Category Archives: Boston Deep Sea Fisheries

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

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

M.T. Buzzard FD109

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

M.T. Boston Seafire FD109

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Seafire

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

M.T. Boston Seafire FD109

M.T. Boston Seafire FD109
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Seafire

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. 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

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

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

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252

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

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252

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

S.S.V. Boston Phantom

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

O.R.S.V. Colne Phantom

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

ORSV Colne Phantom

ORSV Colne Phantom
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Boston Phantom FD252

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

M.T. Boston Phantom

M.T. Boston Phantom
At Cape Town

M.T. Boston Phantom

M.T. Boston Phantom
At Cape Town

M.T. Phantom

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 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

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

M.T. Boston Kestrel FD256

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

Boston Kestrel Clipping

Boston Kestrel Clipping
Picture courtesy of Geoff Davidson

M.T. Boston Kestrel FD256

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

S.S.V. Colne Kestrel

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

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

M.T. PG Islander FD263

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

Changelog

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

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

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

M.T. Boston Neptune FD14

M.T. Boston Neptune FD14
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Acadia Neptune

M.T. Acadia Neptune Picture from the Internet

M.T. Acadia Neptune

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

M.T. Acadia Neptune

M.T. Acadia Neptune
Picture from the Internet.

News Clipping

News Clipping
Picture courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

News Clipping

News Clipping
Picture courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

News Clipping

News Clipping
Picture courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

News Clipping

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. 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

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

M.T. Fleetwood Lady FD1

M.T. Fleetwood Lady FD1

M.T. Fleetwood Lady FD1

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

M.T. Acadia Kingfisher

M.T. Acadia Kingfisher

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. 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

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

M.T. Boston Firefly FD182

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

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

M.T. Acadia Heron

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

M.T. Acadia Heron

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

M.T. Boston Lancaster LT713

M.T. Boston Lancaster LT713
Picture from the Internet

M.V. Subsea Corsair

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

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

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33

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

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33

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

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33

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

M.T. Bonnybridge FD33

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

M.T. Blue Wave

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

Captain Charles Walters

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.