Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
Technical
Official Number: 168573
Gross Tonnage: 50
Length: 64 ft
History
Former RN MFV
1960: To Fleetwood registration
1974: Sold to T Taylor, Carnforth
Click to enlarge images
mfv Dulcie FD192
Picture courtesy of James Cullen
mfv Dulcie FD192
Picture courtesy of Stephen Worthington
Changelog
08/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 303783
Length: 43 ft
Completed: 1962
Engine: 84hp
History
Owners –
1968 – John R. Patterson, Fleetwood
1980 – John Cowell & David C. Rainford, Fleetwood
1987 – Arthur E. Rogerson, Fleetwood
Click to enlarge images
mfv Northfleet FD226
Picture courtesy of Glyn Woods
mfv Northfleet FD226
Picture courtesy of Phillip Dell
mfv Northfleet FD226
Changelog
09/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Mike Thompson
Technical
Official Number: 185142
Yard Number: 1381
Completed: 1953
Gross Tonnage: 514
Net Tonnage: 184
Length: 161.1 ft
Breadth: 29.2 ft
Depth: 13.7 ft
Built: Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: 960bhp Oil engine 8-cyl by Crossley Bros Ltd, Manchester
Speed: 13.2 knots
History
Contract price £154,800 final £161,000
9.7.1952: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.1381) for Saint Andrew’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as PRINCE CHARLES.
6.1.1953: Completed.
28.1.1953: Registered at Hull (H249). Basil Arthur Parkes, North Ferriby appointed manager.
29.1.1953: Sailed Hull on first trip to Norway coast (Sk. Robert Alan Cook).
23.2.1953: At Hull landed 1585 kits, £4,928 gross.
9.12.1954: Sailed Hull on last trip from port for White Sea (Sk.Sidney Ness).
31.12.1954: Landed at Hull 1824 kits, £4,396 gross. Transferred to fish out of Grimsby.
1.1.1955: Henry Norman Rogers appointed skipper.
3.12.1955: Sailed Grimsby for Barents Sea grounds (Sk. Thomas H. Baskcomb); twenty-one crew.
22.12.1955: Set course for home.
23.12.1955: Picked up a pilot at Honningsvag for passage through Norwegian fjords.
23.12.1955: In darkness when some 60 miles west of Hammerfest in a snowstorm stranded on Karken Island. Norwegian motor vessel INGÖY (433grt/1950) rescued twelve crew from shore but nine men including the skipper and a Norwegian pilot were lost. HNoMS NORDKYN (P.No.F309) and Hull trawler KINGSTON TOPAZ (H145) stood by overnight in the hope of finding more survivors.
24.12.1955: At 0700 search abandoned and shortly after vessel capsized.
1956: During summer Norwegian salvors succeeded in refloating and towed to Tromso for survey.
6.1956: Sold to underwriters.
13.6.1956: Sold to The British Trawlers Reinsurance Association Ltd, Hull. Insurance value £148,000.
15.9.1956 : Sold to Loch Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (Thomas Hudson manager).
3.10.1956: Arrived at Hull in tow of Norwegian salvage tug ULLER (319grt/1943). Survey on slip revealed extensive damage to shell plating port side and broken propeller blades. Humber St. Andrew’s Engineering Co Ltd, Hull entrusted with repairs.
03.1.1957: Registered at Hull as LOCH MELFORT.
6.1957: Re-engined with 8-cyl 1185bhp oil engine by Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day Ltd, Stockport. 12.5knts.
15.06.1957: New Certificate of Registration issued on alteration of tonnage and other particulars following new engine installation. 490grt 170net.
10.3.1960: Outward for Norwegian Coast grounds (Sk. William Moon, Scarborough); twenty crew. In thick fog, in collision 65 miles off the mouth of the Humber with Indian motor vessel JALADHIR (6527grt/1957) sustaining heavy damage to fore end; no injuries to crew in either vessel. Returned to Hull stern first at 3 knots escorted by JALADHIR until met by Hull tug FOREMAN (227grt/1959) which connected and assisted to dock.
