Print

M.V. Boston Seafire – FD109

Fleetwood Trawler – M.V. Boston Seafire – FD109
Official Number: 187847
IMO Number: 5049350
Built by: Henry Scarr Ltd. Hessle in 1956
Yard Number: 736
Gross Tonnage: 314
Net Tonnage: 104
Length: 127 ft
Breadth: 26′ 8” ft
Draught: 12′ 3” ft
Engine: 2 stroke 5-cyl Polar diesel (740bhp) by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow
Owner: Brixham Trawlers Ltd

History
1956: Launched as BUZZARD for Brixham Trawlers Ltd (FD109).

August 01 1959: Sold along with the company to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood (Arthur J. Lewis, manager).

1961: Renamed Boston Seafire.

1969: Sold to New Zealand as NEPTUNE.

1974: Sold to Sealord Products Ltd, Nelson,NZ. Renamed Seafire registered at Nelson.

199? 199?: Sold to Duesouth Trawlers (NZ) Ltd, Nelson, NZ. Still in LR 2005-6.

1999: She is now known as the Seafire and has been converted to stern fishing with the mounting of a net roller and net drum at the stern. She is equipped with the latest electronics but her engines and main winch are still standard.

March 2008: Tied up at Miramar Wharf, Wellington waiting to be scuttled.

October 19 2008: Sunk by scutteling on the 19th October 2008 near Whale Island, Whakatane. New Zealand and will be used as a dive wreck.

Images

Buzzard FD109 before being renamed Boston Seafire FD109. Image courtesy of Nicolina, shipsnostalgia.com

Buzzard FD109 before being renamed Boston Seafire FD109. Image courtesy of Nicolina, shipsnostalgia.com


M. V. Boston Seafire FD109 - Picture courtesy of Brian Dodd

M. V. Boston Seafire FD109 - Picture courtesy of Brian Dodd


Seafire on the slipway at Nelson - Picture courtesy of Emmanuel Makarios, shipsnostalgia.com

Seafire on the slipway at Nelson - Picture courtesy of Emmanuel Makarios, shipsnostalgia.com


Seafire tied up at Miramar 20/03/08

Seafire tied up at Miramar 20/03/08


Seafire tied up at Miramar 20/03/08

Seafire tied up at Miramar 20/03/08


Image courstesy of Phil and Steph van Dusschoten, Diveworks Charters, www.whaleislandtours.com

Image courstesy of Phil and Steph van Dusschoten, Diveworks Charters, www.whaleislandtours.com


This is a underwater photo of the Seafire's bridge after being scuttled. Picture courtesy of Chris Giblin and Kane McElrea

This is a underwater photo of the Seafire

For more images of the Boston Seafire FD109 click here.

Date: September 18th, 2008 @ 23:37

Categories: Fleetwood Trawlers

Leave a Comment


Comments RSS TrackBack 14 comments

Phil van Dusschoten

in October 19th, 2008 @ 12:47

The Boston Seafire was sunk by scutteling on the 19th October 2008 near Whale Island, Whakatane. New Zealand and will be used as a dive wreck

Alan Duggan

in October 19th, 2008 @ 19:19

Thanks Phil i have updated the entry.

Its a shame to see another trawler go. But atleast she will be giving divers enjoyment for many years to come.

Chris Giblin

in November 6th, 2008 @ 06:07

Hi guys, name is chris and i am involved in ecological monotoring of the vessel. It was wonderful to be able to dive and see it resting on the sea floor. Within a week of it on the floor, fish species in numbers have already been recorded inside my surveys.
Amazing dive and wicked time working with the crew getting it ready for scluttling

Alan Duggan

in November 6th, 2008 @ 08:03

Hello Chris, although its a shame she was scuttled i like the idea she is being used for something instead of just being scrapped and forgotten.

Would there be any chance you have any pictures of your dives ? If so would it possible for you to share them with us ?

Again thanks for the report, please feel free to keep us updated.

