PORTSMOUTH BL10 / M61
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Courtesy of Milford and West Wales Mercury
Official No: 117703 Port Number and Year: 2nd in Bristol, 1903 (BL10)
7th in Milford, 1919.
- in Grimsby, 1923 (GY249)
Description: Steel side / beam trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: foresail, mainsail and mizzen.
Crew: 10 men
Registered at Milford: 11 Aug 1919
Built: 1903 by Smith's Dock Co., North Shields. (Yard no. 708)
Tonnage: 178.46 grt 67.99 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 110 / 21 / 12.4
Engine: T-3Cyl. 51 nhp 9¾ kts. Engine and boiler by McColl & Pollock, Sunderland.
Owners:
As BL10
May 1903: Western Steam Trawling Co., Docks, Milford
Manager: Frederick Joshua Sellick, 'Marine Villa', Murray Cres., Milford
As M61
11 Aug 1919: Oliver Curphy, 19 St.Ann's Rd., Hakin. 22/64 (Fish buyer)
Charles Ingram Hole, Charles St., Milford. 21/64 (Grocer)
Frederick Llewellyn, Charles St., Milford. 21/64 (Ironmonger)
Manager: Oliver Curphy
24 Nov 1919: North Lincoln Steam Fishing Co., Grimsby
Manager: T. Sowerby
As GY249
Jan 1923: Taylor Steam Fishing Co., Grimsby
Manager: H. G. Hopwood.
Renamed ITA
Dec 1923: W. Kermer, Ymuiden, Netherlands
1930: N. V. Vissch Maats, Ita, Ymuiden.
Managers: N. V. Exploitatie Mij "Zuiderhaaks" (1937: W. F. Kermer)
[Same owners and manager in 1945.]
Landed at Milford: As BL10: 29 May 1903 - 29 Dec 1914
As M61: 13 May 1919 - 24 Nov 1922
Skippers: 1903: Peter Ebbesen; R. S. Longthorp
1904: Ebbesen; Wales; Longthorpe
1905: Edgar Garnham; Wales;
1906: Wales.
1914: J. W. Hewett
Notes: Jan 1915 - 1919: Requisitioned and converted to minesweeper; Admy.no. 800. 1 - 12 pdr.
1939-45: As ITA, requisitioned by German Kreigsmarine and converted to minesweeper.
1952: Broken up.
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 20 Jan 1923. Vessel transferred to the port of Grimsby.
Accidents and Incidents
From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 24th April 1908:
On Monday morning the steam trawler "Portsmouth" arrived in Dock and landed a batch of eleven stowaways. It appears that as the trawler was making for Milford she was hailed by a steamer outward bound from Liverpool to Buenos Ayres. The would-be emigrants were transferred from the steamer to the trawler. There were five more stowaways aboard the steamer who ran away and hid themselves, [but] after a lengthy search it was decided that the stowaways were too well hidden, and the steamer continued on her voyage. Skipper J. Crocker landed his freight on the Docks, but they all appear to have left the town.
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From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 18th June 1919:
Some excitement was manifested on the Milford Docks during last week when it became known that Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price were disposing of their fleet of steam trawlers. For a considerable time negotiations had been proceeding with the Consolidation Company of Grimsby, but these recently fell through. It is gratifying to know that the greater portion of the fleet has been retained for the port, as will be seen from the following list. Several local gentlemen having come forward, the competition was very keen.
The Alnmouth, Weigelia, and Exmouth have been sold to Fleetwood firms, while the Charmouth, Macaw, Tacsonia, Rosa, Xylopia, Essex, Uhdea, Petunia, Lynmouth, Kalmia, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Syringa, Yarmouth and Magnolia have all found local buyers.
This opens out the question of the need for local trades people and others to invest in the staple industry of this fishing port, as has been done in competing fishing centres.
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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 23rd January 1920:
The Cuxwold Steam Fishing Company of Grimsby are erecting new offices and store sheds at the Docks, Milford Haven, and we understand, are to adopt them permanently for their headquarters. This company recently purchased two local trawlers, the Portsmouth and the Weymouth. One of the company's Grimsby vessels has now arrived and is to be followed by others.
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