Technical

Official Number: 145776
Gross Tonnage: 58
Net Tonnage: 45
Length: 70.9 ft
Breadth: 18.8 ft
Depth: 9 ft
Engine: 135 hp, 4-cyl Allen diesel

History

1921 : Launched by G & T. Smith, Rye for James Breach & L. R. Tripp.
1928 : Sold to W. H. Podd Ltd.
1933 : Transferred to Diesel Trawlers Ltd and fitted with a 135 hp, 4-cyl Allen diesel engine.
1945 : Sold to A & E Dexter, Brixham.
1946 : Sold to Fleetwood Drifters Ltd, Paignton.
1953 : Sold to R. H. Trawlers Ltd, London. Managed by Robert F. Butcher, 36 Gunton Drive, Lowestoft.
1958 : Owned by Henry Batchelor, Wern Heulog Farm, Llanrhidian, Glamorgan
1961 : Sold to Swansea Motor and Marine Engineering Ltd, Swansea.
1968 : Sold to Daniel Mainwaring & Others, Swansea.
1970 : Hull beached near Milford Haven.

Click to enlarge images

mfv Helping Hand LT1239
Picture courtesy of John Stevenson

Changelog
05/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

Additional information courtesy of Steven Thomsen

Technical

Official Number: 359885
Gross Tonnage: 47
Net Tonnage: 20
Length: 55 ft
Engine: 110bhp
Built: Denmark, 1949

History

Sometime in the 1970’s Egon Thomsen brought ARCONA BAY to Fleetwood from Denmark.
1995: Decommissioned and dry landed on Fleetwood Freeport as an attraction.
Undated: Removed from Fleetwood Freeport. No record of what has happened to her since.

NOTES by Steven Thomsen

Countless thousands of visitors to Fleetwood’s Freeport Shopping complex, on the edge of Wyre Dock, have walked past Arcona Bay. How many of them would have spared a thought for the vessel and what she represented to those that once owned and worked her?

To most people she would be just another exhibit amongst the many that are on show there. To Egon Thomsen and his son Steven, however, she was much more than that, she was their livelihood.
Egon Thomsen bought ARCONA BAY, in the early part of the 1970s, in Denmark, bringing her to the UK. Steven is of the opinion that she was used as a shark fishing boat as a supply of large hooks was found aboard. Utilized as a seine netter until the early 80s Egon Thomsen worked the Norwegian sector, venturing as far afield as the Shetland Isles. This involved a 400 mile, 3 day steam there, and the same back to the Humber. Steven recalls one trip in particular when they landed 30 x 10st kits for a 30 day trip. He picked up 15 pence that trip and then only because he received a tax rebate.

They did, however, have more rewarding trips from the same grounds. They broke the port record on more than one occasion by landing 350 kit for 10 days. Occasionally fuel would run low and they would have to anchor and wait for another seiner to come past so that they could borrow enough fuel to make the Humber.

Egon Thomsen was a big man of some 19 stone. When he had ARCONA BAY refitted, the wheelhouse was tailored to his frame and was made from fibreglass by Ernie Leggett, a Grimsby shipwright. During the refit she was fitted with a new Gardner engine and the wooden mast was replaced by an aluminium one. As they un-stepped the old mast coins, an old seafaring tradition to bring luck, were found underneath. At a later date the cabin and galley were refurbished

ARCONA BAY is fondly remembered as a very good sea ship that carried her crew through some fierce storms, “She had to be” states Steven, “my dad used to fish through most of them. I shed quite a few tears and blood on that ship over the years but I have some good memories too.

It could be in the middle of winter and we would be on deck, wet and freezing and look up at the wheelhouse where the windows would be steamed up. My dad would open one of the windows and shout “Never mind son, the first 20 years are the worst” and quickly shut the window again.”

Steven remembers sleeping in a starboard bunk. Hove to in bad weather he was just climbing into it when ARCONA BAY dropped off into a short sea and heeled over to port. Steven was thrown across the cabin and landed backside first onto the newly fitted oil stove. His crewmates were of the opinion that his scream of pain could have been heard in Lowestoft, some 300 miles off.

