Monthly Archives: September 2016

M.T. Velia (2) – FD116

Technical

Official Number: 185136
IMO: 5422356
Yard Number: 839
Completed: 1952
Gross Tonnage: 296
Net Tonnage: 102
Length: 128.2 ft
Breadth: 26.2 ft
Depth: 12.16 ft
Engine: 7-cyl 700bhp Oil engine by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport
Speed : 11.2 knots

History

Completed for the sum of £82,438.
4.6.1951: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.839) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as VELIA.
31.10.1952: Completed. Delay caused by late delivery of engine.
3.11.1952: Registered at Hull (H239). Geoffrey Edwards Marr appointed manager.
5.11.1952: Sailed Hull on first trip (Sk. Charles Pennington), fishing round to land at Fleetwood. Landed 770 kits, including 400 kits of coley, £3,229 gross.
11.11.1952: Hull registry closed.
12.11.1952: Registered at Fleetwood (FD116). At Fleetwood landed 770 kits, 400 coley, £3,229 gross.
1959/60: Lengthened by Humber St. Andrew’s Engineering Co Ltd, Hull to 131.0 feet. Remeasured 317g 108n.
26.4.1960: Registered anew following alterations to particulars after lengthening by Humber St. Andrew’s Engineering Co Ltd, Hull to 131.0 feet. Remeasured 317g 108n.
1963: Sold to Ocean Pesca S.r.l, Mazara del Vallo, Sicily for the sum of £51,000.
1963: Re-measured 324g 117n.
1963: Engine re-rated 772bhp later quoted 780bhp.
7.1963: Registered at Trapani as SALVATORE GIACOLONE.
17.7.1963: Sailed Fleetwood for Mediterranean.
18.7.1963: Fleetwood registry closed.
1965: Sold to Salvatore Giacalone fu Pietro, Mazara del Vallo, Sicily.
2014: Not traced.

Note. Name later painted up as S. GIACALONE.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Velia FD116

M.T. Salvatore Giacalone
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker

M.T. Salvatore Giacolone
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. S. Giacalone

Changelog
26/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
19/07/2017: Information updated and FMHT watermarks removed.
23/05/2017: Added an image.

M.T. Wyre Gleaner – FD269

Technical

Official Number: 185150
Yard Number: 830
Completed: 1953
Gross Tonnage: 498
Length: 169.1 ft
Breadth: 29.1 ft
Built: Cooke, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: Mirlees, Bickerton & Day developing 1050BHP
Speed: 12.1 knots

History

22.08.1952: Completed by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.830) for St Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as PRINCESS ANNE. Registered at Hull (H268).
08.05.1954: Sold to Pecheries de la Marine, Bolougne, France and renamed ST JUST (B 2672).
17.03.1967: Sold to Wyre Trawlers, Fleetwood and renamed WYRE GLEANER. Registered at Fleetwood (FD269).
09.07.1971: Sold to British United Trawlers (Finance) Ltd, Hull.
02.06.1976: Last landing.
06.1976: Sold to Stanley Ferry Dismantlers Ltd, Hayle site for demolition.
24.07.1976: Sailed Fleetwood for Hayle.
08.1976: Demolition commenced.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Wyre Gleaner FD269
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Wyre Gleaner FD269
Picture courtesy of Len Charnley

M.T. Wyre Gleaner FD269
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. Wyre Gleaner FD269
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

M.T. Wyre Gleaner FD269
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

Changelog
25/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
17/07/2017: Added 2 images and removed FMHT watermark.
27/12/2017: Added an image.
12/01/2019: Added an image.

M.T. Allan Water – H420

Additional information courtesy of Jan Harteveld, Barry Banham, Mike Thompson, Bob Durrant, Christine Simm and Bob Mitchell

Technical

Official Number: 181298
Yard Number: 777
Completed: 1947
Launched: 26/09/1946
Registered: 31/03/1947
Gross Tonnage: 384.84
Net Tonnage: 118.99
Length: 133.5 ft
Breadth: 25.6 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: 540bhp 8 cyl 2 SA oil engine by Crossley Bros Ltd, Openshaw, Manchester
Speed: 11.3 knots

