Author Archives: Howard Small

M.T. Boston Seafire – FD109

Technical

Official Number: 187847
Yard Number: 736
Completed: 1956
Gross Tonnage: 314
Length: 127 ft
Breadth: 26.8 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Engine: 2 stroke 5-cyl Polar diesel (740bhp) by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow

History

07.1956: Built at Hessle as BUZZARD for Brixham Trawlers Ltd
01.08.1959: 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? Sold to Duesouth Trawlers (NZ) Ltd, Nelson, NZ. Still in LR 2005-6.
2006: Berthed at Wellington. No longer used for fishing and being prepared for scuttling as an artificial reef. Engine removed and installed in local power station.
19.10.2008: Scuttled at Whale Island of the eastern Bay of Plenty coastline.

Download Chris Carey’s account of Seafire as a PDF file
Download a video of the scuttling

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Seafire FD109
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Buzzard FD109
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

M.T. Boston Seafire FD109
Picture courtesy of The Len Charnley Collection

M.T. Seafire
Picture courtesy of The Chris Carey Collection

M.T. Seafire
Picture courtesy of The Emmanuel Makarios Collection

M.T. Boston Seafire FD109
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Seafire
Picture courtesy of The Emmanuel Makarios Collection

Changelog
18/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
27/06/2019: Added an image.
25/08/2020: Added an image.

M.T. Wyre Defence – FD37

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 187842
Yard Number: 1407
Completed: 1956
Gross Tonnage: 338
Net Tonnage: 119
Length: 127.5 ft
Breadth: 27 ft
Depth: 13 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 736bhp 4-stroke 7-cyl oil engine by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport
Speed: 11.25 knots

History

21.7.1955: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1407) for Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood as WYRE DEFENCE, at a cost of £138,372.
11.1.1956: Completed. Registered at Fleetwood as (FD37).
01.07.1969: Became part of British United Trawlers fleet.
1973: On an Icelandic trip (Sk. Don Evans). One of two vessels (BRUCELLA was the second) involved in an incident with the patrol boat AEGIR. Unsubstantiated reports claimed several blanks were fired and, possibly, one live shell. AEGIR countered by claiming that BRUCELLA had fired a line carrying rocket at the patrol boat.
1974: Converted along with WYRE MAJESTIC (FD433) to pair trawl for pelagic species (herring & mackerel).
18.10.1974: After landing herring at Oban with WYRE MAJESTIC, could not get an overnight berth so decided to sail for Fleetwood in company. Ahead, through the Sound of Islay, WYRE MAJESTIC stranded at full speed at Rubh’ a ‘Mhail, four miles north of Port Askaig, in pos. 55.53n 06.07w. Badly holed and filling with water. The Port Askaig lifeboat attended but with the trawler settling on the rocks, failed to move her. WYRE DEFENCE turned back, managed to connect but also failed as the tide ebbed. WYRE MAJESTIC was a total loss.
18.05.1978: Transferred to British United Trawlers (Aberdeen) Ltd Aberdeen (FD37).
1979: Sold to shipbreakers J Gibson Johnson Ltd, Hull en bloc with WYRE REVENGE, then resold to H Kitson Vickers & Sons (Engineering) Ltd.
12.1979: Resold to Stephen Dalton Skip Hire Ltd, Edinburgh, to be broken up at Bo’ness..
12.1979: Arrived Bo’ness and breaking up commenced.
14.1.1980: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of Phil Rogers

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The David Jackson Collection

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The Frank Pook Collection

M.T. Wyre Defence FD37
Picture courtesy of The John Worthington Collection

Changelog
17/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
25/07/2017: Added image and removed FMHT watermark.
01/06/2108: Updated the information.
20/11/2018: Added an image.
27/08/2020: Added an image.
08/09/2020: Added an image.