11.3.1960: Berthed in fish dock on afternoon tide. Repaired and returned to service.
26.5.1960 Company bought outright by Hellyer Bros Ltd.
10.12.1962 Hellyer Bros amalgamated with Associated Fisheries Ltd.
22.7.1964: Sailed Hull on last trip from port for Iceland (Sk. Henry Joseph Morgan).
11.8.1964: At Hull landed 1117 kits, 601 shelf, £4,621 gross.. Transferred within the Associated Fisheries Group to Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
14.8.1964: Kenneth Owers appointed skipper.
18.8.1964: Sold to Wyre Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood (Leslie Wheldon manager).
10.9.1964: Roy Belcher appointed skipper.
14.9.1966: Hull registry closed.
15.9.1966 Registered at Fleetwood (FD228).
24.7.1968: Registered at Fleetwood as WYRE CAPTAIN (FD228).
1.7.1969: Became part of the B.U.T. fleet when Ross Group amalgamated with Associated Fisheries to form British United Trawlers Ltd. Book value £45,806.
1975: Laid up.
6.6.1976: Sold to Mayer Newman & Co Ltd, London and allocated to Porthleven Shipyard for breaking up.
10.6.1976: Arrived Porthleven in tow of tug OCEAN PULLER (145grt/1943).
1.1.1977: Fleetwood registry closed.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Prince Charles H249
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection
M.T. Loch Melfort H249
Picture courtesy of David Slinger
M.T. Loch Melfort H249
Picture courtesy of David Slinger
M.T. Loch Melfort FD228
M.T. Loch Melfort FD228
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection
M.T. Wyre Captain FD228
M.T. Wyre Captain FD228
Picture courtesy of Len Charnley
Changelog
10/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
Click to enlarge images
mfv M.A. Kirk FD232
Picture courtesy of Alan Hirst
Changelog
10/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 303794
Yard Number: 993
Completed: 1965
Gross Tonnage: 440
Net Tonnage: 149
Length: 135′ 2″
Breadth: 28′ 4″
Depth: 14′ 6″
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Owner: J Marr & Son Ltd
History
To Fleetwood from new.
This class of trawler cost £169,000 to build and was a top trawler for her class under Victor Buschini
1977 sold to the Boyd Line, Hull and renamed ARCTIC BRIGAND
1979 sold to Aberdeen and renamed GRAMPIAN HUNTER (A85).
1987 sold to David Atkinson and renamed STELLA ORION and re-registered at Fleetwood as FD58.
1987: Sold to Spain and rebuilt with part shelterdeck.
2010: Berthed at Puerto de Santa Maria (as ROCHE) in the Cadiz province, after being used as a fish carrier out of Morocco.
2002: Still fishing.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Zonia FD236
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection
M.T. Zonia FD236
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection
S.S.V. Grampian Hunter A85
M.T. Roche
Changelog
10/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 303793
Gross Tonnage: 74grt / 46nrt
Length: 72.8 ft
Breadth: 19.1 ft
Engine: 240bhp Kelvin
Built: Herd and Mackenzie, Buckie, 1959
History
1959: Launched by Herd and Mackenzie, Buckie, for Bantry Fishing Company of Cleethorpe as YUKON STAR. Registered at Buckie (BCK98).
1964: Transferred to Fleetwood.
1965: Registered at Fleetwood (FD242).
1972(?): Sold to Bantry Fishing Co Ltd & Strandby Fishing Co Ltd, Cleethorpes. Re-measured under Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 and as a result lost her O.N. and became 50grt 50n.)
1973: To Bantry Fishing Co Ltd, Cleethorpes. Registered at Grimsby (GY288).
Late 1970s: Re-engined and owners became Bantry Fishing Co Ltd, Cleethorpes & Fylkir Ltd, Grimsby.
