Author Archives: Howard Small

M.T. Princess Anne – FD15

Technical

Official Number: 185299
Yard Number: 901
Completed: 1955
Gross Tonnage: 421
Length: 139′ 7″
Breadth: 28′ 5″
Depth: 13′ 9″
Built by: Cook, Welton & Gemmell in 1954
Engine: 960bhp British Polar
Speed: 11.5 knots
Owner: St Andrews Steam Fishing Co Ltd (Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd)

History

1954: Built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley for St Andrews Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood (FD15).
08.10.1963: Transferred to Hull.
10.03.1965: Transferred back to Fleetwood.
1966: Converted for purse seining with a Lowestoft crew.
1971: Transferred to Lowestoft (LT 740).
1973: Renamed BOSTON WELLINGTON.
1974: Sold for scrap to Scrap metal By-Products.
1975: Re-sold to Skainberry Ltd, Lowestoft and renamed MELICIA.
1976: Scrapped.
1976: Deleted from Lloyds Register of Shipping.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Princess Anne LT740
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Princess Ann FD15
Picture sourtesy of the Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Princess Anne FD15
Picture courtesy of The Len Charnley Collection

M.T. Princess Anne FD15
Picture courtesy of The Frank Pook Collection

M.T. Princess Anne LT740
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Princess Anne LT740
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Princess Anne LT740
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Wellington LT740
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
13/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
17/12/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks and added an image.
21/04/2020: Added an image.
27/08/2020: Added an image.
19/09/2020: Added an image.
07/10/2020: Added an image.
27/05/2021: Added an image.

M.T. Fleetwood Lady – FD1

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 185296
Yard Number: 1394
Completed: 1954
Gross Tonnage: 370
Net Tonnage: 126
Length: 128.5 ft
Breadth: 26.7 ft
Depth: 12.3 ft
Engine: 2 stroke 5-cyl oil engine 700bhp by British Polar Engines Ltd, Govan, Glasgow

History

06.03.1954: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1394) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood as FLEETWOOD LADY.
09.09.1954: Completed.
07.09.1954 Registered at Fleetwood.
30.11.1955: Company re-styled Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood.
07.03.1956: Sailed Fleetwood on morning tide for Muckle Flugga fishing grounds (Sk. Reginald Wright); fifteen crew. During afternoon anchored in Ramsey Bay to allow three Manx crewmen, the Lyall brothers and Allan Bradford, to visit families. At 4.00 pm. seven crew members left in the ship’s boat for Ramsey. At 7.00 pm four crew returned in ship’s boat leaving Sk. Reginald Wright, Allan Bradford and Eric Lyall ashore. At about 1030 pm. a small 13ft boat with six occupants left Ramsey to return onboard. At some time later the boat capsized and all occupants were thrown into the water. Alarm was raised after a body was seen floating just offshore and Ramsey lifeboat THOMAS CORBETT (Cox Cottier) was launched to search the area. Only bottom boards, identified as from the boat, were found. All bodies were recovered from the shoreline except that of Sk. Wright which was not found until two weeks later.
8.3.1956: Sailed Ramsey Bay for Fleetwood (Mate Ronald Slapp).
22.04.1961: At Fleetwood, having left lock for fishing grounds (Sk. Ken Beavers), in collision with trawler IRVANA (FD152) (Sk. E. Harris) which was ahead and had grounded on Tiger’s Tail and was backing off. Sustained damage to gallows, etc and returned to dock.
25.04.1961: Following repairs sailed for fishing grounds.
21.02.1962: Fleetwood registry closed.
01.03.1962: Sold to Acadia Fisheries Ltd, Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, Canada.
03.1962: Registered at St John’s, Newfoundland as ACADIA KINGFISHER.
21.10.1968: In heavy weather in Gulf of St. Lawrence started to take in water and abandoned by crew to other company trawler.
22.10.1968: Company trawler connected and commenced tow but started to settle and foundered in approx position 48.50N 62.35W.
1968: St John’s registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Fleetwood Lady FD1
Picture courtesy of Len Charnley

M.T. Fleetwood Lady FD1

M.T. Fleetwood Lady FD1
Picture courtesy of Peter Hearn

M.T. Acadia Kingfisher

M.T. Acadia Kingfisher
Sinking in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Changelog
12/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

