HEATHERY BRAE  M170

As BF105 (1919-45)

Official No:  131243    Port Number and Year: 8th in Inverness, 1910 (INS118)                                                                               11th in Banff, 1919 (BF105)                                                                               4th in Fraserburgh, 1945 (FR41)                                                                                1st in Milford, 1947

Description: Steel side drifter trawler, steam screw, coal burning. Nets and lines.  Ketch rigged: mizzen, jib.

Crew:  8 men

Registered at Milford: 31 Mar 1947

Built: 1910 by John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co., Aberdeen.  (Yard no. 338)

Tonnage: 89.82 grt  37.49 net.

Length / breadth / depth (feet):  86.05  / 18.1 / 8.7

Engine: T 3-Cyl. 28 nhp.10 kts.  Engine by John Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen; boiler by David Rowan & Co., Glasgow

Owners:   As INS118 1910: Daniel & William Baikie, Bank of Scotland, Hopeman, Scotland Manager: C. H. Mitchell   As BF105 1919:   J. Wood, A. Innes & others, Portknockie   1922: A. Innes, Portknockie. Manager: J. Wood, Portknockie.   1929: John Pirie, Portnockie Later:  John Pirie & J. Wood (Fishsalesman), Portknockie.   As FR41 1945: G. & J. Buchan, Inverallochy.   As M170 31 Mar 1947: Westholme Fishing Company, Docks, Milford Manager: Reginald Llewellyn Hancock, 'Beachways', Picton Rd., Hakin   17 Jan 1949: Lilian Henrietta Busk-Wood, Park Place, High Park Rd., Ryde, IoW Manager Owner.   23 Jan 1952: John Rae, 'De Beauvoir', Ivy Gates, Rohais, Guernsey [Converted to salvage vessel.]

Landed at Milford: 7 Oct, 7 Dec 1948  (Landed at Fleetwood, May 1949 - 20 February 1950.)

Skippers:

Notes:  Jan 1917 - 1919: Requisitioned by the Admiralty as Examination Vessel. 1 x 3 pdr. Oct 1940 - 1944: Requisitioned by the Admiralty as Barrage Balloon Vessel. 4 May 1952: Foundered off Bordeaux, Guernsey. [See below.]

Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 27 May 1952

Accidents and Incidents

 

From The Irish Times of 5th May 1952, p.1:

 

SALVAGE VESSEL SUNK BY EXPLOSION

 

    A violent explosion, which shook houses on the north coast of Guernsey, lat night, blew up the 100-foot vessel Heathery Brae, which was engaged in salvage operations three miles off the north coast of the island.  The four men on board - the owner and captain, John Rae (42), Engineer R. Race (50), Diver J. Nixon (32), and Seaman A. Falla (40) - were severely shaken, but managed to lower a lifeboat and pull clear from the vessel, which sank in 10 minutes.

    The Heathery Brae, an ex-Fleetwood trawler, purchased by Mr. Rae earlier this year, had been converted and was engaged in raising wrecks off the coast of the Channel Islands.

    The Heathery Brae was engaged on the wreck of the vessel, Clarrie, which sank 31 years ago.  Timed charges to blow up the wreck had been placed, but the Heathery Brae safety line became fouled.  Before this could be righted the charges went off right under the vessel and blew out her bottom.

 

 

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