M.T. Swanella (3) H421 | Fleetwood Motor Trawlers

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 308571
Yard Number: 554
Completed: 1967
Gross Tonnage: 1179
Length: 247.9 ft
Breadth: 40.8 ft
Depth: 8.08 m
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: Diesel-electric 2 x 12-cyl ‘V’ oil engines 1550bhp by English Electric Ltd, Preston connected to 1 x electric motor 2100shp – 15 knots
Capable of freezing 600 kits per day in 90LB blocks.

History

017.10.1966: Launched at Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.554) by Mrs E.Stirk (mother in law of Geoffrey Alan Marr) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as SWANELLA.
1967: Completed. Registered at Hull (H421).
31.01.1967: Ran sea trials.
03.02.1967: Sailed from Hull on her maiden voyage (Skipper Charles Drever) bound for the Newfoundland fishing grounds. Halfway through her maiden voyage she suffered a fractured crank shaft which reduced the engine power by 50% This proved inadequate and she was brought home early arriving back at Hull on the 27th March landing 447 tonnes.
1967: Set up a new record catch of 665.5 tonnes (Skipper Charles Drever).
1969: The company’s top trawler landing 4,105 tonnes of fish for 307 days at sea, only 64 tonnes behind the top freezer LADY PARKES H397 which recieved a place in the Guinness book of records.
12.6.1981: Sold to KaareMisje & Co, Bergen and converted to a diving support ship.
1982: Hull registry closed. Registered at Panama as ARCHEMEDES.
19855: DRIVE PERFORMER.
1988: NORTH SEA COMMANDER.
1990: Sold to DSND Shipping, Norway. Renamed SEAWAY COMMANDER.
2004: ALLIED COMMANDER, Panama flag.
2009: Sold to How Choi Marine Ltd, Hong Kong. Renamed EGS EXPLORER St Vincent & Grenadines Flag.
2013: Renamed GEO EXPLORER, Nevis & St. Kitts flag.

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