M.T. St Leonard – FD179

Technical

Official Number: 185289
Yard Number: 1382
Completed: 1953
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 101
Length: 115 ft
Breadth: 25.1 ft
Depth: 11.1 ft
Engine: 600bhp x 8-cyl Crossley
Built: Cochrane &Sons Ltd, Selby
Speed: 12 knots
Built by: Cochrane &Sons Ltd, Selby, 1953
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood

History

1953: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd No. 1382) for St. Andrews Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull.
27.02.1953 Registered at Fleetwood as St LEONARD.
14.01.1955 sold to Great Western Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
1955 transferred to Grimsby.
04.07.1956 sold to W A Phillips, Anderson & Co Ltd London (FD179).
01.1957 Transferred to Fleetwood.
08.02.1960 sold to Fishery Products Ltd St. John’s Newfoundland.
09.02.1960 Sailed for Canada.
10.02.1960 Fleetwood registry closed.
02.1960 registered at St. John’s as ZEBRA. Noted Class withdrawn at owners request 5/61.
12.12.1966 Vessel went aground one mile from Ile Aux Morts, Newfoundland and became a total loss. One crew lost.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. St Leonard FD179
Picture courtesy of Jan Harteveld

M.T. St Leonard FD179
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Changelog
12/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

M.T. Boston Firefly FD182

Technical

Official Number: 185290
Yard Number: 231
Completed: 1953
Gross Tonnage: 318
Length: 124′ 7″
Breadth: 25′ 2″
Depth: 12′ 5″
Built: J. Lewis & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: Number 303, built by Messrs Mirlees, Bickerton & Day
Owner: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd

History

1953: To Fleetwood as a new vessel.
1958: Sold to Canada as ACADIA SEAHAWK.
01.12.1964: On a voyage from Canso, Mulgrave, Nova Scotia (Sk. Ronald Mosher, 14 crew*) posted missing believed lost off Sable Island during a Storm.
She was last reported on December 2nd in approximately 43-30N, 61-10W, to the south and west of Sable Island.
7.12.64: SAR aircraft reported a large oil slick and debris in the area believed lost.

*Lost: Capt. Ronald Mosher, Canso, N.S.; mate Maxwell Dodge, Timberlea, N.S. and Nfld; chief engineer Clayton Randall, Mulgrave and White Bay, Nfld.; second engineer Gurth MacKenzie and crew members Jerome Boudreau, Ted Boudreau, Raymond Boudreau, Eric Fanning, Tory Greencorn, Patrick O’Hearn and Wilson Dort, all of the Canso-Dover area of Nova Scotia; Thomas Grant, Canso and Bay d’Espoir, Nfld.; Wayne Granby, Halifax and Newfoundland, and cook Simeon Lawrence of Canso and Newfoundland.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Boston Firefly FD182
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

M.T. Boston Firefly FD182
Picture courtesy of Greenday (TPF)

Changelog
12/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

M.T. Princess Royal – FD 176

Technical

Official Number: 185287
Yard Number: 229
Completed: 1952
Gross tonnage: 318
Length: 124.7 ft
Breadth: 25.2 ft
Depth: 12 ft
Built: John Lewis and Sons, Aberdeen
Engine Number 301 (D) built by Mirlees, Bickerton & Day, Stockport.

History

1952: Completed by John Lewis and Sons, Aberdeen (Yd. No.229) for Great Western Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood (FD176).
12/01/1952: Ran trials in Aberdeen Bay.
1953: Represented Fleetwood at the Coronation Spithead review, along with RED HACKLE.
1958: Owned by Eton F Co. Ltd, Fleetwood. Fishing number FD176
1959: Owned by Acadia Fisheries Ltd, St Johns Newfoundland and renamed ACADIA HERON.
Owned later by St Andrews S F Co. Ltd, Lowestoft LT713.
1967: Owned by Boston D S F Co Ltd, Lowestoft and renamed BOSTON LANCASTER.
1970: Owned by Offshore Diving & Finance Inc, Panama and renamed CORSAIR.
1973: Same owners but renamed SUBSEA CORSAIR.
1974: Lengthened by 9m.
1975/76: Still classed as fishing side trawler.
1977/78: Owners Subsea Oil Services, S.P.A., Rome, Italy as motor supply ship.
1988/89: Owners Micoperi, S.P.A., Pescara, Italy, as motor diving support ship.

