BRACONDENE

Shipbuildervessel built by John Lewis & Sons (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1907 - 1976)

Date1961

Object NameFISHING VESSEL

MediumSTEEL

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 104 3/12' x breadth 23 1/12' x depth 12'
Gross Tonnage: 215ton

Object numberABDSHIP000250

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: John Lewis & Sons.
Yard Number: 308
Official number: 148967

Fate: Unknown

Propulsion: Motor
Description: Trawler

Owners:
1961: Bracondene Fishing Co., Ltd, Aberdeen
1974: G. Wood Ltd, Aberdeen.

General History:
1961: Sea trial off Aberdeen, measured mile, average speed 10.21 knots.
01/07/1975:
'15 safe in double drama at sea'
'An Aberdeen trawler was crippled by fire and a Thurso fishing boat exploded and sank in northern waters early yesterday.
Fire broke out in the engine room of the Aberdeen trawler BRACONDENE when she was fishing six miles off Sumburgh Head, Shetland.
Seamen from two Royal Navy ships spent most of the day fighting the blaze. Last night the Aberdeen trawler BEN ASDALE had a line aboard the 14-year-old vessel, owned by George Wood (Aberdeen) Ltd.
Crew Safe
It is understood that the BRACONDENE'S skipper, Mr Andrew Bennett (46), 8 Lochnagar Road, and mate Mr James Conway, 5 Wingate Place, both Aberdeen, are on board.
The rest of the crew were taken to Lerwick by the naval mine hunter HMS KELLINGTON. They are chief engineer John Flett, 17 Seaton Avenue; second engineer Robert Palmer, 38 Menzies Road; second fisherman John Anderson, 29 Stewart Terrace; cook John Morrice, c/o 11E Linksfield Place, all Aberdeen...
It was at 5.22 yesterday morning when Lerwick Coastguards picked up a "MayDay" call from the Aberdeen-built BRACONDENE.
The KELLINGTON, the minesweeper HMS UPTON and the BEN ASDALE quickly answered the distress signal. Crew members who had to abandon the 116ft trawler were rescued by the KELLINGTON...
An RN spokeman at Pitreavie Castle, Dunfermline, Fife, said last night that it was 1.15pm before the fire was finally extinguished. It also took a large part of the afternoon to pump water from the vessel.
The spokesman added that the BRACONDENE'S mess deck and engine room had been burned out.
The trawler's crew spent last night at the Royal National Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen in Lerwick. They will be flying back to Aberdeen this morning.
The fire-striken trawler was under tow last night and heading for her home port.
The BRACONDENE is no new-comer to misfortune. For since she was built in 1961 she:
- Has had to be helped back to Aberdeen after engine failure
- Has been in collision with a Macduff fishing boat, and
- Has lost a mate overboard.
The BRACONDENE was launched from the shipyard of Messrs John Lewis and Sons Ltd., Torry, Aberdeen. Nearly four years later she broke down off Buchanness while outward bound for the fishing grounds.
In 1972 the vessel was involved in a collision with the dual-purpose seiner APOLLO in thick fog 35 miles north-east of Fraserburgh. Five crewmen on the APOLLO cheated death by a hairsbreadth.
And in January of this year the BRACONDENE had to search waters 75 miles south-east of Aberdeen after her mate was found to be missing.'
(Aberdeen Press & Journal)

Note: Engine number 378, Mirrlees type KSSDM6.