M.T. SSAFA – FD155
Technical
Official Number: 187863
Yard Number: 509
Gross Tonnage: 426
Length: 138 ft
Breadth: 28′ 5″
Depth 14′ 3″
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co, Goole
Engine: 1000HP 8 cylinder Mirlees Diesel.
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd
History
January 1958: Completed by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd. No. 509), for Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd. Registered at Fleetwood (FD155).
January 1961: Ran onto rocks on the Isle of Coll and was abandoned. PRINCESS ANNE and the Mallaig lifeboat stood by her. She was later salvaged and return to service. She arrived back in Fleetwood in October.
1965: Ownership transferred to Parbel-Smith Ltd.
1969: Sold to West Coast Salvage & contracting Co. Ltd. Vancouver.
1970: Sold to BDSF.
1971: Sold to Heward Trawlers.
1975: Bought by Huxley Fishing Co.Ltd and arrived at Lowestoft on 31 July.
1975 Registration changed to LT 73 in October.
1977: Converted for use as SSV.
1987: Sold to Liguria Maritime.
1987: Left Lowestoft 0n 12 July for the shipbreakers.
July 12 1987: Broken up at Milton Creek, Sittingbourne.
Notes
Her name was unusual for a trawler of the Boston fleet but SSAFA had been named for the charitable Soldiers, Sailors, and Air Force Associations. There was, however, nothing charitable about the rocks that she ran onto. It was Friesland Bay on the Island of Coll that claimed SSAFA during a howling gale.
Her sister ship, PRINCESS ANNE , stood by her as did the Mallaig lifeboat but neither could approach her due to her position amongst the rocks.
Twelve of the crew were pulled to safety through the surf leaving the skipper and three others to attempt to pull her off as the tide rose. Unfortunately she took on a severe list to port and she was abandoned. The crewmen on board on this trip were Harry Pook, Walter Mitchinson, Harry Hayes, Charles Springall, Walter Springall, Charles Meehan, Ian Bird, John Ward, Derek Lay, George Hayes, Thomas Peter and William Dumarry.
Her story does not end there as she was salvaged and returned to fishing. In March of 1964 she berthed at Fleetwood and landed the largest catch of hake to be landed at the port for some time. In the first three months of 1964 she earned in excess of £30,000 with a best gross of £7,040.
Images
SSAFA FD155, courtesy of the JJ Collection
SSAFA FD155 on the rocks, Isle of Coll 1961 - Photo courtesy of Jane Macrae
M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection
More information
Her name was unusual for a trawler of the Boston fleet but SSAFA had been named for the charitable Soldiers, Sailors, and Air Force Associations. There was, however, nothing charitable about the rocks that she ran onto. It was Friesland Bay on the Island of Coll that claimed SSAFA during a howling gale.
Her sister ship, PRINCESS ANNE , stood by her as did the Mallaig lifeboat but neither could approach her due to her position amongst the rocks.
Twleve of the crew were pulled to safety through the surf leaving the skipper and three others to attempt to pull her off as the tide rose. Unfortunately she took on a severe list to port and she was abandoned. The crewmen on board on this trip were Harry Pook, Walter Mitchinson, Harry Hayes, Charles Springall, Walter Springall, Charles Meehan, Ian Bird, John Ward, Derek Lay, George Hayes, Thomas Peter and William Dumarry.
Her story does not end there as she was salvaged and returned to fishing. In March of 1964 she berthed at Fleetwood and landed the largest catch of hake to be landed at the port for some time. In the first three months of 1964 she earned in excess of £30,000 with a best gross of £7,040.
I seem to remember the SSAFA had a major fire around 1971 when one of the crew set fire to the ship a few hours after leaving port – there were a couple of fatalities I believe/
To John Lee: Aye you are right when she sailed out of Lowestoft the SSAFA was the most dirtyest Trawler that I have ever seen in my life,and it looked like a lick of paint would have made her better looking but NO! it was a working boat and had to pay her way.
It was regauarded as the Down & out Boat of the Fishing fleet in Lowestoft. The only fatalities that i know of were of one man & yes she was set on fire By a Drunk seaman.Some one had said that his wife had left him just before he set sail, as to the submarine pulling her down I don’t think so! If a seaman want’s to kill him self, jump over board it’s bad enough when some one sets light to a boat at sea, I have only been on one & I never want to see any more!
I came across a picture of the SSAFA on the rocks at Friesland, Isle of Coll, my old family home, in old family photos I was posting on Face Book today….. I think I may also have a picture of two of the crew somewhere…… I think the names Harry Pook and Harry Hayes ring a bell….. I am happy to share these pictures. … I can be contacted at the above email……