“Sometimes we would fish through the night and have our evening meal in the morning but that only happened when we fished the Shetlands” Steven recalls, “In fact, I can’t remember any other Grimsby boat fishing up there since the war and I have never been up there with any other skipper. It made local headlines the first time that we went.”

Egon took pride in the appearance of his vessel and the crew were kept constantly busy cleaning and painting her.

Click to enlarge images

Egon Thomsen
Picture courtesy of Steven Thomsen

mfv Arcona Bay GY244
Picture courtesy of Steven Thomsen

mfv Arcona Bay GY244

mfv Arcona Bay GY244

mfv Arcona Bay GY244
Picture courtesy of Steven Thomsen

Changelog
04/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
30/01/2017: Added two images.

Additional information courtesy of Frederic Logghe

Technical

IMO: 8028345
RSS Number: B14257
Completed: 1980
Gross Tonnage: 322
Net Tonnage: 92
Length: 39,3m
Breadth: 8,2m
Depth: 4,5m
Engine: 14.cyl ‘V’ Bolnes – 2100bhp
VCU: 884.76

History

1980: Completed by Scheepswerf Haak, Zaandam.
Ex ALIDA-95, LUBBERTJE KRAMER-84.
27.11.12: Moored at Sluiskil, Netherlands since 2006.
Last owner recorded: Zeevisserijbedrijf Jan de Wit BV.
Manager: Danbrit Ship Management Ltd, Grimsby.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Jan De Wit FD35
Picture courtesy of Brian Dodd

M.T. Jan De Wit FD35
Picture courtesy of Brian Dodd

M.T. Jan De Wit FD35
Picture courtesy of Frederic Logghe

M.T. Jan De Wit FD35
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
04/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
11/11/2020: Added an image.

Technical

Official Number: A10794
Yard Number: B484
Completed: 1958
Length: 22.25 m
Breadth: 6 m
Depth: 2.56 m
Engine: 152bhp Gardner 8L3
Built: The Fairmile Construction Co. Ltd, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Managing Agent: John N Ward

History

1958: Built for William Liston Ltd, Newhaven as SUMMER ISLE LH69
1973: Renamed FERN BF205, Owners Gilbert Watt, Gardenstown & George Wood, Macduff.
1996: Ceased fishing and sold to David Normandale of Scarborough. David planned to emigrate to New Zealand and this he did after a refit was carried out on the vessel. His vessel and three crew went with him. He left Scarborough on the 14th November 1996.
3rd February 1997: Arrived in Whangarei, New Zealand. David Normandale planned to use the FERN for long line fishing. Unfortunately his plans did not work out and she was sold to owners in the Solomon Islands who also planned to use her for long lining. Again this never happend and she ended up working as a cargo vessel.
FERN was later re-possessed due to non payment from the owners he sold the vessel to. She was laid up in Tauranga before being sold on to Terry Smith of Tauranga who planned to use her for fishing Tuna.
As of 2010 the FERN is still fishing for Tuna.

Known Alterations
Whaleback added. 240hp Kelvin. New Wheelhouse. 320hp Kelvin. Gutting shelter that was later extended to a three quarter length shelterdeck.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Summer Isle LH69
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

M.T. Summer Isles LH69
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

Changelog
04/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
05/10/2020: Added an image.

Technical

Official Number: 303256
Yard Number: 87
Completed: 1962
Gross Tonnage: 308
Net Tonnage: 97.09
Length: 129.9 ft
Breadth: 26.0 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Built: Atlantic Shipbuilding, Newport, Mon
Engine: 875bhp Mirlees 6-cyl, 4 stroke diesel.
Speed: 13 kts.
IMO: 5387491.

History

Note Worked out of Fleetwood for extended periods.

18/08/1962: Launched by Built by Atlantic Shipbuilding at Newport (Yard no: 87), as Welsh Monarch M135, for Welsh Fisheries Ltd of Milford Haven.
09/1962: Completed.
1967: Sold to Ross Trawlers, Grimsby. Renamed Ross Beaver (GY1387).
1968: Transferred to British United Trawlers, renamed CEDARLEA. Working from Aberdeen. Registered at Aberdeen (A67).
1970: In ownership of Craig’s Stores.
1980: Ceased fishing, laid up.
1982 chartered by Greenpeace as a Biological Research Vessel, renamed GREENPEACE.
1985: Converted to an oil rig stand by vessel. Renamed GRAMPIAN FOREST, part of North Star’s fleet.
1991: Ceased operations, Laid up.
Post 2000: Believed scrapped.