Around 1984: She was sold to Jack Robinson (Hull) Ltd, Driffield.
Around 1985: Sold to Magnus J. Jamieson, Shetland & Others and was renamed OUR VAN CLARE (GY288).
October 1985: Sold to Peter Lee and Steve Dell, Good Hope Fishing Company, Fleetwood.
1989: Sold.
1994: In ownership of Arbay Fishing Company of Lytham St Anne’s
1996: Decommissioned and broken up at Skippool.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Yukon Star BCK98
M.T. Yukon Star BCK98
M.T. Athabasca GY288
Changelog
10/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 303787
Yard Number: 994
Completed: 1965
Gross Tonnage: 439
Net Tonnage: 149
Length: 135′ 2″
Breadth: 28′ 4″
Depth: 14′ 6″
Built: Beverley 1965 by C D Holmes & Co Ltd
Owner: J Marr & Son Ltd
History
1965: To Fleetwood as a new vessel. Top Fleetwood trawler for her class under Sid Christy.
06.07.1977: Sold to Kalealo Enterprises, Tema, Ghana and renamed MADDEN MARR.
1979: The trawler was declared a total loss after running aground during a dramatic rescue bid off the Ghanian coast. The ship hit a bar near the entrance to Tema harbour whilst attempting to help another trawler being operated by the same company. The other trawler involved was the ‘SEA EAGLE’, a former Polish trawler. This vessel was reported to be on fire and in need of assistance. MARETTA attempted to rescue the ship but in doing so she herself ran into difficulties. As a result she ended up a total loss.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Maretta FD245
Picture courtesy of Les Howard
M.T. Maretta FD245
M.T. Maretta FD245
Picture courtesy of Frank Pook
Changelog
10/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
Click to enlarge images
mfv Golden Promise FD246
Picture courtesy of Phil Smith
mfv Golden Promise FD246
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker
Changelog
11/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
Click to enlarge images
mfv Lorna Marie FD255
Changelog
11/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 308713
Yard Number: 931
Completed: 1966
Gross Tonnage: 952
Net Tonnage: 411
Length: 185.6 ft
Breadth: 36.1 ft
Depth: 23.0 ft
Engine: 3237hp 7-cyl by English Electric Diesels Ltd Newton Le Willows
History
1966: Launched by Hall Russell & Co Ltd Aberdeen (Yd.No.931) for Joseph Marr & Son Ltd Fleetwood as CRISCILLA. Registered at Fleetwood (FD261).
11.1966: Registered at Fleetwood (FD261)
Undated: Transferred to operate out of Hull.
27.7.1979: Sold to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (Ministry of Defence), Farnborough for use as a research survey vessel and renamed COLONEL TEMPLAR. Sale price £750,000.
1979: Converted by Globe Shiprepairers Hull into an acoustic research/survey vessel. Fleetwood Registry closed.
Caught fire during conversion, owing to the severity of the fire, she was sunk at the dockside to put the fire out. She was then lifted by six heavy cranes and pumped out and then placed in the dry-dock 50 metres away.
2009: Owned by the MOD and still named COLONEL TEMPLAR. Moored on the River Clyde and up for sale.
Notes
The only stern trawler built specifically to operate out of Fleetwood and the largest ever Fleetwood registered fishing vessel. Her build took account of the width of the Fleetwood lock gates.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Criscilla FD261
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection
M.T. Criscilla FD261
M.T. Criscilla FD261
R.V. Colonel Templar
R.V. Colonel Templar
Changelog
11/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
RSS Number: A16729
Gross Tonnage: 36
Length: 16.50m
Breadth: 5.62m
Depth: 1.92m
VCU: 146
Engine: Scania 185hp/138Kw
Built: 1965, Macduff.
History
1965: Built for Alec and Robbie Noble, Inverallochy
1976: Sold to John K Runton, Isle of Skye.
