The steel motor fishing vessel Briarbank was built in Ostende in 1924. She was 73′ long and her tonnage was 61 gross tons. Presumably her original name was not Briarbank but we have been unable to trace much of the vessel’s history before she arrived in Buckie (BCK15) where she was owned and skippered by Edward S Phimister. We have one report of her involvement in a successful rescue outside Buckie harbour when she took off the crew of the Aberdeen fishing vessel Katreen just before she ran aground a bad storm in January 1956. Her skipper at the time, Mr Alexander Wood of Findochty, was later given an award by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation for his skill and courage. On 8th February 1962 she was involved in a second dram when she ran aground near the harbour entrance due to an exceptionally low tide. On this occasion she refloated unharmed with the rising tide.
On 15th November 1969 Briarbank was trawling for whitefish in Loch Erribol, Sutherland under the command of skipper Edward Phimister who had a crew of three men aboard. As fishing operations proceeded the vessel developed a leak and the skipper steered deep into the loch to escape the heavy swell that was running at the time. Presumably he either hoped she could stay afloat or he intended to beach her somewhere sheltered on the lochside. However it soon became apparent that the Briarbank would not stay afloat so Phimister ordered his crew to lower her boat and they rowed ashore safely. The Briarbank drifted for some time before foundering near the Minor Light, Loch Erribol.
Aberdeen Evening Express 19th November
The wreck of Briarbank lies in position 58° 29.053’N, 04° 40.794’W. She sits upright in 28 metres. Our last report of divers on the wreck is 2019 when a team reported that they had confirmed the identity of the wreck by uncovering the ship’s nameplate on her bow.
Bow of Briarbank
