M.T. Boston Phantom – FD252
Official Number: 303800
Yard Number: 996
Gross Tonnage: 431
Length: 140 ft
Breadth: 29′ 4″
Depth: 15′ 6″
Built: Beverley 1965 by C.D Holmes & Co Ltd
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries
History
I would like to thank David Slinger for sharing his research on this vessel.
1965: To Fleetwood as a new vessel.
1966: Fleetwood’s highest grossing vessel.
1967: Fleetwood’s highest grossing vessel. £107,425 Skipper Bill Rawcliffe.
February 1968: Carried out experiments by the Palmer Aero Products company using de-icing equipment, that reduced the likelihood of capsizing. Despite its modest cost of £2,000, Palmers received no orders.
1970: Fleetwood’s 2nd highest grossing vessel. £153,995 Skipper Bill Rawcliffe.
1971: First Fleetwood Trawler to fitted with a gutting machine.
1972: Fleetwood’s highest grossing vessel. £161,874 Skipper Bill Rawcliffe.
December 1972: Transferred to Grimsby.
October 1973: Set a new port record for a 140 feet vessel. Landed 2,258 kits. Grossed £34,339 Skipper Derek Brown. 22 Days Iceland.
1974: Grimsby’s highest grossing vessel in the 140 feet class, £292,970.
7th December 1978: Arrived at Lowestoft to be converted to an Oil Rig Stand by Safety Vessel.
January 1979: Work Completed.
1982: Chartered by Colne Shipping of Lowestoft.
1984: Sold to Colne Group (Claridge Trawlers Ltd.) for oil rig support work.
April 1985: Renamed COLNE PHANTOM.
1987: Registration transferred to Claridge Trawlers Ltd, a subsidiary of Colne.
1991: Laid up.
January 1992: Sold for scrapping to Carvel Marine, Rainham, Kent.
6th January 1992: Sailed from Lowestoft bound for Rainham, Kent on the River Thames for scrapping at Bloor’s Wharf.
1992: Sold to Caroline Paternity Limited, South Africa.
4th April 1992: Arrived at Lowestoft in tow of ANGLIAN WARRIOR and subsequently slipped for repairs and a survey.
2nd May 1992: Sailed from Lowestoft as COLNE PHANTOM. Registered at Kingstown bound for South Africa.
In 1992 she was converted to a stern trawler and returned to fishing.
September 14 2000: Vessel has been refitted at the cost of 1,000,000 Rand.
October 2007: Reported sold undisclosed interests.
26th March 2009: The BOSTON PHANTOM now “COLNE PHANTOM” was last seen in Cape Town fish dock 26th March 2009. Believed to be laid up.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture courtesy of Clione452
Boston Phantom in rough Sea
Boston Phantom FD252, You can see the De-Icing equipment in black on the Wheelhouse and masts.
My father, Deryck Hanson, was a radio operator on the Boston Phantom in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Does anyone remember him?
Saw Boston Phantom [now "Phantom"] in Cape Town fish dock 26th March 2009. Looked still active and in good shape.
Thanks Mike, i have updated the history.
hi alan think you find that now the boston phanton is now a stern trawler i did cum across a pic of her but cant remember where
Hello Marc, any idea when she was converted to a stern trawler ?
no idea alan this needs looking in to but iam dead shaw iam right
Phantom was used in prawn fishery out of Durban and has been laid up in Cape Town for past 2 years
Hello Roy, Any idea what the plan is for her ?
hello every1,my uncle,pieter schaap was maite on the phantom.his dad was an engineer for the hewitts fleet frank schaap.lived in manor road,n0 15
i was galley boy on the boston phantom my first ship to sea she was 1 year old when i went on her the cook wasgilly wright, the chief was fred shard
I Billy,did you know the shaaps,Yan,Pieter n Frans,Frans still lives in Fleetwood,have you any photos of ships in rough seas or at the fishing grounds at Iceland .Thank you Harry
Hello Harry sorry i didnt know the shaaps john rawcliffe was mate when i was there bob greer was bosun jimmy buckley was there lenny bezance and colman kenny and i dont have any photo,s they got mislaid over the years do these names sound familiar to you rgds. billy