Note: SUBSEA CORSAIR is still owned by Micoperi, S.P.A., Pescara, Italy and is listed on Clarks Shipping Intelligence website as being available for charter for diving off the Italian Coast as of August 2013.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Princess Royal FD176
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

M.T. Acadia Heron
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

M.T. Acadia Heron
Picture from the Brian Dodd Collection

M.T. Boston Lancaster LT713
Picture from the Internet

M.V. Subsea Corsair
Iicture from the Internet

Changelog
12/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
06/02/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and added an image.
26/08/2019: Added an image.
23/09/2022: Added an image.
25/12/2023: Added an image.

M.T. Bonnybridge – FD33

Technical

Official Number: 180339
Yard Number: S629
Completed: 1950
Gross tonnage: 289
Net Tonnage: 98
Completed: 1950
Length: 131.0 ft (143.6 loa)
Breadth: 25.1 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Built: Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle
Engine: 4 stroke 7-cyl oil engine by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport

History

28.06.1949: Launched by Henry Scarr Ltd, Hessle (Yd.No.S629) for The Great Western Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as BONNYBRIDGE.
03.1950: Completed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD33). Basil Arthur Parkes designated manager. Fished initially as a liner as James Robertson & Sons Ltd, Fleetwood unable to supply trawl winch due to material shortfall. Lining at Labrador with part Faroese crew.
2.1951: Sold to Northlantic Fisheries Ltd, St. John’s, Newfoundland (Job Brothers & Co Ltd, managers). Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at St. John’s as BLUE WAVE (61).
1951: Sold to Bonavista Cold Storage Co Ltd, St. John’s, Newfoundland. Fishing out of Grand Bank, Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland.
09.02.1959: Homeward to Grand Bank from fishing grounds with approximately 850 10stone kits of fish (Sk. Charles Walters); sixteen crew all told. In the early hours with winds gusting 80mph and temperatures of -28°C, started to ice up. At about 3.30am when some 62 miles SE of Cape St. Mary’s, Newfoundland sent out a distress call after developing a heavy list from ice build up on deck and superstructure. Motor vessel BELLE ISLE II (1529grt/1944) (Capt Joseph Primm), five miles away responded and altered course to the given position also transmitting the position which was picked up by Cape Race WT Station. At 4.00am arrived in the area along with the Burgeo motor trawler TRITON (178grt/1936) (Sk. Bill Vardy) but no trace of the trawler. Within the hour several RCAF and USAF aircraft which had been searching some 180miles NE of Gander, Newfoundland for the missing Icelandic steam trawler JÚLÍ (GK21)*, arrived on the scene along with three + merchant ships but the search was hampered by heavy fog and snow.
10.02.1959: Company motor trawlers FORTUNE STAR (194grt/1946) and LUCKIMEE (200grt/1946), in part directed by aircraft, picked up two empty dories, a lifeboat, hatch cover and a flagstaff off Cape St. Mary’s, close to the last position the trawler had transmitted. Presumed capsized and foundered, overcome by icing and stress of weather. All crew lost. St. John’s registry closed

Lost: All from Grand Bank or Fortune, Newfoundland. Sk. Charles Walters, Herbert Price, John Walters, Arthur Kearley, Otto Dodge, Garfield Prior, Samuel Dodge, Michael Price, Reginald Baker, James Fizzard, Roy Baker, John Hillier, Abe John Barnes, John F. Barnes, George T. Miller, and Philip Fizzard.

Note: The BLUE WAVE was known to be a sluggish vessel in heavy weather and would lay over taking time to right herself.

Note *: The JÚLÍ was presumed to have foundered on or about 08.02.1959 in the same weather conditions that overcame BLUE WAVE; thirty crew lost. Icelandic trawlers on the Newfoundland grounds left for home and others on passage turned back.

Note + – US Coastguard Cutter CAMPBELL, motor fishing vessel PENNYLUCK (199grt/1951), ocean liner RMS SYLVANIA (21989grt/1951).