1979: Sold to Stephen Buchan and Duncan Birnie, Peterhead, Registration changed to PD268.
1983: Sold to Charles Ellis and Tom Marginson, Fleetwood, Registration changed to FD268.
1992: Sold to Lee Evans.
199?: Aground on Tigers Tail Fleetwood for maintenance.
1994: Ran aground, Parton, Irish Sea.
2000: Sold to Shaun Poland.
2003: She was fitted with a Volvo Penta 247HP the variable pitch gear was also removed and a standard gearbox fitted with a new shaft and a 5 bladed propeller.
2006: New wheelhouse fitted.
Notes
She has also fished from Girvan, Barrow and Maryport.
Named after passage from Bible, John 14 : 6 : I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Click to enlarge images
mfv The Way FD268
Picture courtesy of Ian Leask
mfv The Way FD268
Picture courtesy of Norman
mfv The Way FD268
Picture courtesy of Norman
mfv The Way FD268
Picture courtesy of Norman
Changelog
11/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
History
Yard No:1 Tom Buchanan, Port Seaton
Renamed FIONNAGHAL (TT104)
Click to enlarge images
mfv Scarlet Thread LH423
mfv Scarlet Thread LH423
mfv Scarlet Thread LH423
Changelog
13/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 308727
Yard Number: 1277
Completed: 1970
Gross Tonnage: 109
Net Tonnage: 39
Length: 76′ 4″
Breadth: 21′ 0″
Depth: 9′ 5″
Built: R Dunston Ltd, Thorne
Engine: Oil engine 495bhp 4 stroke 6-cyl by Lister Blackstone Mirrlees Marine Ltd, Dursley
History
1970: Completed by Richard Dunston Ltd, Thorne (Yd.No.1277) for J. Marr & So Ltd, Fleetwood as ROSA MARIS. Registered at Fleetwood (FD284).
1973: Sold to John N. Ward & Son & Banks Ltd, Fleetwood (John N. Ward & Son Ltd, managers). Renamed ROSA MONDA (FD284).
1982: Sold to Arthur J. Wood & Others, Portknockie, Banff.
1984: Sold to Arthur J. Wood & James B. Robertson, Portknockie, Banff.
Late 1980s to Northern Ireland then back to Fleetwood owned by John Banks.
1999: Sold to Kate James and Friedl Willims for conversion to a private vessel. Fleetwood registration closed. Renamed LADYKATE.
July 2010: Based Fishguard. employed on dive charters and whale watching/ dolphin trips.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Rosa Maris FD284
Picture courtesy of john Banks
M.T. Rosa Maris FD284
Picture courtesy of john Banks
M.T. Rosa Monda FD284
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker
D.V. LadyKate
Picture courtesy of Kate James
Changelog
13/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 378020
RSSNo.A16715
Part IV registered
Gross Tonnage: 41
Net Tonnage: 21
Length: 64′ 10” (19,75) (LOA) 59’-10”(18,25)
Breadth: 18′ 3” (5,55)
Depth: 7′ 10” (2,40) feet (metres)
Oil Engine: 114bhp 4 stroke 6-cyl by Gardner Engines Ltd, Patricroft, Manchester
History
1946: Completed by Walter Reekie, St. Monans (Admiralty MFV) for The Admiralty as MFV4.
1947: Sold to John McLemon, J. W. Robertson & others, Fraserburgh. Registered at Fraserburgh as ENDEAVOUR (FR208).
By 1964: Owned by Benjamin Noble, Fraserburgh & others.
1976: Sold to ??,??. Fraserburgh registry closed. Registered at Campbeltown (CN168).
1978: Sold to Tom Marginson & Charles Ellis, Fleetwood. Campbeltown registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood as WYRE STAR (FD151).
1983: Sold to Stephen Leach, St. Ives, Cornwall.
1995: Broken up in Cornwall. Fleetwood registry closed.
