DEE
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateSeptember 1873
Object NameSCREW STEAMER
MediumIRON
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 145 1/3' x breadth 21 1/6' x depth 11 1/3'
Gross Tonnage: 304 ton
Gross Tonnage: 304 ton
Object numberABDSHIP001168
Keywords
Yard Number: 280
Official Number: 65098
Subsequent Names: NANTES (5 June 1880).
Fate: Lost by collision Spurn Head, River Humber, 14 November 1895.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Screw steamer, 1 deck, 2 masts, schooner rigged, round stern, clencher built, no galleries or figurehead, iron frame.
Owners:
1873: Registered in Aberdeen for owners;
Thomas Adam, John Birnie Adam, Thomas Adam Jnr., Alexander Chivas Adam, 64 shares jointly.
Subsequent small sales of shares to;
01/12/1874: George Hepburn, marine engineer, Liverpool.
09/12/1874: Patrick Henderson Chalmers, advocate, Aberdeen.
01/01/1975: Robert Cullen Russell, merchant, Newcastle upon Tyne.
11/01/1875: John Fleming, mercantile clerk, Aberdeen.
05/10/1875: John Milne, manager, Aberdeen.
1879: mortgaged by Adams & Co. with Loire & Thames Transit Co.
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Register (Aberdeen City Archives))
1879-87: Loire & Thames Transit Company Ltd., registered at Nantes. (Lloyd's)
1888-89: Dancey & Robinson, registered at London.
1889-95: G. R. Haller, registered at London
Masters:
1874-76: Master McBain.
1877-78: Master A. Stephen
1879-84: Master E. Petitt.
1885-87: Master Gibb
1888: Master Robinson
1889-95: Master R. Gastelow
General History:
13/01/1875:
The New London & Kirkcaldy Steam Shipping Co. have engaged the fine screw steamer DEE, belonging to Aberdeen, to run the passage. She is to sail on her first trip today.
(Dundee Courier)
26/02/1875:
The storm - several vessels ran into Shields for shelter [...] among them the steamer DEE.
(Dundee Courier)
03/06/1875:
Kirkcaldy - steamer DEE arrived Tuesday from London with a fair cargo [...] the DEE is to take up the passage to London [apparently after 6 months competition with vessel previously on the route].
(Dundee Courier)
22/06/1875:
Steamer DEE left Kirkcaldy for London Saturday in room of steamer FIFESHIRE, which left Leith for Iceland Tuesday. The DEE is put on by a new company and is to run between Kirkcaldy & London once a week.
(Dundee Courier)
26/10/1875:
The storm - Telegram was received from Captain of steamer DEE, belonging to Aberdeen, which left Kirkcaldy for London Sabbath morning last with general cargo, stating he had put into Grimsby through stress of weather. Crew well.
(Dundee Courier)
08/10/1876:
DEE, steamer, at Shields from Aberdeen 12 Oct.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
04/04/1877:
Telegram received re: reported loss of fine steamer DEE, belonging to Adam & Co., coal merchants, Aberdeen, advising that the report had been more alarming than circumstances warranted. The DEE, Captain Stephen, was on time charter to factor of Marquis of Londonderry & engaged in carrying coal from his pits in the north of England to various ports along the coast. On Friday afternoon she left London in ballast. When off Gravesend, weather being thick, she collided with the outward bound barque LAURA. Being in ballast, damage to the DEE was not so serious - a plate or two stove in the main hold which will be immediately repaired [...] not ascertained yet who is to blame. Owners of DEE are fully indemnified by insurance.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
22/08/1887:
Steamer DEE, lying at Trinity Quay, Aberdeen, was run into by schooner HELENA. She, entering the harbour, made rope fast to her stern to check her progress. But this gave way & she ran into the DEE. Port boat of the DEE was slightly damaged & also port davits. No one hurt.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
15/12/1877:
Lloyd's telegram states steamer DEE, Captain Wallace, of Adam & Co. of Aberdeen, from St. Nazaire to London with general cargo, struck some rocks and put back to Nantes. Ballast tanks full of water.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
18/11/1895:
COLLISION OFF SPURN. On Friday morning the steam trawler FIDELIA arrived at Hull with the crew of the Hull steamer NANTES on board. The NANTES was on a voyage from London to Hull with a general cargo. On Thursday night she arrived a few miles Within the mouth of the Humber, and at about nine o'clock she was run into by the steamer LOTUS, of Liverpool, a vessel of much greater size. The NANTES was struck amidships and cut practically in two. She sank almost at once, but Capt. Gosbelow [sic] and his crew of eleven saved themselves by catching hold of the ropes which were thrown from the LOTUS, and then scrambling on board the Liverpool boat. The captain of the LOTUS then transferred the shipwrecked crew to the Hull trawler, which was on her way to port. At the time of the collision the night was clear, and there is much conflict of evidence as to how the collision occurred. The LOTUS was on a voyage from Goole to London.
(York Herald)
Engines: 2 engines, compound inverted, direct acting surface condensing. Diameter of cylinders 20" and 30", length of stroke 20". 45hp. Made by Smith Bros. & Co. Kinning Park, Glasgow.
Contract cost £14,000 (Builder's List held in the Lloyd's Library in the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