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M.T. Welsh Monarch M135
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker

Changelog
02/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
13/11/2023: Updated history and Technical Details.

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk

Technical

Official Number: B13101
Gross Tonnage: 295
Length: 115.5 ft

History

Beam trawler fitted with new winch, propulsion nozzle, refrigerated holds and on-board ice machine.
2001 sold to South Africa.
2008: Still fishing.

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M.T. Trui Van Hinte FD283
Picture courtesy of Alan Hirst

Changelog
02/11/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk

Technical

Official Number: 111855
Gross Tonnage: 60
Length: 100ft

History

1992 to Fleetwood registration.
Sold to Dante Spadoni, Port Erin, Isle of Man and registered at Douglas as DO2.
2000 sold to TN Nicholson, Annan and registration transferred to Troon as TN37.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Philomena TN37
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Philomena TN37
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Philomena FD98
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Philomena FD98
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Philomena DO2
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

Changelog
30/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
27/06/2017: Added images.
04/11/2020: Added an image.

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 302240
Yard Number: 131
Completed: 1961
Gross Tonnage: 224
Net Tonnage: 73
Length: 108.3 ft (33,01 m)
Breadth: 23.80 ft (7,25 m)
Depth: 10.00 ft (3,05 m)
Engine 4-cyl 700bhp oil engine by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow. CP propeller
Re-engined with Mirlees oil engine 700bhp.

History

08.08.1960: Launched by P. K. Harris & Sons Ltd, Appledore (Yd.No.131) for Walker Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as STAR OF DEVON.
1.1961: Completed.
23.01.1961: Registered at Aberdeen (A513). A. R. Elder designated manager.
16.01.1964: Registered at Aberdeen as ADMIRAL HARDY (A513). (MoT Minute RSS8/1/02999 dated 05.12.1963). Fished Icelandic waters.
12.06.1968: Sold to James Wilson, Fleetwood. Hazael Fishing Co Ltd operators/managers.
06.1968: First landing at Fleetwood 237 kits £1,600 gross.
18.07.1968: Registered at Aberdeen as DAVID WILSON (A513) (BoT Minute RSS8/1/34591 dated 20.06.1968).
29.07.1970: At Fleetwood (Sk. John Holden ‘Monty’ Banks Snr) landed from a twelve day trip a British record catch of 510 boxes of squid, sold under contract to H. Baines Ltd for £4,509. A further 85 boxes of mixed fish gave a total of £5,130 gross.
1972: At Fleetwood, second highest annual return in the 100ft class (Sk. John Banks), £80,133 gross.
01.1974: At Fleetwood (Sk. John Banks Snr) set a new port record for 100ft class, landing 459 kits, £9,214 gross after a fourteen day trip to the West of Scotland grounds.
21.4.1976: Last Fleetwood skipper to sign on John Holden ‘Monty’ Banks Snr (26049).
9.1976: Due to cost of Special Survey and modifications to meet current criteria for stability, advertised for sale, asking price £70,000.
25.1.1977: Sold to Ronald Hugh Francis, Duneen & Bernard Del Nicholle, Richmond, BC.
19.12.1977: Aberdeen registry closed. “Vessel no longer engaged in the persecution of the British Sea Fishing Industry”.
1978: At end of passage to Canada, engine over sped causing considerable damage.
1978: Re-engined with Mirlees oil engine 700bhp.
1978: Registered at Victoria, BC.
1979: Sold to Francis Fishing Co Ltd, New Westminster, BC.
1979: Registered at Victoria, BC as VIKI LYN II. Initially fished for cod with cages. Used as a fish carrier attending purse seine netters in the herring and salmon fishery.
1982: Sold to R & B Fishing Co Ltd, Vancouver, BC and others.
1986: Sold to Terry C. Ingalls, Duncan, BC. Converted to a tuna fishing vessel.
1989: Sold to Cindy Lee Ingalls, Duncan, BC.
1992: Sold to Terry C. Ingalls, Duncan, BC.
2001: Sold to Nebulous Holdings Inc, Campbell River, BC.
2003: Sold to Loretta A. Fenton, Kelowna, BC.
2011: Sold to Stephen L. Burt, Victoria, BC for use as a live-aboard. Victoria registry closed.
2012: Towed into Ladysmith Harbour, Vancouver Island by Transport Canada from Dunsmuir Islands where she had been abandoned; owners not traced. 30,000 litres of oil, solvents and paint onboard.
2014: Two thirds of gas oil, solvents and paint removed.
2015: Considered a possible pollution risk should the vessel sink, contains 13,000 litres of gas oil.
11.7.2016: According to Coast Guard commissioned survey, vessel sinking is “imminent” but denied by locals.
15.7.2016: Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued tender for disposal.
2016: Successful bidder, Canadian Maritime Engineering Ltd, Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC. Towed away by Island Tug & Barge Co Island Defender (120gt/1977) to old Nanaimo Shipyard, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC and broken up. (Cost Can$1m to remove and safety break up.)