Click to enlarge images
mfv Wyre Star FD151
mfv Wyre Star FD151
mfv Wyre Star FD151
Changelog
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Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
Click to enlarge images
mfv Ellan Vannin FD156
Picture courtesy of Phillip Dell
Changelog
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Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk
Technical
Builder: MacTay Marine, Wirral
Owner R. Bond, Fleetwood
History
Undated: Renamed PROGRESS FR103.
2000: Sank due to flooding from failed pipework (no casualties).
Click to enlarge images
M.T. MDB FD157
M.T. MDB FD157
Picture © Peter Brady
Changelog
13/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Net Tonnage: 10.98
Length: 33′ 1” ft
Breadth: 10′ 5” ft
Depth 4′ 2” ft
Engine: Russell-Newbury
History
1898: Built by William Crossfield of Arnside as ADVANCE for Christopher Ainsworth of the Watch House, Knott End.
29/09/1898: Registered by owner at Fleetwood (FD155).
15/04/1905: Sold to William Miles of 21 Lower Lune Street, Fleetwood.
28/09/1906: Sold to James Lee Bird of 17 Back Sea View, Hoylake and registered at Liverpool (LL84).
04/10/1912: Sold to John Owen of 2 Bank Street, Carnarvon and registered at Carnarvon (CO78).
21/10/1912: Sold to William Matthew of 8 School Street, Beaumaris and registered at Beaumaris (BS75).
30/05/1918: Sold to Thomas Griffiths of 30 Upper Garth Road, Bangor.
14/11/1918: Sold to James Price Jones of Morfa View, Deganwy.
28/03/1919: Sold to become a yacht, fishing registration cancelled by new owner Bernard Rhodes of Deganwy.
09/04/1925: Registered at Beaumaris (BS56).
10/01/1938: Fishing registration cancelled.
29/08/1941: Registered at Chester (CH131) by new owner Albert Peters of Parkgate, Cheshire having purchased the boat from Mr Craven of Conwy.
20/05/1942: Sold to William Edmund Stonall of 40 Victoria Road, New Brighton and registered at Liverpool (LL191). The Stonall family paid for the Russell-Newbury engine to be re-furbished and for the deck to be raised by a further two strakes.
15/10/1956: Sold to Arthur Clifford Taylor of 153 King’s Road, Bebington and skippered by E Wilson.
17/02/1958: Sold to Ernest Wilson of 43 Poulton Street, Fleetwood and registered at Fleetwood (FD158)
29/06/1967: Sold to Alexander Hay of 37 Hay Street, Fleetwood.
07/05/1975: Sold to Richard Thomas Bradshaw of 497 Corporation Road, Birkenhead.
26/11/1976: Fishing registration cancelled and boat sold to Keith Williams of Maes Pennant, Flintshire. Vandalized by children to the point of sinking whilst lying in the gutter at Llanerch-y-mor, the wreck was sold to Hoylake, where she almost immediately went ashore during a winter gale.
Click to enlarge images
iv Advance FD158
Changelog
13/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 341758
Yard Number: 322
Completed: 1972
Net Tonnage: 178
Length: 142′ 8″
Breadth: 32′ 1”
Depth: 12′ 10”
Built: Clelands Shipbuilders Ltd, Wallsend
Owner: J Marr and Sons Ltd
History
1972: Launched by Clelands Shipbuilders Ltd, Wallsend for J. Marr & Sons Ltd, Fleetwood as JACINTA. Registered at Fleetwood (FD159).
1975: Became the record breaking vessel for a Fleetwood wet fish catch when she landed 188 tons after a 19 day trip to the Icelandic fishing grounds.
1982: Transferred to Hull.
1986: Britain’s top earning trawler when her catch value was over £1.3 million.
February 1991: Skippered by Dennis Beaumont, JACINTA set a British record catch landing 230 tons which sold for £270,516.
1994: Top earning British trawler earning over £1.9 million over 10 months.
09/02/1995: Left Hull under tow for Fleetwood to become the focal point of a maritime museum after engine repairs were judged too costly.