History

26.09.1946: Launched by Cooke, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.777) for The Great Western Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen, as ALLAN WATER.
28.03.1947: Registered at Hull (H420).
28.03.1947: Basil A. Parkes, Fleetwood appointed manager.
31.03.1947: Completed.
04.03.1948: Transferred to Fleetwood.
05.1948: On Icelqandic grounds, disabled with engine defect. ROBERT HEWETT (LO427) connected and towed for 300 miles until engineers rectified the problem.
08.1948: Sold to N.V. Visscherijonderneming de VEM, IJmuiden, Holland (MoT ref: G.S.P.8762 dated16.07.1948).
11.08.1948: Hull registry closed. Registered at IJmuiden (IJM34).
1954: Re-engined with a 6-cyl 4SA oil engine by WUMAG-Krupp, Görlitz, engine made 1941 (U-boat design).
12.01.1960: Sold to Visserijonderneming v/h J.C. Pronk, IJmuiden. Last skipper out of IJmuiden before lay up, Dirk Roeleveld.
1964: Laid up at IJmuiden with engine problems.
1964: Sold in an en bloc deal with motor trawler THORINA (IJM33) to Claridge Trawlers Ltd, Lowestoft (J. Leggett manager). Engine was started but found to have camshaft housing fractured.
21.08.1964: Arrived Lowestoft from IJmuiden in tow of THORINA. Laid up pending outfitting and re-engining. WUMAG-Krupp engine used for spares for ST. GEORGES.
21.12.1964: UK Register opened and sanctioned to rename ST. DAVIDS (LT494).
11.1965: Re-engined with a 4-cyl 1100bhp (derated to 954bhp) 4SA oil engine by Ruston & Hornsby Ltd, Lincoln.
01.1966: Sailed on first trip from Lowestoft (Sk. Billy Hitter).
09.05.1966: Registered at Lowestoft as ST. DAVIDS (LT494).
10.1966: First Lowestoft vessel to gross £4,000 (Sk. Billy Hitter).
1967: First Lowestoft vessel to gross £5,000 and second highest earning Lowestoft vessel, £62,710 (Sk. Billy Hitter).
06.1980: Sold to Romford Steel Supplies Ltd, Romford, Essex for breaking up.
15.07.1980: Sold on to Medway Secondary Metals Ltd, Rainham, Kent.
09.1980: Sailed Lowestoft for Medway.
05.01.1981: Breaking began at Bloors Wharf, Rainham.
2?.01.1981: Lowestoft registry closed, vessel broken up.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Allan Water H420
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

M.T. Allan Water H420
Picture courtesy of Mark Stopper

M.T. Allan Water IJM34
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

Allan Water
Clipping courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Changelog
25/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
02/02/2024: Updated history.

M.T. Wyre Vanguard – FD36

Technical

Official Number: 187841
Yard Number: 1406
Completed: 1955
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 by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day
Speed: 11.25 knots

History

28.11.1955: Completed by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby for Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood, as WYRE VANGUARD, at a cost of £140,180
15.12.1955: Registered at Fleetwood (FD36).
01.07.1969: Became part of British United Trawlers fleet.
10.1973: On a trip to Faroes (Sk. Roy Belcher) reported to owners that a stowaway, identified as Adam Davis of Northendon, had been discovered.
18.05.1978: Transferred to British United Trawlers (Aberdeen) Ltd Aberdeen (FD36).
1979: Laid up in Royal Albert Dock, East London.
1980: Sold to Court Bros, London. Sold to R.J. Downes, Southend-on-Sea for breaking up.
04.1980: Commenced breaking at Southend.
15.09.1980: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

M.T. Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

M.T. Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

M.T. Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Wyre Vanguard FD36
Picture courtesy of The Frank Pook Collection

Changelog
25/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
30/08/2017: Removed FMHT watermark and added an image.
01/06/2018: Updated the information.
03/02/2019: Added an image.
26/05/2019: Picture added.
30/09/2020: Picture added.

M.T. Wyre Victory – FD181

Technical

Official Number: 301881
Yard Number: 951
Completed: 1959
Launched: 07/09/1959
Registered: 09/01/1960
Gross Tonnage: 398
Length: 140 ft
Breadth: 28 ft
Depth: 14 ft
Engine: 860bhp Mirlees Bickerton & Day
Speed: 11.75 knots

History

1959: Completed by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd. No. 951) for Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood as WYRE VICTORY. Registered at Fleetwood (FD181).
17.12.1971: On an Iceland trip landed 916 kits of fish for 14 days (Sk. Tom Watson). Catch included 700 kits of cod and 150 of plaice for £10,207.
14.01.1976: Outward bound for Iceland vessel grounded on submerged reef at Mill Rocks, west of the Isle of Rhum in the Inner Hebrides.

At 6:45 Oban radio received a distress message stating that she had struck Mill Rocks to the SW of Oigh Sgeir Lighthouse (between Barra and Rum), and was badly holed forward and making water fast. At 07:14 the ferry IONA picked up a liferaft with the crew on board. The skipper and the radio operator stayed with the stricken vessel.

