Tag Archives: Boston DSF & I

S.T. Unitia GY924

Additional information courtesy of Bill Blow and Douglas Paterson

Technical

Official Number: 135970
Yard Number: 269a
Completed: 1913
Gross Tonnage: 296
Net Tonnage: 122
Length: 130.2 ft
Breadth: 23 ft
Depth: 12.2 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 540ihp T.3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

19.7.1913: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.269A) for The Great Grimsby & East Coast Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby as UNITIA.
16.9.1913: Walter William Butt appointed manager.
17.9.1913: Registered at Grimsby (GY924).
9.1913: Completed (Walter W. Butt, manager).
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.699). Based Lowestoft.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Grimsby.
5.1923: New boiler fitted.
26.8.1926: Vessel mortgaged ((64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (A).
3.4.1938: Albert W. Butt appointed manager.
28.5.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an anti-submarine trawler (Hire rate £76.9.4d/month). Renamed PORTIA.
2.1941: Fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.1852).
1.12.1941: Mortgage (A) discharged.
14.1.1942: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
22.1.1942: Basil Arthur Parkes, Cleveleys appointed manager.
1.1946: Returned after survey and restoration at Liverpool. Reverted to UNITIA (GY924).
25.3.1946: Sold to Nordic Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), London.
29.3.1946: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood for the sum of £11,000 with interest at 4% (B).
3.4.1946: Ernest John Williams, Coulsdon, Surrey appointed manager.
10.1946: On a trip to West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Harold Harrison).
31.10.1946: Responded to request for assistance from the Icelandic trawler GODEBORG, disabled off Barra Head with damaged rudder and bound Fleetwood to land. As Icelandic skipper spoke very little English put two men onboard GODEBORG, to maintain radio communications, the bosun and skipper’s brother Jack Harrison, who spoke a little Icelandic and deckhand Thomas Harrison. Connected and commenced tow but weather worsened and had to put back in the Sound of Islay and cruise all night as not fit to anchor and weather too bad to proceed.
1.11.1946. Got underway but in poor weather tow was slow and about 300 fathoms of wire was lost due to ‘stranding’.
2.11.1946: Arrived safely off Wyre Light.
3.11.1946: With GODEBORG lashed alongside poceeded to Wyre Dock on morning tide.
4.11.1946: GODEBORG landed 7,000 stone of cod and haddock.
17.7.1947: Mortgage (B) discharged.
28.7.1947: Sold to Edna Deep Sea Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), London.
28.7.1947: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Nordic Fishing Co Ltd, London (C).
11.8.1947: Maurice Bigio appointed manager.
20.2.1948: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (D).
16.9.1948: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Midland Bank Ltd, London (E).
20.9.1948: Mortgage (C) discharged.
23.9.1948: Mortgage (D) discharged.
11.8.1949: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (F).
2.11.1950: Mortgage (E) discharged.
2.11.1950: Mortgage (F) discharged.
9.11.1950: Sold to Craig Stores (Aberdeen Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen (Joseph Craig, manager).
25.11.1950: Grimsby registry closed.
29.11.1950: Registered at Aberdeen (A663).
31.1.1951: Sold to Kinbrace (Fishing) Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen (Joseph Craig, manager).
24.5.1952: When in transit through Westray Firth, stranded on rocks between the islands of Rousay and Egilsay.
9.6.1952: Refloated and delivered at Kirkwall.
1954: Sold to Belgian shipbreakers for breaking up.
4.6.1954: Aberdeen registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Unitia GY924

S.T. Unitia A663
Picture courtesy of The Alan Hirst Collection

S.T.Unitia GY524

S.T.Unitia GY924
Picture by Steve Pulfrey courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

Changelog

17/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
28/04/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
09/08/2021: Updated history.