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33
Picture courtesy of The John Stevenson Collection

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection

M.T. Blue Wave
Picture courtesy of The Robert Stoodly Collection

Captain Charles Walters
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
12/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
23/02/2020: Updated information.
09/10/2020: Updated history and added images.
19/10/2020: Added an image.

M.T. St. Bartholomew – FD27

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 185300
Yard Number: 903
Completed: 1955
Launched: 1203/1955
Registered: 16/06/1955
Gross Tonnage: 421
Length: 137.6 ft
Breadth: 28.4 ft
Depth: 13.75 ft
Engine: 960bhp British Polar
Speed: 11.5 knots

History

1955: Completed by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley as St. BARTHOLOMEW (Yd. No. 903) for St Andrews Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood, as St. Bartholomew. Registered at Fleetwood (FD27).
25.10.1955: Christopher Porter (Mate) lost overboard and drowned.
01.01.1964: sold to Iago Steam Fishing Co, Fleetwood
04.1966: sold to Partrederiet Utheim, Kristiansund, Norway and renamed BJOGNA
Pre – 05.1966: left Fleetwood for Norway.
1966: Renamed BJOGNA.
1972: Owners name changed to Sigmund Utheim Partrederie
1977: sold to Per OG Reidar Smadal, Alesund
1980: sold to Kare Misje & Co, Alesund and renamed NAUTIK
1983: Name changed to NAUTIKA
1985: sold to Tamis Ltd, Aberdeen as stand by safety vessel
1990: sold to Cam Offshore Ltd Aberdeen and renamed CAM VANGUARD
1993: sold to John Crowson, Aberdeen and renamed JON PAUL
1998: renamed CAM VANGUARD
1999: Still in service
2013: Now laid up at the Cap Verde Islands.
Post 2014: Reported scrapped.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. St. Bartholomew FD27
Picture courtesy of The Len Charnley Collection

M.T. St. Bartholomew FD27
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

M.T. St. Bartholomew FD27
Picture from the Internet

M.T. St. Bartholomew FD27
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

M.T. St. Bartholomew FD27
Picture courtesy of The Dean Ledge Harrison Collection

Changelog
12/09/2016: Page re-published after site problems.
26/01/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
17/05/2022: Updated history.

M.T. Hildina – H222

PDF files courtesy of David Parkinson

Technical

Official Number: 185119
Yard number : 852
Completed: 1951
Gross tonnage : 296
Length : 128.2 ft
Beam : 26.6 ft
Depth : 12.2 ft
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 700bhp Mirlees, Bickerton & Day
Speed : 11 knots

History

August 21 1951: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.852) for City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as HILDINA.
April 29 1952: Registered at Hull (H222).
1953: Transferred to Fleetwood.
25.11.1953: Sailed Fleetwood for north-West of Scotland fishing grounde (Sk. George Goodwin Clarkson).
26/27.11.1953: Fishing halted for five hours due to problems with the winch power generating machinery.
29.11.1953: Trawl fast on sea bed. Cleared but came fast a second time. Cleared again but wind and sea state caused fishing to stop. Dodging.
30.11.1953: Conditions improved and trawl shot away with 350 fathoms of warp paid out. Between 07:55 and 08:00 the gear came fast again. Bosun Ernest Summers arrived at the winch within a minute. Deckhand knocked out and the bosun hove the forrard drum three or four turns and then both warps were hove in 25 fathoms.
The vessel had fallen off into the weather and shipped a heavy sea on the starboard side and began to list heavily to 40 degrees. On the order of the skipper the clutches were unshipped as the winch wouldn’t run back. The mate (John Moran) went to cut away the gear but couldn’t find an axe to do it with. Deckhand George Albert Hayes tried to shut the starboard accommodation door but was unable to do so.
01.12.1953: Vessel filled through deck openings and sank by the stern 50 miles north by west of Sule Skerry. The BOT inquiry into the loss received evidence from the survivors and was satisfied that the skipper and crew were competent, reliable and trustworthy.

Note: The remainder of the crew decided to try and launch the lifeboat but unfortunately it was damaged and floated away bottom up. The remaining crew went to the top of the bridge where the Nott buoyant apparatus was located. They managed to launch the Nott and eleven men managed to board. Unfortunately a big sea overturned the Nott and two men were carried away by the sea.

