|
Cook, Welton & Gemmell built the
Ariel
for Hellyer Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull in 1905. Registered as H 843 she was launched on September 30th. At 174 gross tons she was 108½ feet long and 21½ feet in the beam. Amos & Smith built her engine which developed 45NHP and propelled her at 9½ knots.
She had passed through several hands before being bought by R. Walkington of Fleetwood. In 1914 she was requisitioned by the RN and survived working as a minesweeper before returning to fishing in 1919. Iago Steam Trawling Co Ltd bought her for their Milford Haven fleet and then sold her to Ocean Steam Trawling Co Ltd of Hull who, in turn, passed her on to her Fleetwood owner.
On August the first she trawled up a live mine and delivered it to Douglas where it was safely disposed of by Naval authorities. The following day she had started fishing to the south and west of Chicken Rock off the Calf of Man when she was run down by the 5943 ton freighter
Benledi
. The trawler's crew were taken off by the
Benledi's
lifeboat before sinking.
|