Notes
As a trawler working out of Fleetwood, The JACINTA became the most famous stern trawler of her generation. She returned to port with record catches and soon covered her building costs many times over. After years at sea, her engines failed and she seemed doomed for the scrapyard. However, a group of local Fleetwood people rallied to save her and she was bought from her owners for just one pound, and was towed home to Fleetwood. She was then fitted with a new engine to enable her to go to sea and attend heritage festivals.
In her 23 years at sea she earned over 17.3 million pounds.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Jacinta FD159
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection
M.T. Jacinta FD159
Picture courtesy of Wilf Cartmel
M.T. Jacinta FD159
M.T. Jacinta FD159
Picture © Peter Brady
Changelog
14/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Technical
Official Number: 185302
Yard Number: 1404
Completed: 1955
Gross Tonnage: 334
Net Tonnage: 113
Length: 132.5 ft
Breadth: 26.7 ft
Depth: 11.7 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby, 1955
Engine: 772bhp 7-cyl Mirlees
Speed: 11.2 knots
History
1955: Completed by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby, for City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as JACINTA.
06.09.1955: Registered at Fleetwood (FD21).
16.03.1962: Sold to Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd Fleetwood. (J Marr subsidiary).
06.07.1970: Sold to Bon Accord Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (FD21).
12.1971: Sold to shipbreakers P W MacLellan Ltd, Bo’ness.
26.12.1971: Fleetwood registry closed.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Jacinta FD21
Picture courtesy of Fred Baker
M.T. Jacinta FD159
Picture © Peter Brady
M.T. Jacinta FD159
Picture © Peter Brady
Changelog
14/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
Information courtesy of Dick Massey
Technical
Gross Tonnage: 31
Length: 43.4 ft
Breadth: 15.5 ft
Depth: 6.4 ft
Built: 1943, Holland
History
After selling the CRYSTAL SEA, the plan was to buy a small beam trawler. The herring season was on at the time, with Dutch vessels in at Peel buying the herrings for transportation to Europe, and when talking to one of the Dutch trawler owners, he recommended that before buying a beam trawler, I should first get come experience, as beam trawling has a few more dangers than normal side or stern trawling, particularly the danger of capsizing.
Taking his advice and talking to the ship broker John Appelboom, he agreed this was a good idea and could be incorporated into a purchasing contract. Being familiar with Rotterdam, we agreed that I should make my base at the Scandinavian Seamen’s Home, which was situated close to John’s office, and after further discussion decided we would spend some time looking at small beamers before making up and signing a contract, as the seller must agree to have me aboard for several weeks.
The fishermen of Zeeland worked from small ports situated amongst the southern islands of Holland. Stellendam is within a couple of hours’ drive of Rotterdam, and the fleet of beamers there ranged from ocean going vessels to ten metre shrimpers.
Jan van Ours was the owner of the VERTROUWEN, SL10 as she was known in the port. Jan was very keen to sell as he wanted to buy a larger vessel. VERTROUWEN was built just after the war, about 1947, 50 feet long, 18 feet beam with a draft of 7 feet, fully riveted and very strong, with a full round stern providing lots of buoyancy.
On deck, everything was strongly constructed, the decks being 2 inch thick Oregon planking. A very stout mast carried the two long derricks used to handle the beam trawls, each weighing over one ton dry, together with a large four drum used to haul the beam trawls, and the auxiliary wire drums to raise and lower the derricks. This winch was powered by a flat belt off the front of the main engine.
The engine developed one hundred and fifty horsepower, it was a heavy duty Deutz four cylinder motor. All this heavy duty equipment made for a very robust and a seaworthy vessel, the ideal combination for an amateur beam trawling crew. After a couple of weeks Jan and I agreed on a price, and with a designated changeover date, the contract was signed.
