEO (Sk. Albert Sayer RNR) approximately 2 miles apart. SEA RANGER observed a steamer steering erratically and detached to close her to investigate. Found Norwegian steamer VAAGEN (201grt/) picking up lumber lost from her deck cargo. At the same time Sk. Sayer turned southwards to examine a boat that had passed and sighted a surfaced submarine to the SW steaming towards him. Action Stations, hoisted signal and turned towards submarine which fired a shot at him falling short followed by at least four other shots that also fell short. At 2000yds submarine opened fire with two guns, returned fire but hit three times in fore part of wheelhouse, smashing wheel and wounding Sk. Sayer on right side and eye by splinters. Second shot hit starboard quarter while the third shot exploded in the galley. Believed that submarine was hit two or three times at the fore end in all 11 rounds fired. EASTWARD HO, becoming aware of the action, steered towards them and submarine ceased firing and headed away to the westward on the surface. SEA RANGER sighted the submarine 4 to 5 miles to the southwestwards and gave chase trying to cut her off with EASTWARD HO also in pursuit but due to superior speed, the submarine escaped (See Note 2).
10.10.1917: Arthur Taylor appointed manager.
14.8.1918: To be returned to owners.
22.9.1918: Arrived at Hull for reconditioning at a price of £1,350 agreed with The Admiralty this included 3 weeks hire during reconditioning.
26.9.1918: Returned off charter.
7.10.1918: Slipped.
17.10.1918: Off hire.
5.11.1918: Sailed in convoy for the North Sea fishing grounds.
8.3.1919: Sold to Henry Lackie, Bradford (East Hull Steam Fishing Co Ltd Hull) through Knowles & W. A. Massey & Sons Ltd, Hull, deposit £1,150, shipbrokers commission £400.
19.03.1919: Balance paid £10,350; total £11,500 including fishing gear.
20.3.1919: Benjamin Knowles appointed manager.
8.9.1919: Sold to Hollinwood Steam Trawling Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Benjamin Knowles, manager).
12.4.1927: Sold to Thomas & Charles Hudson, Hull (Charles Hudson, manager).
21.4.1927: Sold to Ocean Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (George Altoft, manager).
31.5.1928: Sold to Kenneth Pocklington, Hull.
7.7.1928: Sold to Holderness Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (Kenneth Pocklington, manager).
1930: K. Pocklington & J. C. Wood appointed managers.
21.5.1935: Sold to Richard Bettess, Fleetwood (The Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd, managers).
21.5.1935: Hull registry closed.
19.6.1935: Registered at Fleetwood (FD38).
12.1.1938: Outward on evening tide for fishing grounds (Sk. J. Ainsworth) in collision with a yacht in Wyre Channel. Yacht on an angling trip sank and four men rescued but two drowned.
30.11.1938: Off Llandudno fire in forecastle. Proceeded to Llandudno pier escorted by the Caernarvon mfv VIDA (BS110); fire extinguished by fire brigade.
7.5.1943: Typical wartime landing. 320 kits – cod/codling-288, whiting-8, ling/coley-16, roker-8.
10.1953: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
5.11.1953: Delivered Barrow-in-Furness from Fleetwood under own power.
1.1954: Fleetwood registry closed.

(Note 1: Electric lighting never installed; oil and carbide lighting only.)
(Note 2: Research by Peter Bell and Michael Lowery has identified the submarine as U19. In her KTB she claimed two hits on CAMEO and accurate firing from CAMEO’s 3-pdr. Sk. Sayer was awarded DSC and gunner the DSM.)

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Cameo FD38

S.T. Cameo FD38
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Cameo FD38

S.T. Cameo FD38
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Cameo FD38

S.T. Cameo FD38
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Cameo H394

S.T. Cameo H394
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
14/10/2017: Removed disputed image and FMHT watermarks.
27/10/2019: Updated information.