The steel motor fishing vessel Grayfish was launched from the Thorne yard of R Dunston Ltd on 16th September 1960 (Yard No 1048). She measured 92.9′ x 21.2′ x 10.0′ and her tonnage was 160 gross tons, 55 net tons. Built for the Huxley Fishing Co Ltd of Lowestoft she was powered by a 6 cylinder 4SA diesel engine by Ruston and Hornsby Ltd delivering 410 brake horse power. He official number was 302397 and she was registered in Lowestoft LT361.
Grayfish (LT361) (Shetland Museum)
Lloyd’s register 1972
In 1973 it appears she was employed as an oil rig standby vessel based in the Shetlands. On 21st December she was en route to Lerwick with a broken radar set when she encountered thick fog as she approached land. As her skipper steered carefully through the darkening thick evening visibility was reduced to virtually zero. Unsurprisingly, the skipper found navigation difficult and was well south of his intended course into Lerwick harbour until, without warning, Grayfish grounded on an offshore reef holing her but managed to run over the reef and run aground near Point of Pundsta south of Helliness. Local fishermen later commented that they crew were lucky as they must have just glanced the shallow offshore reef which could have left her stranded further from the shore and most likely out of reach of potential rescuers. As it was, she was aground some fifty yards from the shore and when the coast rescue teams from Lerwick and Sandwick reached the scene they were easily able to get a line aboard Grayfish and bring the five man crew ashore.
Grayfish aground at Point of Pundsta
Initially it was hoped that the vessel could be refloated and saved but the Shetland weather was to have the final say and a few storm lashed days later she was declared a total wreck. The remaining wreckage of Grayfish lies in approximate position 60° 01.969’N, 01° 12.115’W. The wreckage is scattered among the rocks above and below the low water tide line.
Recent photograph of Grayfish wreckage ashore