WYRE VICTORY’S sister ship, WYRE CONQUEROR, responded to her distress call and floated 3 liferafts across to her. At 07:22 Oban was advised that the wreck had been abandoned but had drifted off the rocks. WYRE CONQUEROR hoped to tow her to Canna but, after drifting with the tide, WYRE VICTORY sank.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Wyre Victory FD181
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

M.T. Wyre Victory FD181
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

M.T. Wyre Victory FD181
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. Wyre Victory FD181
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Wyre Victory FD181
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. Wyre Victory FD181
Picture from the Internet

Wyre Victory
Newsclip courtesy of The Geoff Davidson Collection

Changelog
25/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
05/04/2017: Added image and removed FMHT logo.
27/12/2017: Added image.
13/10/2020: Added an image.
29/01/2021: Added an image.
06/01/2022: Added an image.

M.T. Navena (3) – FD323

Technical

Official Number: 365784
Yard Number: 1564
Completed: 1976
Gross Tonnage: 393
Net Tonnage: 156
Length: 33.41 m
Breadth: 8.50 m
Depth: 4.66 m
Built: Beverley Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Beverley
Oil Engine: 1700bhp/1268kw 16-cyl by Mirrlees Blackstone Ltd, Dursley – CP propeller
Speed: 11 knots
Owner: J Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood

History

05.12.1975: Launched Beverley Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.1564) for J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood as NAVENA.
5.05.1976: Completed.
02.07.1976: Registered at Fleetwood (FD323).
07.1982: All of the company’s remaining Fleetwood based trawlers (8) transferred to fish out of Hull.
01.1984: Landed at Aberdeen. Struck quay on sailing for Hull (Sk. Jeffrey Sumner); eleven crew.
26.01.1984: In severe weather off Flamborough Head started to take in water forward and developed a starboard list due to flooding of factory deck. Fearing that the trawler would capsize a distress call was sent and crew look to liferafts but skipper remained onboard to direct the rescue. Liferaft capsized and all crew picked up from the water by RAF helicopter. Sk. Sumner later picked up by helicopter. Hull tug YORKSHIREMAN (686gt/1978) engaged to take trawler in tow but in the meantime three Scarborough fishing vessels connected claiming salvage and CASSAMANDA (SH128) (49grt) commenced tow to Scarborough.
27.01.1984: Having been refused entry to harbour and directed to beach the vessel, put ashore south of the harbour and later capsized. Abandoned to the underwriters and United Towing Ltd, Hull engaged to refloat. Attended by salvage ship RECOVERY (484grt/1942), leak in engineroom sealed and loose gear removed.
03.1984: On spring tide failed to refloat and United withdrew following expiry of fixed term contract. Humber Diving Co, Hull engaged to refloat.
24/25.03.1984: Again failed to refloat on spring tide. Vessel now on her beam ends on beach.
04.1984: Sold by the underwriters to Rayner Shipping Ltd, Bradford.
Late 04.1984: Scarborough Council took possession of the wreck i.a.w. Merchant Shipping Act 1894. Hopper dredger SKARTHI (112grt/1952) beached alongside. Salvage company Neptun Salvage & Marine G.m.b.H, Hamburg engaged to refloat and deliver Middlesbrough.
23.05.1984: Fleetwood registry closed “Total Loss”.
25.05.1984: Salved by floating sheerlegs HEBELIFT 3 (3528grt/1976).
27.05.1984: Sailed Scarborough for Tees suspended from sheerlegs towed by tug ERLAND (309grt/1974). Slipped by Marine Partners Ltd, Middlesbrough for survey. Declared a Constructive Total Loss, unslipped and beached.
1984: Sold to Cherry Marine Ltd, Middlesbrough.
1985: Sold to S & S Sunderland Marine Ltd, Sunderland for possible repair.
07.03.1985: Refloated by tug CHERRY (62grt/1963).
18.03.1985: Sailed Tees for Sunderland in tow of tug CHERRY. At Sunderland docked to assess work involved in rebuild. Work commenced on machinery and removal of damaged steelwork.
Late 1985: Re-assessed. As vessel no longer registered, repairs would have to be in accordance with latest rules and specifications; project considered to be uneconomical. Laid up in South Docks.
05.1991: In process of being broken up at Sunderland.

Notes
Crew members from Fleetwood and Poulton who where aboard Navena when she was stranded at Scarborough.

