Fishery research vessel Sir William Hardy at sea

Images(10)

Black & white photograph of research vessel 'Sir William Hardy'

SIR WILLIAM HARDY

Shipbuildervessel built by Hall, Russell & Company, Limited (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)

Shipownervessel built for Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Date29 November 1955

Object NameRESEARCH VESSEL

MediumSTEEL

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 127 5/6' x breadth 27 7/12' x depth 15'
Gross Tonnage: 418 ton

Object numberABDSHIP002537

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Hall, Russell & Co.
Yard Number: 846
Subsequent Name: RAINBOW WARRIOR (1978)

Fate: Sunk by French secret agents in Waitemata harbour, Auckland, New Zealand just before midnight on 10 July 1985.

Propulsion: Motor
Description: Trawler for fishery research

Owners:
1955: Department of Scientificand Industrial Research, Torry research station, later by the Ministry of Technology.
1978: sold to Greenpeace and renamed RAINBOW WARRIOR

General History:
29/11/1954: Launched, the naming ceremony performed by Mrs G. A. Reay - wife of the superintendant of Torry Research Station, Aberdeen.
Ship is specially designed for carrying out research work on fish as food.
She is the first diesel-electric trawler to be built in the UK. Carries a crew of 16, and has a laboratory and accommodation for 4 scientists.
Photos:
(1) The Sponsor
(2) Pre-launch group
(3) After entering the water
(4) At sea
(Burntisland Group Journal, vol. 24, no. 2 (1955), pp. 56-57.

10/07/1985: Sunk by French secret agents in Waitemata harbour, Auckland, using underwater charges which blew two holes in the vessel's hull. The crew escaped, apart from photographer Fernando Pereira, who drowned. RAINBOW WARRIOR was refloated but could not be repaired. It was towed from Auckland and scuttled near the Cavalli Islands, off the Northland coast, to become an artificial reef for marine life.

4 Oil engines of 6 cylinders 150x150 mm running an electric motor, by H. Medows Ltd, Wolverhampton.