M.T. Boston Pionair – FD96

Technical

Official Number: 187846
Yard Number: 429
Completed: 1956
Gross Tonnage: 166
Length: 103 ft
Breadth: 22′ 4″
Depth: 10′ 9″
Built: Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft, 1956
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries

History

1956: To Fleetwood as a new vessel.
Undated: Transferred to Pegasus Trawling, Lowestoft as LT432
06.02.1965: Sailed from Lowestoft for the Horn Reef area under the command of skipper Brian Moyse with a crew of nine hands all told. She commenced fishing at Horn Reef the next day in the company of two other trawlers the BOSTON WIDGEON and the ROY STEVENS.
12.02.1965: With the weather freshening and winds forecast up to force 10 all three skippers decided to move westward to be closer to the land. At about 19:30 hours the BOSTON PIONAIR was seen hauling her gear and heading off in a WSW direction. That was the last time she was seen. For the next two days the weather was very bad with very high seas.
13.02.1965: Weather estimated to be force 10 +. BOSTON WIDGEON reported that she had been forced to heave to. At 0630 contacted BOSTON PIONAIR. Skipper Moyse advised that they had been laying to but thought he would soon have to start dodging again.
16.02.1965: After failure to contact BOSTON PIONAIR over the past two days a full scale search was started, including two naval vessels, a shackleton aircraft and over sixty trawlers. Articles belonging to BOSTON PIONAIR was found over 130 miles WSW of the position she was last seen.
02.12.1965: Formal BOT investigation at Lowestoft concluded “….that the BOSTON PIONAIR was overwhelmed in severe weather conditions by a wave or succession of waves which caused her to roll with such severity that her righting lever was extinguished and that she had thereby lost her ability to right herself. The possibility of damage to the hull or superstructure cannot be excluded.
All the crew were lost.
Crew Lost
B Moyse (JNR) – Skipper
G Beamish – Mate
M Lark – Bosun
A Thurston – Chief Engineer
W Thurston – 2nd Engineer
J Genery – Deckhand
W Stebbings – Deckhand
M Lee – Deckhand
B Moyse – Deckhand

Click to download the Loss Report in PDF format

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Pionair FD96
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
17/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
15/02/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and added BOT loss report.

M.T. Boston Phantom – FD252

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Nico Bacon (Viking Fishing, Cape Town)

Technical

Official Number: 303800
Yard Number: 996
Completed: 1965
Gross Tonnage: 431
Length: 140 ft
Breadth: 29′ 4″
Depth: 15′ 6″
Built: Beverley 1965 by C.D Holmes & Co Ltd
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries

History

1965: In ownership of Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd.
1966: Fleetwood’s highest grossing vessel.
1967: Fleetwood’s highest grossing vessel. £107,425 Skipper Bill Rawcliffe.
02.1968: Carried out experiments by the Palmer Aero Products company using de-icing equipment, that reduced the likelihood of capsizing. Despite its modest cost of £2,000, Palmers received no orders.
1970: Fleetwood’s 2nd highest grossing vessel. £153,995 Skipper Bill Rawcliffe.
1971: First Fleetwood Trawler to fitted with a gutting machine.
1972: Fleetwood’s highest grossing vessel. £161,874 Skipper Bill Rawcliffe.
12.1972: Transferred to Grimsby.
10.1973: Set a new port record for a 140 feet vessel. Landed 2,258 kits. Grossed £34,339 Skipper Derek Brown. 22 Days Iceland.
1974: Grimsby’s highest grossing vessel in the 140 feet class, £292,970.
7.12.1978: Arrived at Lowestoft to be converted to an Oil Rig Stand by Safety Vessel.
01.1979: Work Completed. Fleetwood fishing registry closed. Transferred to Grimsby Near Water Trawlers Ltd, Grimsby.
1982: Chartered by Colne Shipping of Lowestoft.
1984: Sold to Colne Group (Claridge Trawlers Ltd.) for oil rig support work.
04.1985: Renamed COLNE PHANTOM.
1987: Registration transferred to Claridge Trawlers Ltd, a subsidiary of Colne.
1991: Laid up.
01.1992: Sold for scrapping to Caravel Maritime Ltd, Rainham, Kent for breaking up
6.1.1992: Sailed from Lowestoft bound for Rainham, Kent on the River Thames for scrapping for breaking at Bloor’s Wharf.
1992: Sold to Caroline Paternity (Pty) Limited, Cape Town, South Africa.
4.4.1992: Arrived Lowestoft in tow of ANGLIAN WARRIOR and subsequently slipped for repairs and a survey.
2.5.1992: Sailed from Lowestoft as COLNE PHANTOM. Registered at Kingstown bound for South Africa.
1992: In ownership of Caroline Pty Ltd.
In 1992: she was Converted to a stern trawler and returned to fishing.
1995: in ownership of Viking Fishing Co Pty Ltd.
1996: Prawn fishing in Mozambique.
14.9.2000: Vessel has been refitted at the cost of 1,000,000 Rand.
26.3.2009: The BOSTON PHANTOM now “COLNE PHANTOM” was Last seen in Cape Town fish dock laid up.
2009: Broken up.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture courtesy of The Len Charnley Collection