J Sumner
H M Thomas
N Buston
William McAlpine
J Randals
Robert Tate
C A Wilson

Note
The three skippers were working in the approximate vicinity of NAVENA when the crew abandoned ship and the three took her skipper off before taking her in tow. The saga turned sour at the entrance to the port when the harbour master told them not to bring her into the harbour as intended. Instead he told them to beach her being mindful that she could have sunk in the harbour mouth.
In giving this instruction he cost the would be salvors about £300k each but the decision also put the onus onto the local authority thus costing the ratepayer £150k to get her lifted off by the giant shearlegs from Holland, after several failed attempts using other methods. There was no loss of life and something that is generally overlooked, but the crew were glad to be off her as they had to be picked from the sea after the liferaft capsized.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The Ted Hammill Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The Mark Stopper Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The John Worthington Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Navena FD323

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture from the Internet

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

M.T. Navena FD323
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
24/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
26/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks and added an image.
07/01/2019: Added an image.
03/02/2019: Added 2 images.
19/04/2020: Added an image.
21/08/2021: Added an image.

M.T. Navena (2) – FD172

Technical

Official Number: 187869
Yard Number: 1438
Completed: 1959
Gross Tonnage: 353
Net Tonnage: 125
Length : 39.9 ft
Breadth: 27.1 ft
Depth: 12.2
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 736bhp 7-cyl 4SA diesel by Mirlees, Bickerton & Day of Stockport
Speed: 12.5 knots

History

1958: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby as NAVENA for J Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood. First Marr trawler fitted with a variable pitch propeller, and first Fleetwood trawler with a transom stern.
21.05.1959: Registered at Fleetwood (FD172).
28.01.1969: Transferred to P & J Johnson, Aberdeen (FD172).
02.01.1977: Sold to J Marr (Aberdeen) Ltd (FD172).
05.12.1973: Sailed from Aberdeen at 09:30 hours for the fishing grounds of the Faroes under the command of skipper James Clark.
06.12.1973: At 06:12 in the morning a mayday call was reported by Wick radio. NAVENA had been driven ashore in severe weather and was hard aground on the Orkneys, at Copinsay. Three other vessels, GLEN AFFRIC, BOUNTIFUL and COASTAL EXPRESS tried to reach her but they were some way off. Kirkwall lifeboat reported that the trawler was in a critical position with only the wheelhouse above water.

20 men from the Deerness Coastguard Rescue team were in sight of the vessel but the wind prevented them from getting a rocket line aboard. Because of this, and despite the severe conditions, a Sikorsky BA.S61 was scrambled from Dyce.

Battling through atrocious conditions the helicopter succeeded in reaching the stricken vessel and found her in a desperate condition. She had been driven beam on against jagged rocks and was in danger of breaking up. The crew of 12 men were huddled inside the wheelhouse waiting for rescue. In a consummate display of flying skills the pilot of the helicopter winched all the crew off in spite of the winds that were gusting in excess of 100mph, a feat that earned the pilot the Board of Trade Rescue Shield for the best rescue involving the saving of life during 1973.
All the crew were landed at Kirkwall.

Click to enlarge images

M.T. Navena FD172
Picture courtesy of The Phil Rogers Collection

M.T. Navena FD172
Picture courtesy of The Phile Rogers Collection

M.T. Navena FD172
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

M.T. Navena FD172
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

M.T. Navena FD172
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog

24/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
06/02/2017: Added image.
30/08/2020: Added an image.
10/10/2020: Added an image.

mfv Niels John – FD278

Technical

Official Number: 167497
Gross tonnage: 27
Callsign: OYIW
Net Tonnage: 9
Length: 30 ft
Engine: 88hp diesel
Construction: Oak/beech/fir
Built: Frederiksund 1934

History

Wooden built fishing vessel built at Frederiksund in Denmark
24.09.1948: Arrived at Fleetwood carrying the body of Hans George Petersen, the Danish mate and part owner of the vessel who had been dragged over the side by the trawl and drowned. Sk. Peter Kristensen stopped engine and hauled immediately and found the mate tangled in the warp. He immediately attempted artificial respiration but to no avail.
1970s: in ownership of Edmund P. Kristensen, Fleetwood
05.05.1977: Sank 15 miles east of Ramsey

Click to enlarge images

mfv Niels John FD278
Picture courtesy of Stephen Myerscough

Changelog
24/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

mfv Pygmalion – FD132

Technical

Gross tonnage: 35

History

The motor fishing vessel PYGMALION was trawling to the east of the Point of Ayre on the 26th of may 1964. Her skipper was Richard Billington Sumner Around 8:30 am the Calor gas stove exploded as the three man crew was having breakfast, knocking one man unconscious and injuring two others as fire quickly engulfed the vessel.
The crew launched the self-inflating liferaft but it didn’t inflate properly.The badly injured crewman was lowered into it by the other two as the Pygmalion sank, some 9 miles east of the Point of Ayre. It was a sunny day and distress rockets would have been of no use so a decision was made to wait until darkness before using them. To make matters worse a coal strike had reduced traffic to and from Whitehaven so no other vessel passed them.

