Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 302385
From 1993: RSS No.A18916
Yard Number: 399
Completed: 1960
Gross Tonnage: 137
Net Tonnage: 47
Length: 93.6 ft
breadth: 22.4 ft
Depth: 10.6 ft
Engine: 6-cyl 360bhp oil engine by Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, Lincoln.

History

1960: Launched by James & Stone Ltd, Brightlingsea (Yd.No.399) for Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood as BOSTON COMET.
11.1960: Completed. Registered at Lowestoft (LT183). Basil Arthur Parkes, North Ferriby appointed manager. Fishing out of Lowestoft. 1966: Sold to St. Christopher Steam Fishing Co Ltd, London. Basil Arthur Parkes appointed manager. Fishing out of Fleetwood.
10.1970: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull. W. H. Kerr, Milford appointed manager. Fishing out of Milford Haven.
08.04.1972: Sailed Milford for Lowestoft and to fish out of that port.
1974: Transferred to Fleetwood on offshore platform standby/rescue duties.
1976: Employed on offshore platform standby/rescue duties. Fishing registry closed. Boston Putford Offshore Safety Ltd, managers.
07.1986: Sold along with BOSTON ARGOSY (ex LT364), BOSTON CORSAIR (ex LT148), BOSTON HORNET (ex LT173), BOSTON WHIRLWIND (ex LT454) in an en bloc deal to Cmaine (Shipping) Ltd, Stonehouse Plymouth (Anglo Spanish principals). All former trawlers. To be refitted in Spain for a return to fishing under the British register, reverting to their former PLNs.
10.1986: Sold to Presslake Ltd, Stonehouse, Plymouth (Joe O’Connor, J. L. J. Couceiro & others). Cmaine (Shipping) Ltd appointed managers.
1987: On completion of refit registered at Lowestoft as BOSTON COMET (LT183).
By 1993: Sold to Great Coast Ltd, Compton Barton, Paignton (Anglo Spanish principals). Grand Sole Fisheries, Paignton appointed managers. Fishing out of Vigo.
25.09.1993: Fishing off St. Kilda (Sk. Anthony Robin St. Clair, Anlaby, Hull); Spanish fishing master and fourteen crew. Boarded by Scottish Fishery Cruiser NORNA for inspection. Arrested on log book offences and retaining undersized fish. Escorted to Stornoway.
04.10.1993: At Stornoway Sheriff Court, Sk. St. Clair pleaded guilty but stated as the skipper he had no responsibility for the fishing or recording the catch, this being undertaken by the Spanish fishing master and his fishermen. Sheriff Ian Cameron could not accept that the accused was “ … just a puppet or figure head. “ and imposed fines of £13,000 for the skipper and £33,200 for the owners. An illegal net was ordered to be forfeit and the ship detained until the fines were paid.
05.07.1994: Registered at Lowestoft as MY FRIEND (LT183).
2000: Refitted with 469bhp oil engine by ??
2000: Remeasured 173g 51n.
2001: Sold to Susa Fishing Ltd, Brixham (Anglo Spanish principals). Grand Sole Fisheries, Paignton appointed managers.
2001: Sold to Ledbeam Ltd. Compton Martin, Paignton (Anglo Spanish principals). Grand Sole Fisheries, Paignton appointed managers.
02.10.2003: Believed decommissioned.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Comet LT183
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

M.T. Boston Comet LT183

Changelog
08/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
17/09/2017: Removed FMHT watermark.