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture courtesy of The Phillip Dell Collection

S.S.V. Boston Phantom
Picture from the Internet

S.S.V. Colne Phantom
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

ORSV Colne Phantom
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture courtesy of The John Worthington Collection

M.T. Boston Phantom
At Cape Town

M.T. Phantom
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
17/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
10/04/2017: Removed incorrect image and FMHT watermark.
21/05/2017: Added image.
25/06/2017: Added image.
22/07/2017: Added an image.
30/10/2017: added an image.
24/11/2019: Added an image.
03/09/2020: Added an image.
01/10/2020: Added an image.
31/08/2024: Added two images.

M.T. Boston Lightning – FD14

Additional information courtesy of Douglas Paterson

Technical

Official Number: 303204
Yard Number: 897
Completed: 1961
Gross Tonnage: 391
Length 138′
Breadth 28′ 1″
Depth 14′
Built: Hall Russell Ltd Aberdeen
Oil Engine: 4SA 7cy 15″X20″, Mirlees Bickerton & Day

History

1961: Launched by Hall, Russell Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd. No.897) for Parbel-Smith Ltd, Aberdeen as ADMIRAL BURNETT (A574).
30.06.1961: Registered to Parabel Smith.
25.09.1962: Owned by Mannofield Fishing Co. Ltd, Aberdeen (A574).
07.02.1966: Aberdeen Motor Trawlers, all of Commercial Quay Aberdeen.
09.05.1966: Owned by St Andrews Steam Fishing Co. Ltd, Hull.
23.07.1967: St Andrews Steam Fishing Company becomes part of Boston Deep Sea Fisheries.
27.09.1968: Aberdeen registry closed, vessel transferred to Fleetwood.
1968: Renamed BOSTON LIGHTNING and registered at Fleetwood (FD14).
1977: To Lowestoft for Dagon Fishing Co. Ltd, Lowestoft as ST. LUKE LT132.
18.05.1978: Hauling when tide swept the trawl under the ship and there was an explosion, presumed to be a mine. Vessel sank 160 miles east of the Tyne.

Note: Skipper Basil Bowler “We were fishing Dogger Bank when the watch called me out at 3am and said the chief engineer wanted me to haul as both auxiliary engines had broken down and would could not pump the air bottles up. We also had no lights.
Started to haul in the dark with main engine stopped. There was a light wind but conditions were a bit foggy .
The mate, Brian Salter, called out that we had a lot weight and was hooking the big jilson. I went out on bridge veranda to try and see what was happening. On taking the strain there was an explosion amidships with water shooting up in the air.
I ran into wheelhouse to find a right mess, radars, sounders all hanging from there mountings. Going down to engine room I met the second engineer, Ernie Wright, who told me he was hit with the blast and water was pouring in engine room. I got a Mayday call out and launched life rafts ready in case we had to abandon ship.
Water filled the engine room and started to fill crews accommodation. With no power and no pumps there was nothing we could do as she was settling stern first with her bow lifting out of water.
The crew got in life raft, all OK apart from two who had leg injuries, they were at winch when she went up. Then we sadly watched as she disappeared.
We were first spotted by a German yacht who came along side out of the fog. Then transferred to Gulf Fleet 11 rig boat and then to the Sunderland lifeboat who had a couple of cases Newcastle Brown Ales for the lads, bless there hearts.”

Note: Chief Engineer on deck watching the haul when the explosion occurred. When he got down the engine room every engine room plate had been lifted off its stringers and scattered around like confetti and there was water roaring in. He was of the opinion that if he hadn’t have gone on deck to watch the lads hauling he would probably have been killed by flying debris, if the blast hadn’t got him. He reckoned that there must have been a mine or some other ordnance in the trawl which detonated when it hit the bottom of the ship.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Lightning FD14
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Admiral Burnett A574
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

M.T. Boston Lightning FD14
Picture courtesy of The Len Charnley Collection

M.T. Boston Lightning FD14
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

M.T. Boston Lightning FD14
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Boston Lightning FD14
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Lightning FD14
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

Changelog
16/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
27/06/2019: Added an image.
01/04/2020: Added an image.
10/08/2020. Added an image.
11/05/2021: Added an image.
25/10/2025: Added to history.