S.T. Coningsby FD193

Technical

Official Number: 148291
Yard Number: 830
Completed: 1927
Gross Tonnage: 303
Net Tonnage: 114
Length: 130 ft
Breadth: 24 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Engine: 70HP T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

3.2.1927: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.830) for Neale & West Ltd, Cardiff as SUMA.
4.1927: Completed Morley H. Neale & Joshua S. Neale, Penarth, managers). Registered at Cardiff (CF19).
8.1939: Sold to The Admiralty (£7,750) and fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.297).
3.1946: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, manager).
6.1946: Re-classed at Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood as CONINGSBY (FD193).
1951: Sold to William Johnston, Edinburgh. Registered at Granton as JAMES JOHNSTON (GN10).
9.1955: Sold to BISCO and allocated to James A. White & Co Ltd, St. Davids, Fife, or Malcolm Brechin, Granton for breaking up.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Coningsby FD193

S.T. Coningsby FD193

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.

S.T. Daily Express FD286

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4404
Official Number: 144518
Yard Number: 420
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T3-cyl by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

18.7.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.420) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ALEXANDER (Ad.No.4404).
1.1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
23.4.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as THOMAS ALEXANDER O.N.144518 (LO351).
4.6.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Hull; ex fishing gear.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
1921: Sold to Rémy & Huret, Boulogne.
9.8.1921: London registry closed.
8.1921: Registered at Boulogne as ETOILE POLAIRE II (B??)
1930: Sold to Fred Parkes, Blackpool.
2.1930: Boulogne registry closed.
21.2.1930: Registered at Fleetwood as DAILY EXPRESS (FD68). Fred Parkes, Blackpool designated as managing owner.
13.11.1933: Sold to Hellyer Brothers Ltd, Hull.
24.11.1933: Fleetwood registry closed.
25.11.1933: Registered at Hull (H523).
22.12.1933: Registered at Hull as TURCOMAN (H523). Frank O. Hellyer & Owen S. Hellyer designated joint managers.
21.9.1936: Sold to R. Irvin & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
30.9.1936: Hull registry closed.
1.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen (A416). Sir John H. Irvin KBE designated manager.
23.10.1936: Registered at Aberdeen as BEN DEARG (A416).
29.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.690) (Hire rate £91.0.0d/month).
6.3.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8900 or £8625.
5.1946: Re-classed at Port Glasgow.
6.6.1946: Returned to owner.
29.10.1948: Aberdeen registry closed.
10.1948: Registered at Fleetwood (FD286). Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys designated manager.
194?: In gale force conditions with poor visibility, stranded on rocks off Green Island, Sound of Mull. Attended by mail boat LOCHINVAR (216grt/1908) but crew remained on board and nine hours later refloated under own power.
1.7.1949: Sold to Anglo-Australian Fisheries (Pty) Ltd and Anglo-Australian Trawlers (Pty) Ltd, Perth, WA for £15000. Ian L. C. McNicol designated manager. 16.7.1949: Sailed Fleetwood for Fremantle, WA (Sk. James Dewhurst (39)/Capt E. Beeham); fourteen crew all volunteers to settle in Australia and sailed under Western Australian Government immigration scheme; families to follow.
16.9.1949: Arrived Fremantle, WA. To fish out of Albany.
1.1951: Had fire in coal bunker while alongside.
1958: Sold to Royal Australian Navy and sunk after use as a target.
(Thomas Alexander, OS, age 36, b. Roscommon, Co. Roscommon – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB279))

Click to enlarge images

HMT Ben Dearg

HMT Ben Dearg
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Ben Dearg FD286 arrives in Australia

S.T. Ben Dearg FD286 arrives in Australia
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
29/04/2015: Updated information.
20/04/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
01/03/2020: Updated information.