In the meantime we were fishing, and landing the catches at Scheveningen fish market, the earnings going to John and his crew. Shortly after the delivery date, my wife Brenda arrived from the Isle of Man to help take VERTROUWEN to her new home.
Departing from Stellendam was a happy and sad affair. Sad for Jan and his crew, as they had worked the boat together for so many years, also sad the boat was leaving Holland, but on the other hand, Jan was happy because he received a substantial grant from the Dutch Government – I had signed a document agreeing that the SL10 would never again sail under the Dutch flag as a fishing boat.
Once clear of the channel leading through the shallows of the coast, our course took us along the Belgian and north French coasts before crossing over to the English side near Dungeness. From there we followed the English coast until we arrived in Brixham, Devon, for a rest before the next part of the voyage around Land’s End and north to the Irish Sea and the Isle of Man.
Departing from Brixham with our diesel tanks full, we had calm seas, and the Decca navigator making navigation easier, until passing St David’s head on the Welsh coast that same component went “pop” in it’s control box and that was the end of it’s usefulness and we were back to the coastal terrestrial navigation.
As we approached Bardsley Island at the north end of Cardigan Bay, the weather changed, the wind freshening from the north, and by this time we had been going for two days and needed a rest, and the nearest shelter, near Pwlhelli, was Hell’s Bay – a tense arrival, running into a strange place in the middle of the night with a strong wind whipping up the spray, together with the rain.
Once the anchor was down and the engine stopped, the wind sounded dramatic in all our rigging. After a meal and a good sleep, we woke to a bright day of sunshine, with the wind in the north, the bay was not at all hellish. After another night here, the wind eased enough for us to move on to Holyhead, where we sheltered for another couple of days before making the passage from Anglesey to Douglas.
From Stellendam to Douglas is just over seven hundred miles, hand steering all the way. The weather had been kind to us until we reached the Llyn peninsula with the high mountains of north Wales close by helping to make the northerly winds very gusty.
Our arrival in Douglas harbour made a bit of a stir, as this was the first beam trawler seen in the inner harbour. Now I had the paperwork for the Customs house to sort out, and importation duty to pay, and the boat had to be measured for UK registration and new registration numbers issued and a new home port. SL10 became RY67 of Ramsey. Our newest adventure had begun.
Taking the “VERTROUWEN” into Fleetwood’s Jubilee Quay for the first time, Paul Childers was waiting on the quay full of enthusiasm, along with Mick Ryan, who were to be my crew – Paul had worked on my previous two boats. Michael Ledley, our earlier crewman, had joined the merchant navy, and was later to become the Master of many large ferries and cargo ships. We are all very proud of his achievements.
Michael Ryan had owned several small trawlers and had rigged his current vessel “Gracie” for double beam trawling – she was in fact the first double beam trawler to be owned in the port. But the Gracie was suffering from old age. Mike had been a good friend from my first visits to the port; he was also to join me as a very important member of the crew.
Later, Reggie Hull, also a long time fisherman both in large deep water trawlers and inshore fishing, also joined us. In fact, we were four capable fishermen, each with his own expertise to add to this new venture. Paul and I were to take the boat out to the Shelley Flats ground to try out the new nets Boris the net maker had made for the boat, this being the first time I had put the beams in the water since taking out the boat without the Dutch crew.
All went well for a couple of tows. Then the wind and sea increased and I decided to head back for the quay. While getting the port side gear on board, the starboard cod end slipped back off the rail and fouled the propeller. Trying to clear it as the weather deteriorated, with the main part all secured, putting the engine in gear ahead everything worked okay. Back in Fleetwood I berthed against the stone quay at north end, and when we dried out at low tide, discovered it was only the cod line that was foul.
Starting our next trip with a full crew, on our return with our fist catch of Dover Soles I was able to negotiate a deal with Bob Ramster, he being one of the better fish salesmen of the port, and I agreed to deal with him only – this was trusting that we could catch soles. Bob had been watching our catch rate being at least double and even treble that of other Jubilee Quay fifty footers. This was very promising, and happily our success continued.