M.T. Boston Kestrel – FD256

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger
Technical

Official Number: 308710
Yard Number: 997
IMO: 6600955
Completed: 1966
Gross Tonnage: 431
Net Tonnage: 169
Length: 134.02 ft
Breadth: 29.36 ft
Depth: 11.5 ft
Built: Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 6-cyl 1145bhp/854kW Werkspoor oil engine by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

02.1966: Completed by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.997) for Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull as BOSTON KESTREL.
Registered at Fleetwood (FD256). Basil Arthur Parkes, Hessle designated manager.
02.1966: Sailed Hull on first trip to Iceland (Sk. Anthony Buschini).
17.03.1966: Landed at Fleetwood. From West Coast of Iceland, 1,342 kits £6,400 gross.
1967: Second top trawler at Fleetwood (Sk. Anthony Buschini), £105,506 gross.
1969: Sold to Basil Arthur Parkes, Hessle & others. Basil Arthur Parkes designated managing owner. Transferred to fish out of Grimsby.
16.04.1973: 2nd Cod War. On Icelandic grounds had both trawl warps cut by Icelandic gunboat ODINN.
1974: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull. Basil Arthur Parkes designated manager.
30.04.1976: 3rd Cod War. On Icelandic grounds had one trawl warp cut by Icelandic coastguard vessel BALDUR.
03.05.1976: On Icelandic grounds had both trawl warps cut by Icelandic gunboat ODINN.
1978: Sold to North Cape Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
28.06.1978: Arrived Lowestoft. Berthed at Richards for conversion to offshore platform standby role. Fleetwood Part IV registry closed. Employed on offshore installation standby-safety duties.
1978: Converted by Richards Shipbuilders Ltd, Lowestoft for offshore platform standby-safety role.
02.1982: Chartered by The Colne Shipping Co Ltd, Lowestoft.
1984: Sold to The Colne Shipping Co Ltd, Lowestoft. G. D. Claridge designated manager.
1985: Registered at Lowestoft as COLNE KESTREL.
1991: Laid up at Lowestoft.
12.1991: Sold en bloc with ANEGADA (ex Ross Curlew (GY692); BARNSLEY (ex GY651) and CRYSTAL PALACE (ex GY683) to C. Knight/Caravel Maritime Ltd, Rainham, Kent for breaking up by Caravel Maritime Ltd at Bloors Wharf, Lower Rainham.
23.01.1992: Sailed Lowestoft for Medway. Laid up on mud off Bloors Wharf.
07.09.1992: Lloyd’s Class withdrawn.
1993: Deleted from Lloyd’s Register “Broken up”.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Kestrel FD256
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Boston Kestrel Clipping
Picture courtesy of Geoff Davidson

M.T. Boston Kestrel FD256
Picture courtesy of Len Charnley

S.S.V. Colne Kestrel
Picture courtesy of Trevor Snowling

Changelog
16/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
22/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks and added images.
17/05/2022: Updated history.

M.T. Boston Islander – FD263

Technical

Official Number: 362625
Launched: 1966
Completed: 1967
Gross Tonnage: 102.14
Length: 26.15 m (85.79 ft)
Breadth: 6.12 m (20.08 ft)
Depth: 2.75 m (9.02 ft)
Oil engine: 6-cyl 530bhp Kromhout by De Kromhout Motoren Fabriek, Amsterdam

History

Note: First beam trawler owned by BDSF

1966: Launched.
1967: Completed by Gebr W. Visser & Zoon, Den Helder for J. Bakker & Zonen, Den Helder as HOOP OP ZEGEN. Registered at Den Helder (HD26).
1973: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood. Den Helder Registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood as BOSTON ISLANDER(FD263).
1973: Remeasured 99grt.
12.1975: Transferred to fish out of Lowestoft.
1976: Sold to Anthony R. Paul & Kevin E. Gibbs, Lowestoft. Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Lowestoft as P.G. ISLANDER (LT377). 1977: Sold to Warbler Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft. Rigged for side/stern trawling. Registered at Lowestoft as DAWN WATERS (LT377).
1979: Sold to A M Seafoods Ltd, Fleetwood and G. Burns, Kircudbright. Rigged for beam scalloping. Lowestoft registry closed. Registered at Ayr (AR72).
1981: Sold to A M Seafoods Ltd, Fleetwood. Ayr registry closed. Registered at Jersey as (J472). Fishing out of Newlyn.
20.3.1986: Sailed Fleetwood for Douglas, IoM (Sk. Louis Ozard); five crew all told. Weather worsened with NW gale gusting Force 11. At 0918, the bows of the submerged Dawn Waters was sighted by the diving/submersible support vessel BRITISH ENTERPRISE FIVE (981grt/1971) (Capt Hector Thomson). No distress signal had been made. Closing the part submerged vessel, saw a crewman, later identified as Gordon Anthony Coram, in the water. Unable to get close to the man because of the prevailing weather conditions, over about fifteen minutes, four attempts were made to pass a rope, but when finally he got hold of the rope he was too weak to hold on and was seen to slump over and drown. Four merchant vessels, two helicopters and two lifeboats searched the area but Coram’s body was the only one recovered and was landed at Douglas by the Douglas lifeboat.
1986: Jersey registry closed.