The Fleetwood vessel VELIA FD116 picked up the HILDINA’s SOS message at 8:12 a.m. The skipper of the VELIA Charlie Pennington hauled his gear and headed to the location of the stricken vessel arriving at about 9:00 a.m. On arriving at the location VELIA managed to pick up 10 men.

Two other trawlers where on hand to help ‘MONIMIA’ and ‘MARGARET’ who continued the search for any more survivors.

VELIA headed to Stornoway to land the survivors. Unfortunately one crew member died on the way in.

Crew Lost
James Benson – Missing
Jim Bond – Missing
George Clarkson – Missing
Fenwick Dell – Missing
Robert M Robertson – Missing
T D W Webb – Died after being picked up

Crew Rescued
George Hayes
Ernest Summers/Sumner
John Moran
F. Heidstra, chief engineer, of Goole
Joseph Henry Tranmer, 2nd engineer of Hull
S. Acton, greaser of Fleetwood
D. Atkinson
J. Gardner
W. Wilson
All deckhands of Fleetwood.

Click these links to download the inquiry documents relating to the loss of Hildina
Document 1
Document 2
Document 3
Document 4
Document 5
Document 6
Document 7

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Hildina H222
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Hildina H222
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

Skipper George Clarkson
Picture courtesy of Adrian George

Changelog
11/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
08/05/2020: Added an image.

M.T. SSAFA – FD155

Additional information courtesy of Barry Banham and David Slinger
Technical

Official Number: 187863
Yard Number: 509
Completed: 1958
Gross Tonnage: 426
Net Tonnage: 139
Length: 137 ft
Breadth: 28 ft
Depth 14.25 ft
Oil Engine: 1000bhp 8 cyl by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport

History

26.10.1957: Launched by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.509) for Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood as SSAFA (Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association).
01.1958: Completed. First Fleetwood trawler fitted with a TV.
01.1958: Registered at Fleetwood (FD155). Basil Arthur Parkes appointed manager.
17.01.1961: Outward for the fishing grounds (Sk. Harry Pook); sixteen hands all told. In the early hours in heavy weather and a gale, stranded on rocks in Friesland Bay, Coll, Inner Hebrides. At 6.36 am. sent distress message which was received by Oban Radio and Fleetwood trawler PRINCESS ANN (FD) and Mallaig lifeboat responded but could not approach the vessel due to position. At 7.30am. distress cancelled as vessel although on rocks was not making water. Twelve crew pulled to safety by Coll lifesaving team and transferred to the lifeboat; skipper, mate, Ch Eng and radio operator remained onboard, but as the tide ebbed the vessel took a list to port and it was obvious that she was not going to come off. The four men were recovered by the lifesaving team and also transferred to the lifeboat which returned to Mallaig.
18.01.1961: Weather deteriorated and vessels pounded on rocks sustaining damage to shell plating, starboard side, lifeboat washed away, wheelhouse damaged and whole vessel flooded during more severe weather that followed.
07.04.1961: After ten weeks of work, weather permitting, vessel made watertight, pumped dry and with steam salvage ship PLANTAGENET (454grt/1939), Mr J. D. Outhwaite, Fleetwood Steam Trawlers’ Mutual Insurance Association Ltd and the surveyor, Mr G. Willey in attendance, attempted to refloat. Tide failed to make sufficiently and attempt abandoned.
18.04.1961: Successfully refloated by Metal Industries Ltd, steam tug METINDA III (593grt/1945) and beached at Tobermory to make ready for tow to the Clyde for docking and survey.
09.1961: At Glasgow completed Special Survey by Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler following repair and restoration on the Clyde.
10.1961: Arrived Fleetwood.
1965: Sold to Parbel-Smith Ltd, Aberdeen. Basil A. Parkes appointed manager. Continued to fish out of Fleetwood.
01.1968: Homeward from Iceland grounds (Sk. Charlie Pook); mate Stanley Treece-Birch on watch with two hands. Hit by a very heavy sea which smashed the bridge windows, swept over the casing taking away fittings and lifeboat and causing the generator to trip out. Wheelhouse personnel knocked over and skipper trapped in his cabin by furniture which had been dislodged. Lighting restored but compass, radio equipment and other electronics damage by water. On emergency transmitter contacted trawler ARMANA (FD) (Sk. Harold Daniels) which had also left the grounds for home and was about five miles astern. ARMANA responded, guiding SSAFA back to Iceland and after twelve hours arrived Reykjavik for temporary repair.
09.03.1968: Having left Wyre Dock for the fishing grounds took the ground outside the lock.
1969: Transferred to Canada in a survey role.
1970: Returned to Fleetwood. Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Hull. Basil Arthur Parkes appointed manager.
18.01.1971: Inbound after a 14 day trip (SK. Harry Pook) in thick fog in collision with EDWINA FD162 (Sk. George Beech Snr.) Both vessels entered port safely.
1971: Sold to Heward Trawlers Ltd, London & Fleetwood. Robert P. G. Hewett appointed manager.
12.11.1972: Arrived Fleetwood (Sk. John Dunne), with extensive damage to the wheelhouse caused by heavy seas.
01.1973: On Iceland grounds, cable to trawl winch burnt out. HMS LOWESTOFT (P.No.F103) on Fishery Protection Patrol supplied cable and a team to repair which was completed in eight hours.
07.1975: Sold to Huxley Fishing Co Ltd, Lowestoft.
31.07.1975: Arrived Lowestoft. Fleetwood registry closed.
15.08.1975: Registered at Lowestoft (LT73). J. Leggett appointed manager.
04.11.1977: Registered anew following conversion to offshore platform standby safety vessel. Fishing registration closed.
07.1987: Sold to Liguria Maritime Ltd, Sittingbourne, Kent.
08.07.1987: Registered at Lowestoft as a 2nd Class fishing vessel (LT154).
12.07.1987: Sailed Lowestoft for Queenborough.
27.08.1987: Fishing registration closed. Broken up at Milton Creek, Sittingbourne.
06.11.1987: Lowestoft registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Robert Durrant Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of the David Slinger Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The John Worthington Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Jane McRae Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of the Stephen Myerscough Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture from the Internet

