The Manihine was a steel hulled trawler launched as the Coot, one of the Bird class operating out of Aberdeen for Kelsall Brothers & Beeching. During the First World War the ship was requisitioned by the Admiralty. Sold in 1924 the ship was based at Fleetwood before being sold out of service in May 1938. Renamed Dorade II, the vessel was converted into a private yacht with the removal of the steam machinery and boiler and the installation of twin diesel engines and luxury accomodation. During the Second World War the ship was taken into service by the Royal Navy and used as the Admiral's Barge at Reykjavik in Iceland. After the war she was purchased by Major H.W. Hall and renamed Manihine. During the next eight years the ship was used for research as far away as the Red Sea before being sold once more to Singapore as a fisheries research vessel.

The ship changed hands for One Pound in 1961 and sailed for East Africa to join the East African Marine Fisheries Organisation based in Zanzibar. Three years later ownership was transferred to the East African Common Services Organisation based in Kenya. In 1965, management and maintenance were undertaken by Southern Line and Southern Engineering at Mombasa until 1976 when the vessel was sold to the Institute of Marine Sciences and based in Zanzibar. During the course of its research program the ship ranged far and wide across the Indian Ocean, and at one time went in search of the fabled Coelacanth. Laid up in Zanzibar, the vessel became derelict and eventually grounded. In May 1979, the ship was put up for sale by tender the bids closing on 15 June. After an overhaul the ship returned to service as a coastal trader before being beached in Dar es Salaam. In 1992 the ship was deleted from Lloyds Register and demolition began soon after. The remains finally disappeared in 1997.