Crew lost – Skipper Louis Ozard, Newlyn; Gordon Anthony Coram, Penzance; Chris Dodd, Mousehole; Jason Ward, Plymouth and David Young, Paignton.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Islander FD263
Picture courtesy of John Stevenson

M.T. PG Islander FD263
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

Changelog

16/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

M.T. Prince Philip – FD400

Additional material (Grimsby Landings) courtesy of Dave Todd

Technical

Official Number: 303784
Yard Number: 905
Completed: 1963
Gross Tonnage: 442
Net Tonnage: 148
Length: 139.7 ft
Breadth: 29 ft
Depth: 15.0 ft
Engine: 6 cyl 1145BHP Werkspoor (built by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull)
* Ship Registration Documents quote Gross Registered Tonnage as 418.50 tons

History

25.5.1963: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.905) for Premier Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood as PRINCE PHILIP (Launched by Mrs A. B. Wilbraham).
6.1963: Completed. Basil A. Parkes designated manager. Registered at Fleetwood (FD400).
28.8.1963: Mortgaged to White Fish Authority, London (A).
1966: Sold to Parbel-Smith Ltd, Aberdeen (Basil A. Parkes, manager).
9.1968: Fleetwood registry closed.
23.9.1968: Registered at Grimsby (GY138).
7.10.1968: Frederick Basil Parkes, Grimsby, designated manager.
20.11.1968: At Grimsby landed 1,531 kits, grossed £12,855.
19.11.1971: At Grimsby (Sk. Ray Evans) landed 1,831 kits, grossed £20,180.
1.4.1973: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull.
30.4.1973: Vernon Arthur (Alec?) William Green, Grimsby, designated manager.
14.12.1973: At Grimsby (Sk. Ray Evans) landed 1,975 kits (mostly cod) from White Sea, grossed £37,716.
13.2.1974: Vernon Alec William Green, Grimsby, managing owner.
19.5.1977: Sold to Onward Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby.
6.4.1978: Vernon Alec William Green, Grimsby, managing owner.
11.5.1978: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull.
3.11.1978: Mortgage (A) discharged (Onward Fishing Co Ltd).
30.3.1979: Vernon Alec William Green, Grimsby, manager.
1979: Converted to offshore platform standby/safety vessel at Gt. Yarmouth.
25.4.1979: Arrived Lowestoft for conversion for offshore platform standby/safety role.
12.6.1979: Surveyed at Gt. Yarmouth on completion.
19.4.1982: Chartered to Colne Shipping Co Ltd, Lowestoft (G. D. Claridge, manager).
27.10.1982: Mortgaged to Midland Bank Ltd, London (B).
20.10.1984: Mortgage (B) discharged.
6.11.1984: Sold to Drifter Trawlers Ltd, Lowestoft (John Eric Legget (Colne Shipping Co Ltd), manager).
12.11.1984: Grimsby fishing registry closed. Registered at Lowestoft.
5.1986: Sold to Colne Shipping Co Ltd, Lowestoft (John Eric Leggett, manager). Registered at Lowestoft as COLNE HUNTER.
1991: Sold to Spearing International Ltd., Dartford along with MUSTIQUE (ex ROSS HERON (GY693)) for breaking up by Masterman Iron & Steel Shipbreakers Ltd. at Bloors Wharf, Rainham.
29.7.1991: Sailed Lowestoft for the Medway in tow of MUSTIQUE.
23.8.1991: LR Class deleted “Broken Up”.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Prince Philip FD400
Picture courtesy of Len Charnley

M.T. Prince Philip GY138
Picture courtesy of The David Buckley Collection

SSV Prince Philip
Picture courtesy of The Steve Farrow Collection

S.S.V. Colne Hunter
Picture courtesy of Trevor Snowling

Changelog
15/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
27/06/2017: Image added and removed FMHT watermarks.
15/10/2017: Added image.