SSAFA in drydock after stranding on Coll

M.T. SSAFA FD155
Picture courtesy of the David Buckley Collection

Changelog
11/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
25/02/2017: Image added.
26/03/2017: Added information and removed FMHT logo.
15/08/2017: Added an image.
19/10/2017: Added an image.
29/08/2020: Added an image.
20/05/2022: Added images.

M.T. Wyre Majestic – FD433

Technical

Official Number : 187853
Yard Number: 1414
Completed: 1956
Gross Tonnage: 338
Net Tonnage: 119
Length: 127.5 ft
Breadth: 27.0 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 736bhp 7-cyl Mirlees
Speed: 11.25 knots

History

12.05.1956: Launched at Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby by Muriel Forbes for Wyre Trawlers Ltd as WYRE MAJESTIC.
11.12.1956: Registered at Fleetwood (FD433).
19.02.1958: Sailed Fleetwood for home water fishing grounds (Sk. John Kelly, 15 crew). 18:30hrs, bosun relieved by Norman Southern (Mate). At 21:00hrs stranded on the Mull of Galloway, one mile to the west of the light. Refloated and returned to Fleetwood.
24.05.1958: BOT formal inquiry found that the stranding was due to the fault or default of the mate, Norman Southern and his certificate was suspended for eighteen months.
24.08.1963: Stranded at Knott End. Refloated on the tide.
01.07. 1969: Became part of British United Trawlers fleet.
1974: Converted for pair trawling (for Herring) with the WYRE DEFENCE.
18.10.1974: Homeward bound. Unable to berth at Oban so decided to return to Fleetwood. On passage through the sound of Islay (Sk. Derek Reader) in company with the WYRE DEFENCE. Set off course by strong currents and ran full speed (18 knots) onto rocks at Rhuba a’ Mhaill and was badly holed and filling with water, fuel tanks ruptured.
WYRE DEFENCE attempted to tow WYRE MAJESTIC clear but was unable to do so.
All subsequent salvage attempts failed and on the 01.11.1974 she was declared a CTL in approx position 55º 52.9’N 006º 07.2’W and left on the rocks.
20.12.1974 Fleetwood registry closed.

Note: At the time of the stranding the skipper was below and the bosun at the wheel. The skipper’s certificate was suspended and the bosun admitted to having been drinking.

Download the Inquiry report in .pdf format HERE

Click to enlarge images