Click to enlarge images

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture courtesy of Ted Hammill

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture courtesy of The John Worthington Collection

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture courtesy of Frans Schaap

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. David Wilson A513
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Viki Lyn II
Laid up and abandoned in Ladysmith Harbour

Viki Lyn II
Picture from the Internet

M.V. Viki Lyn II
Picture from the Internet

Viki Lyn II
Picture from the Internet

A video showing Viki Lyn being towed away.

Changelog
30/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
31/10/2016: Information updated.
13/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks and added an image.
27/12/2017: Added an image.
11/12/2018: Updated information.
04/01/2019: Updated information.
05/01/2019: Added images.
13/01/2019: Updated information and added image.
18/02/2019: Added an image.
23/09/2020: Added images
15/05/2021: Added an image.

Technical

RSS Number: A16710
Yard Number: 1439
Gross Tonnage: 274
Length: 41m
Breadth: 7.64m
Depth: 3.56m
Built: 1958, Holland
Engine: WERKSPOOR 2,00hp/1497kw
Owner / Manager: Atlantic Ocean Fishing Co Ltd, Wallasey, Merseyside

History

1958: Built as HUIBERTJE. Registered at Scheveringen (SCH 242).
1970: Renamed ORA et LABORA (GO5).
1980: Renamed DEO VOLENTE (GO51).
1981: Renamed ORA et LABORA (IJM15).
1982: Renamed DEO JUVANTE (UK367).
1983: Renamed ATLANTIC (UK375).
1987: Renamed ATLANTIC A (FD75).

2003: Sold to Charter company “Wind Is Our Friend”. Work began on stripping down the hull so she could be rebuilt as a Brig.
2005: Completed, renamed MERCEDES. Her working life now consists of the following.

“MERCEDES sails the whole Mediterranean along the Atlantic coast up into the North Sea and the full Baltic Sea. She is present at nearly all big maritime festivals in Europe, and available for charter in international waters.”

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Atlantic A FD75

M.T. Atlantic A FD75
Picture courtesy of Brian Dodd

sv Mercedes

Changelog
27/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

Technical

Official Number: 182741
Yard Number: 653
Completed: 1940
Gross Tonnage: 452
Net Tonnage: 144
Length: 158′ 3″
Breadth: 27′ 3″
Depth: 14 ft
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 850ihp T.3-cyl by CD Holmes Ltd, Hull
Speed: 12 kts

History

29 Nov 1939: Launched as HMS BLACKTHORN for the Admiralty.
07/04/1940: Completed as a Tree Class minesweeper (P.No. T.100). 1 x 12 pdr; 2 x 0.5″ AA; 4 x LG (2 x twin).
1947: Sold to Vospers Ltd, Portsmouth. Renamed MAYTHORN. Registered at Portsmouth (P57).
1947: Re-engined – 16 cyl, 850ihp Werkspoor N.V., Amsterdam.
1949: Milford Steam Trawlers, Docks, Milford.
1955: Sold to A/S Bergens Fiskenselskap, Per Chr. Rahrs, Bergen. Renamed KLAN.
1963: Sold to Olav Østervold P/R Lepsøy, reg. Bergen. Renamed JAN OVE
1971: Broken up in Norway.

Click to enlarge images

HMS Blackthorn
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Maythorn P57
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
27/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.