M.T. Boston Neptune – FD14

Technical

Official Number: 185297
Yard Number: 498
Completed: 1955
Gross Tonnage: 328
Length: 132 ft
Breadth: 26′ 7”
Depth: 13 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairs Co Ltd
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd

History

1955: Completed by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairs Co Ltd, Goole for Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd as BOSTON NEPTUNE. Registered at Fleetwood (FD14).
12.1959: Knocked down by a huge wave that came over the stern while fishing 50 miles off the Shetlands, and laid the vessel on her side. Deckhand Jim Armitage rang on full speed and, after several minutes, BOSTON NEPTUNE recovered with the loss of her starboard lifeboat and several smashed wheelhouse windows.
1962: Sold to Canada as ACADIA NEPTUNE.
1973: Sold to Canso Seafoods.
1974: Sold to H.B.Nickerson & Sons of North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
01.1974: Broken up at Pictou NS [Ferguson Industries Ltd].

Download a report of the December 1959 incident in PDF format

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Neptune FD14
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

M.T. Boston Neptune FD14
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Acadia Neptune Picture from the Internet

M.T. Acadia Neptune
Picture courtesy of The Harold Beswick Collection

M.T. Acadia Neptune
Picture from the Internet.

News Clipping
Picture courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

Changelog
13/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
25/02/2022: Added images.

M.T. Boston Monarch – FD19

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 185301
Yard Number: 1403
IMO: 5049271
Completed: 1955
Gross Tonnage: 466
Length: 137.5 ft
Breadth: 28ft
Depth: 13.75ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby, 1955
Engine: 960bhp 6-cyl Polar oil engine by British Polar Engines Ltd, Govan, Glasgow
Speed: 12 knots

History

Note: Built with the aid of a WFA Grant.
27.01.1955: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1403) for Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull, as BOSTON MONARCH. 16.08.1955: Registered at Fleetwood (FD19). Basil Arthur Parkes, North Ferriby designated manager.
05.11.1962: On return to Fleetwood, reported that whilst hauling on the Muckle Flugga grounds in a heavy swell, a trawl warp parted. Bosun, Peter Ince (36) saw the warp part and rushing forward to try and stop the catch of dogs falling overboard, was carried against the rails and unconscious, went over the side with the net and wires. The cold water revived him and seeing the net above him, and despite wearing oilskins and thigh boots, he managed to scramble up and hold on to the head rope. He was brought back onboard with the trawl suffering from torn leg muscles and on return to Fleetwood received hospital treatment.
14.12.1965: Sold to Oceania S.p.A , Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily.
12.12.1965: Fleetwood registry closed.
12.1965: Registered at Trapani as OCEANIA ROSA.
1969: Sold to Achille Saltini, Trapani.
1972: Sold to Mankoadze Fisheries Ltd, Tema, Ghana. Trapani registry closed. Registered at Tema.
09.1972: Lloyds classification discontinued.
1974: Sold to Achille Saltini, Trapani.
07.08.2009: Noted by Lloyd’s register of Shipping “Vessel’s continued existence in doubt”.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Monarch FD19
Picture courtesy of The Len Charnley Collection

M.T. Boston Monarch FD19
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Monarch FD19
Picture courtesy of The Phillip Dell Collection

Newsclipping
Courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

News Clipping
Picture courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

M.T. Oceania Rosa
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

M.T. Oceania Rosa
Picture courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

Changelog
13/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
26/12/2016: Image added.
28/06/2018: Added newsclipping and removed FMHT watermark from image.
29/09/2019: Added an image.
18/11/2019: Added an image.

Fleetwood Motor Trawlers

Part of The Bosun's Watch

Author Archives: Howard Small

M.T. Boston Seafire – FD109

M.T. Wyre Defence – FD37

M.T. Boston Pionair – FD96

M.T. Boston Phantom – FD252

M.T. Boston Lightning – FD14

M.T. Boston Kestrel – FD256

M.T. Boston Islander – FD263

M.T. Prince Philip – FD400

M.T. Boston Neptune – FD14

M.T. Boston Monarch – FD19