They drifted for fourteen hours all the time within sight of the Isle of Man, but with no sign of rescue. The injured man, John Cowell, was in considerable pain and only an emergency injection of morphine eased his pain,
By 22:30 it had grown dark enough to use the flares and these were fired. The Whitehaven trawler LORRAINE
was outbound for the fishing grounds and she spotted the distress rockets and changed course towards the liferaft. Meanwhile the Ramsey lifeboat, ANNIE ROWLAND ISABELLA FORREST, was launched.
LORRAINE, under the command of Peter Haroldson, reached the liferaft, took the three crewmen aboard and set his course for Ramsey where an ambulance was waiting.

The crew of PYGMALION were:
Richard Billington Sumner, skipper
Les Patterson, deckhand
John Cowell, deckhand
All were from Fleetwood

Click to enlarge images

mfv Pygmalion BM27
Picture courtesy of Keith South

Changelog
24/09/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.

M.T. Vanessa Ann – FD133

Technical

Official Number: 183981
Yard Number: 403
Completed: 1951
Gross Tonnage: 168
Net Tonnage: 55
Length: 103.0 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 10.5 ft
Oil Engine: 2 stroke 6-cyl 540bhp Type K461by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow

History

11.1951: Completed by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd.No. 403) for Rhondda Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (Sir John D. Marsden, Bart, manager) as VANESSA ANN. Registered at Lowestoft (LT254).
1.5.1955: Out of Grimsby on a North Sea trip started to take in water. Fault traced to bilge pump line, repaired and resumed fishing.
1957: Sold to Dalby Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Bowden Ramster, manager). Lowestoft registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood (FD133). Later to F. E. Catchpole, Lowestoft and on to offshore platform standby/rescue.
1973: Laid up at Lowestoft with main and big end bearings run due to gasket failure of oil pump.
1973: Re engined with 2-cyl 250bhp Hundested oil engine, CP propeller
1973: Sold to Alan Warren Smallwood, Fulham for conversion to a floating workshop (for South Pacific service). Later laid up River Thames.
1984: Sold (due to ill health) to Reg Marsh & Jack Scott for conversion to an auxiliary topsail schooner.
1984-85: Re built at Padstow. Sail area 538 sq.metres.
6.1985: Sailed Padstow for Antigua with the intention of running day charters. Not a success due to local opposition.
1986: Sold to Charles W. Clowes & David Cox, based Barbados. Again not successful.
1990: Decided to return to UK. Prepared for voyage in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Sailed for Plymouth.
3.7.1990: Arrived Plymouth. Surveyed and in poor condition.
1991: Sold to Joseph Maria Kelly for private use. On the death of his mother the vessel’s name was changed to SANTA BARBARA ANNA, in commemoration. Engaged in charter work.
1995: Arrived Rostock. Ceded by the Kelly Family for use of teenagers and adolescents funded by City of Rostock.
2000: Funding withdrawn due to financial constraints support of charities and volunteers obtained.
2006: During maintenance a 4000kg oak keel fitted to improve sailing capability.
7.2006: Sail area increased to 667 sq.metres.

Note from Sk. John Brackenbury

The Vanessa Ann first sailed from Lowestoft and Grimsby, she never sailed to Iceland and
she was not involved in the the cod war, but she did fish in the North sea,

At some stage she had an explosion in her engine room. This happened as she was sailing from Grimsby two engineers were killed. After that she was bought by the Dalby Steam Fishing Company and brought to Fleetwood, she was a near water boat and fished the Irish sea and up and down the West Coast of Scotland.

Among previous skippers were George Wood, Chopper Harrison, myself and a few others.
she was a great sea ship .
I was in command in the storm of 1969 winds gusting to 140 mph, we rode it out for sixteen hours just SW of Barra Head and a German cargo ship the LUSADANUR shifted its cargo and Barra lifeboat went to its rescue and capsized, they both made it back to Castle Bay.

I hope this help to complete her early life,

Yours Sincerely
John Brackenbury

Click to enlarge images