The steam trawler Daily Mail (FD100) was built to the order of the Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Company of Fleetwood. Constructed by the Smith’s Dockyard Company Ltd, North Shields (Yard No 915), and launched on 28th April 1930, she measured 141.7′ x 25.5′ x 13.6′, and her tonnage was of 386 gross tons, 165 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Smith’s Dockyard delivering 99 registered horse power. The ship’s official number was 162062.
The Daily Mail underway
Lloyds register 1931
On Sunday 10th May 1931, the Daily Mail was returning to her home port of Fleetwood with a hold full of fish when she ran aground in thick fog at Crammag Head, Mull of Galloway. The accident happened just before midnight and fortunately the vessel remained fast on the rocks.
Unsure of their exact location and the extent of the damage the skipper, Albert Heywood, immediately ordered an SOS to be sent. Their call was answered by another Fleetwood trawler, the Tranquil, which came to her assistance and rescued the 14 crew of the Daily Mail. Before abandoning the stricken vessel the skipper went below to try and determine the full extent of any damage, which confirmed that many of the compartments were awash. The Tranquil stayed close by until first light, by which time the Daily Mail had floated off the rocks and drifted north, eventually going aground on the north shore of Portencorkie Bay.
A salvage officer was summoned and on inspection found the vessel listing to port, sitting on large boulders in around 3 metres, parallel to the shore. The condition of the wreck was considered to be salvable and on 16th May the salvage vessel Trover along with a team of divers were on site. Salvage work continued for the next week and the vessel was successfully moved on the 22nd May in preparation to repair the most damaged section of the hull, the port bilge. However, bad weather over the following week caused further damage to the rudder and the propshaft with the boiler and engine were noted as being ‘set up’. A further inspection on the 29th May confirmed that it was no longer economically viable to re-float the Daily Mail and the salvage team returned to Liverpool.
The Trover tied alongside the Daily Mail
The remains of the Daily Mail lie in 2.5-4 metres of water on the north side of the bay in position 54° 40.609’N 04° 57.941’W (GPS). The debris lies between large rocks and boulders but little remains that is recognisable.