Alan Duggan

Chris Giblin

in November 6th, 2008 @ 22:10

yes Alan that is possible and yes i have underwater photos 2o min after she went down as i was used to hook up the descent lines to it, if you email me on chris_goblin@hotmail.com i can email you a set of photos that i have collected and i will also be monotoring it ever two weeks for the next year so photos will be available.
I no it is a shame ships end up on the floor but it i would much rather them be used as dive wrecks for us dive communtiy to enjoy rather than being sunk 1.5km off cape pallicer.

Alan Duggan

in November 6th, 2008 @ 22:50

Hello again Chris, i will send a email to you very shortly.

Im actually quite jealous of you, your job sounds very interesting. Is every dive different or does it become second nature ?

Also whats it like diving the wreck ? I have never dived before so i have no idea what it would feel like doing this.

Thanks in advance for any images you send.

Chris Giblin

in November 7th, 2008 @ 02:34

Yes no problem, yes i do have a sweet job, well not really a job yet still in study but it is still a wicked adventure.
Yes every dive is different especially at this stage as growth is still developing. As my progress changes i will keep you informed i also do intense study on the Taioma wreck situated further up the coast as well.

Alan Duggan

in November 7th, 2008 @ 08:20

Thanks for the images Chris, Please do keep us updated on the wreck.

Taioma? What type of ship was she.

Louise Allen

in November 16th, 2008 @ 19:44

Hey Alan, I’ve been working a bit with Chris too, as I’m involved with the Trust that sunk the Seafire. I also dived on her just after Chris on the day of the sinking. It was amazing. It was a great sight to see her take a dive to the seafloor. We all look forward to watching her attract marine life. The company I work for will be taking divers out there to dive on her this Summer. I’ll send some pics if I get any good ones.

Alan Duggan

in November 16th, 2008 @ 20:09

Hello Louise, i look forward to recieving some images. Any updates are greatly welcomed.

Alan Duggan

Kev Sumner

in February 1st, 2009 @ 00:20

My first ever voyage to sea was on this ship. I was 11 years old. I went with my Dad Robert Sumner who was the Mate (Second to Skipper) . It was an eventful voyage.
We sailed from Fleetwood in August 1966 and as I remember it was a brisk day i.e. a bit choppy. I was stood on the bridge as we left port taking a bit of spray to ward off the sea sickness but to no avail. I was sick before I got to Wyre Light (Fleetwood people know where I mean).
Anyway an hour or two later we were passing the Isle of Man and I had begun to find my sea legs (I think I remember the cook recommended Jacobs Cream Crackers to settle my stomach, which I welcomed).
Then we passed Radio Caroline, which as a child I listened to on my transistor radio.
We sailed up the coast between Ireland and Scotland and I remember my dad pointing out the distilleries among the stunning landscapes.

Interestingly, the window that is shown on one of the pictures on the whaleisandtours web site was the very one that I looked through to see Radio Caroline.

We passed St. Kildas and was amazed by the bird life.
Then we started fishing.

I couldn’t believe the colour of the sea as we cut through it. It was clear blue green.
When the nets were hauled the bird life was stunning with Gannets everywhere picking up fish that had escaped the net and seagulls arguing over who’s was who’s.

Not sure if I should say this but I was helping with the fish as they were dropped on deck after opening the cod end. I was then gutting fish on deck. I remember I was gutting a cod that was bigger than me, at 11 years old.
Anyway, to hear that the Boston Seafire has been scuttled in New Zealand I was initially saddened, particularly after seeing the photos of her sinking, as it played with my childhood memories, but then I realized that she was an old ship and ready for the last phase of her life.

I hope all those who dive on her have good, safe dives and treat her with the respect that she deserves.

Alan Duggan

in February 1st, 2009 @ 09:30

Hello Kev, thanks for sharing some of your memories of the Boston Seafire.

The last line of your comment i agree with 100%

Shane Wasik

in April 8th, 2009 @ 07:31

Hi Guys,
Recently dived the wreck in fairly poor viz but i wanted to add some of the above pics to my website as a mini article.
Can you give me permission to use the surface pics of the seafire?
Thanks

Alan Duggan

in April 8th, 2009 @ 07:41

Shane which images was you wanting to use as i could send you some bigger sizes, If you would like me to send them please let me know which you would like. And i would need your email aswell.