M.T. Vanessa Ann – FD133

Technical

Official Number: 183981
Yard Number: 403
Completed: 1951
Gross Tonnage: 168
Net Tonnage: 55
Length: 103.0 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 10.5 ft
Oil Engine: 2 stroke 6-cyl 540bhp Type K461by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow

History

11.1951: Completed by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd.No. 403) for Rhondda Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Sir John D. Marsden, Bart, manager) as VANESSA ANN. Registered at Lowestoft (LT254).
1.5.1955: Out of Grimsby on a North Sea trip started to take in water. Fault traced to bilge pump line, repaired and resumed fishing.
1957: Sold to Dalby Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Bowden Ramster, manager). Lowestoft registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD133). Later to F. E. Catchpole, Lowestoft and on to offshore platform standby/rescue.
1973: Laid up at Lowestoft with main and big end bearings run due to gasket failure of oil pump.
1973: Re engined with 2-cyl 250bhp Hundested oil engine, CP propeller
1973: Sold to Alan Warren Smallwood, Fulham for conversion to a floating workshop (for South Pacific service). Later laid up River Thames.
1984: Sold (due to ill health) to Reg Marsh & Jack Scott for conversion to an auxiliary topsail schooner.
1984-85: Re built at Padstow. Sail area 538 sq.metres.
6.1985: Sailed Padstow for Antigua with the intention of running day charters. Not a success due to local opposition.
1986: Sold to Charles W. Clowes & David Cox, based Barbados. Again not successful.
1990: Decided to return to UK. Prepared for voyage in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Sailed for Plymouth.
3.7.1990: Arrived Plymouth. Surveyed and in poor condition.
1991: Sold to Joseph Maria Kelly for private use. On the death of his mother the vessel’s name was changed to SANTA BARBARA ANNA, in commemoration. Engaged in charter work.
1995: Arrived Rostock. Ceded by the Kelly Family for use of teenagers and adolescents funded by City of Rostock.
2000: Funding withdrawn due to financial constraints support of charities and volunteers obtained.
2006: During maintenance a 4000kg oak keel fitted to improve sailing capability.
7.2006: Sail area increased to 667 sq.metres.

Note from Sk. John Brackenbury

The Vanessa Ann first sailed from Lowestoft and Grimsby, she never sailed to Iceland and
she was not involved in the the cod war, but she did fish in the North sea,

At some stage she had an explosion in her engine room. This happened as she was sailing from Grimsby two engineers were killed. After that she was bought by the Dalby Steam Fishing Company and brought to Fleetwood, she was a near water boat and fished the Irish sea and up and down the West Coast of Scotland.

Among previous skippers were George Wood, Chopper Harrison, myself and a few others.
she was a great sea ship .
I was in command in the storm of 1969 winds gusting to 140 mph, we rode it out for sixteen hours just SW of Barra Head and a German cargo ship the LUSADANUR shifted its cargo and Barra lifeboat went to its rescue and capsized, they both made it back to Castle Bay.

I hope this help to complete her early life,

Yours Sincerely
John Brackenbury

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133
Picture courtesy of Peter Hearn

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133
Picture courtesy of Stephen Marshall

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133
Picture courtesy of Lorna Jones

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133

M.T. Vanessa Ann FD133
Picture courtesy of Lorna Jones

sv Santa Barbara Anna

sv Santa Barbara Anna

Changelog
23/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
30/01/2021: Added an image.