After about 8 months, we all felt in need of a holiday (it was the children’s school summer holiday time), so we took a couple of weeks of, and while Mick and Paul stayed in Fleetwood, Reggie brought his family to the Isle of Man for a change of scene, staying at our house, while we moved on board the boat. I wished to take a look at places up the coast that we had been passing by while fishing, so we headed for the Clyde.
The weather was good, and our first stop was Lady Bay at Loch Ryan, where we entered and found an anchorage clear of the ferry route from Stranraer to Larne. The boys were awake early to see this new place – from here we traveled north and east exploring the shores of the Clyde, visiting Campbeltown, Tarbert, Lochgilphead, and round to Rothesay – both boys caught their first fishes on hand lines as we rested at anchor here and there.
We passed inside Arran island, and close by Ailsa Craig. On the longer sea passages, the boys got a little bored, being five and three years old, and were playing “boats” in a tub of water on the deck as we motored along – imagine it. Altogether we enjoyed a very pleasant break.
On our return to the island, we found Reggie and his family had enjoyed their time exploring the Isle of Man, except for their 12 year old son, who had been bitten by the dog and had been taken to hospital for an anti-tetanus injection, then he slipped on some rocks at the beach and cut himself badly, requiring stitches. When he fell out of a tree and broke his arm, and again walked into the outpatients department for a third time, the nurses said “you again, we know what you did – you didn’t say hello to the fairies when you went over the fairy bridge” – he didn’t.
As the season came round and the Belgian trawlers returned, this increased our knowledge of the sole fishing grounds in the south of Liverpool Bay. The Belgians had been continuously chasing the soles for the last forty years with wooden side trawlers of eighty feet, then increasing in size, before double beam trawlers proved to be super catchers of soles. In the mid seventies, chain mats were found to open up a lot more fishing grounds. The chains allowed the fish into the nets, but not the stones. This was a different league from ours as whatever was to be dragged over the sea bed required horsepower and lots of it.
After a year or so, the interest in beam trawling was starting to grow, but nobody else had as yet committed to buying a vessel. Mick Ryan was the first to follow me into beaming with TINY VERTROUWEN, registered in Fleetwood, soon to be followed by Frank Clarkson with the Nordsea – now we had the nucleus of a beamer fleet on the English west coast. Both Mick and Frank went on to own substantial sized vessels over the coming years.
Brian Fitzgerald, a local trawler skipper, also became interested in beaming, and came out with us for a few days. All was going well until we picked up a large boulder in the starboard side gear. While trying to heave the net, we had a severe list. Whilst this was going on, a large ferry passed, setting up a large wave. As the wave hit us, filling the decks to the top of the rails, I released the winch brake and the boat, now free of the weight, bobbed up. When the decks were clear of water, Brian was missing, but after a few frantic minutes, he was found hiding behind the wheelhouse.
As soon as we had the trawls retrieved, Brian was pleased to be taken back to Fleetwood, and that was the end of his interest in Beam Trawling.
I was becoming more ambitious and wanted to move on to a more comfortable beamer. Ronny Bond and his two sons had just returned from New Zealand and Ronny was interested in buying the top earner of Jubilee Quay, this being my VERTROUWEN. John Appelboom had found me a sixty foot vessel, four years old, in Stellendam. I made a quick trip over to see the boat was worthwhile. Yes, I would buy, but was Ronny really interested in buying by current boat?
Back in Fleetwood, Ronny was not too sure. With fuel and ice on board, I made another trip. The Bond trio were on the quay when we were unloading our catch. Ronny was adding up the baskets of soles and calculating their value. That was enough for Ronny and his sons – the next day a contract was signed, the money was paid into our bank, and the deal was done.
Click to enlarge images
M.T. Vertrouwen RY67
Picture courtesy of Dick Massey
Changelog
15/10/2016: Page re-published due to site problems.