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

Technical

Official Number: 162068
Yard Number: 964
Completed: 1934
Gross Tonnage: 433
Net Tonnage: 162
Length: 157.2 ft
Breadth: 26.4 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

15.1.1934: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.964) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood as PHYLLIS ROSALIE.
31.1.1934: Registered at Fleetwood (FD24).
2.1934: Completed (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager).
1934: Port’s best single trip, 1,611 boxes.
15.7.1935: Represented Fleetwood at the King George V Silver Jubilee Review at Spithead. Her Skipper, Walter Holmes DSC was presented to H.M. King George.
1935: Port’s best single trip, 1769 boxes.
9.1935: As a result of the Abyssinian crisis and failure of British diplomacy, the Government authorised The Admiralty to procure twenty modern trawlers for conversion to minor war vessels.
11.1935: Following successful trials sold to The Admiralty.
21.11.1935: Fleetwood registry closed. Fitted out as a “Gem” class anti-submarine trawler. Renamed HMTrawler AMETHYST (P.No.T12).
24.11.1940: Mined in Barrow Deep, Thames estuary. All crew landed safely at Southend (Ty/Lieut the Hon W. K. Rous RNVR).

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

HMT Amethyst

HMT Amethyst
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24

S.T. Phyllis Rosalie FD24
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 5 revisions since then.
14/04/2014: Picture added.
02/12/2014: Picture added.

S.T. William Mannell LO370

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson and Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3512
Official Number: 144425
Yard Number: 671
Completed:3 1917
Gross Tonnage: 276
Net Tonnage: 106
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough

History

7.12.1916: Laid down by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough (Yd.No.671) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty. 23.3.1917: Launched as WILLIAM MANNELL (Ad.No.3512).
2.6.1917: Completed as an escort trawler (1-12pdr and W/T).
11.5.1920: Sold by auction at London (Baltic Exchange) to John Walters, Milford Haven (John H. Bishop, manager).
11.6.1920: Registered at London (LO370).
26.7.1923: Sold to John H. Bishop, Milford Haven (managing owner).
16.1.1931: Laid up at Milford.
5.10.1934: Sold to Yolland & Llewellin, Milford Haven (Charles Llewellin, manager).
1934: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, Cleveleys, manager)
10.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr) (P.No.FY.1665) (Hire rate £80.10.0d/month).
1945: Sold to Yolland & Llewellin, Milford Haven (John Yolland, manager).
19.11.1945: Returned.
1.1.1946: Messrs Yolland & Llewellin partnership dissolved. Transferred to Yolland Bros, Milford Haven (John Yolland, manager).
13.9.1948: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £12,500.
9.2.1949: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Reuben J. Melhuish); twelve crew.
21.2.1949: On Dhuheartach grounds, gale warning received and proceeded to anchor in small bay S of Glengad Head, Co. Donegal in company with GAVA (FD380).
22.2.1949: At 4.00 a.m. decided to leave anchorage. On weighing, wind WSW to WNW but suddenly visibility reduced in a squall. Rudder jambed and struck rocks at Glengad Head. At approx 4.30 a.m. vessel abandoned by boat to the GAVA. At approx 6.30 a.m. Skipper and Chief Engineer returned briefly in shore boat. At approx 12.15 p.m. refloated and with Gava standing by, Skipper and two deck hands returned to secure warps from GAVA. At approx 1.00 p.m. underway for Culdaff Bay with intention of beaching. At approx 2.15 p.m. vessel started to settle and crew taken off. Tow continued but at 3.00 p.m. vessel sank by the head in 14 fathoms 21/2 miles E of Dunmore Head, off Portaleen, Co. Donegal; all crew saved.
25.8.1949: At BOT Formal Investigation (No.S.413), Sk. Melhuish was found to have lacked seamanlike care in proceeding from the anchorage and made no attempt to maintain steam and operate the pumps after stranding. His ticket was suspended for six months.

William Mannell (aka William Lambert), Quartermaster’s mate, age 33, b. Aldeborough, Suffolk – VICTORY (SB530))

Click to enlarge image

S.T. William Mannell LO370

S.T. William Mannell LO370
Picture Courtesy of John McLaughlin

Changelog
16/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
04/09/2015: Information updated.
17/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermark.