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Hector Whaling catchers

27K views 28 replies 17 participants last post by  Tony Foot 
#1 ·
I am currently researching Hector Whaling's whale catchers and I have some difficulty in finding pieces of their story.

For example,

Hektor 1, Hektor 2 and Hektor 5 were sold to Union Whaling Co of Durban and respevrively renamed UNI X, UNI XI and UNI XIV. I could'nt manage to find anything further on them. Can anyone help?
 
#16 ·
Balaena

Hi my name is terry chapple i served aboard ff balaena 56/57 the catchers were named SETTER .I have information & photos TC.
I am son of Chife mate Birger Christensen, Balaena. I was with him several summers when Balaena was docking in Liverpool and Newcastle. I was also with Balaena summer 1956 in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It was great fun for a young norwegian boy to visit foreign countries in this days

Trygve H. Christensen
Tønsberg, Norway
 
#7 ·
SAS, do you have any info/photo's of Flower Class Corvette's that were converted into Whalecatchers then used for Whale collection, I understand one of them broke it's crankshaft and it's Tow to Smith's Dock Middlesbrough was at one time the longest Tow on record for many years. In the days of steam we use to have a dedicated tank for Whale Oil down the Engineroom, if only we had known about Omega 3 in those days!!
 
#8 ·
Have the following on file in relation to Cayzer, Irvine's control of the company from 1961.
Obviously all are not whale catchers. I have just cut and pasted from another file

HW.3. KAI (1961 – 1964) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 183067. 284g. 99n. 120.9 x 24.7 x 14.2 feet.
T. 3-cyl. (15-13/16”, 26” & 43-11/16” x 26”) engine made by A/S Frederiksstad MV. 99HP
1926: Completed by A/S Jarlso Vaerft, Tonsberg (Yard No. 21), for A/S Hvalen (N. Bugge, manager), Tonsberg. 1930: Sold to A/S Hektor, (same manager). 1948: Sold to United Whalecatchers Ltd., (Bugge & Krogh-Hansen, managers), London. 1953: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London, (same managers). 1961: Owners acquired by Cayzer, Irvine & Company Ltd. 1964: Demolished.

HW.4. TERRIER I (1962 – 1968) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 350243 later amended to O.N. 306133. 448g. 152n. 158’ 10” x 27’ 7” x 14’ 0 ½”
C4-cyl. (14-9/16” (2) & 34¼” (2) x 32½”) engine made by the shipbuilder.
15.5.1950: Launched as GVASS by Smiths Dock Company Ltd, Middlesbrough (Yard No. 1207), for A/S Ornen, (A/S Thor Dahl, managers), Sandefjord, Norway. 10.1950: Completed. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town and renamed TERRIER I. 1962: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London. 1967: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd, Cape Town. 4.1967: Laid up for demolition. 3rd qtr 1968: Sold to unspecified buyers, converted into a house boat in S. Africa, renamed TERRIER XI.

HW.5. TERRIER II (1962 – 1968) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 350244 later amended to 306134. 448g. 152n. 158’ 10” x 27’ 7” x 14’ 0 ½”
C4-cyl. (14-9/16” (2) & 34¼” (2) x 32½”) engine made by the shipbuilder.
12.9.1950: Launched as PINGVIN by Smiths Dock Company Ltd, Middlesbrough (Yard No. 1208), for A/S Ornen, (A/S Thor Dahl, managers), Sandefjord, Norway. 10.1950: Completed. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town and renamed TERRIER II. 1962: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London. 1967: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd, Cape Town. 2.1967: Laid up for demolition. 12.1968: Sold to South Atlantic Salvage Company (Propriety) Ltd., Cape Town, for demolition.

HW.6. TERRIER III (1962 – 1964) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 350245. 443g. 152n. 158’ 10” x 27’ 7” x 14’ 0 ½”
C4-cyl. (14-9/16” (2) & 34¼” (2) x 32½”) engine made by the shipbuilder.
24.8.1949: Launched as ODD XI by Smiths Dock Company Ltd, Middlesbrough (Yard No. 1193), for A/S Odd, (A/S Thor Dahl, managers), Sandefjord, Norway. 10.1949: Completed. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town and renamed TERRIER III. 1962: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London. 1964: Renamed TERRIER VII. 1967: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd, Cape Town, and reverted to TERRIER III. 1968: Sold to South Atlantic Salvage Company (Propriety) Ltd., Cape Town, for demolition. 15.4.1969: Work commenced.

HW.7. TERRIER IV (1962 – 1968) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 350246 later amended to 306036. 448g. 152n. 158’ 10” x 27’ 7” x 14’ 0 ½”
C4-cyl. (14-9/16” (2) & 34¼” (2) x 32½”) engine made by the shipbuilder.
24.8.1949: Launched as ODD XII by Smiths Dock Company Ltd, Middlesbrough (Yard No. 1194), for A/S Odd, (A/S Thor Dahl, managers), Sandefjord, Norway. 10.1949: Completed. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town and renamed TERRIER IV. 1962: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London. 1968: Sold to South Atlantic Salvage Company (Propriety) Ltd., Cape Town, for demolition. 15.4.1969: Work commenced.

HW.8. TERRIER V (1962 – 1965) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 185958. 481g. 154n. 158.0 x 29.0 x 15.7 feet.
C4-cyl. (13¾” (2) & 32- 5/16” (2) x 30-9/16”) engine made by the shipbuilder.
24.9.1948: Launched as KREPS by Kaldnes M/V A/S, Sandesfjord (Yard No. 126), for Hvalfangerselsk Antarctic A/S, (Anton Von der Lippe manager), Tonsberg, Norway. 12.1948: Completed. 1953: Renamed SETTER XI. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town and renamed TERRIER V. 1962: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London. 1964: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town. 1.1965: Sold to South Atlantic Salvage Company (Propriety) Ltd., Cape Town, for demolition.

HW.9. TERRIER VI (1962 - 1968) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 118115. 594g. 502n. 154.3 x 30.7 x 16.8 feet.
C.4-cyl. (13¾” (2) & 32½” (2) x 30½”) engine made by Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Greenock.
28.6.1949: Launched as KVART by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd., Port Glasgow (Yard No. 393), for the Falklands Shipowners Ltd (Anton Von der Lippe, manager), London. 1949: Completed. 1953: Renamed SETTER X. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town and renamed TERRIER VI. 1962: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London. 1962: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town. 6.1968 Sold to South Atlantic Salvage Company (Propriety) Ltd., Cape Town, for demolition.

HW.10. CLAN MACLAREN (2) (1963 – 1968) see ship No. M.242 above.
HW.11. CLAN MACLACHLAN (2) (1963 – 1968) see ship No. M.243 above.

HW.12. CLAN MACLENNAN (1963 – 1968) see ship No. M.244 above.

HW.13. CLAN MACLEOD (4) (1963 – 1968) see ship No. M.247 above.

HW.14. CLAN MACLAY (1963 – 1968) see ship No. M.248 above.

HW.15. KING ALEXANDER (1963 – 1972) see ship No. K.10 in appendix No. 7.

HW.16. KING MALCOLM (1963 – 1972) see ship No. K. 9 in appendix No. 7.

HW.17. TERRIER VII (1964 – 1968) see ship HW.6 above.

HW.18. TERRIER VIII (1964 – 1968) Whalecatcher.
O.N. 306255. 550g. 175n. 158.0 x 29.8 x feet.
C.4-cyl. (14-9/16” (2) & 34¼” (2) x 32½”) engine made by the shipbuilder. 2,000 IHP
9.1951: Completed as FEMERN by A/S Framnaes MV (Yard No. 149) for A/S Odd, (A/S Thor Dahl, managers), Sandefjord, Norway. 1964: Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London and renamed TERRIER VIII. 1967: Sold to Saldanha Whaling Ltd., Cape Town. 1968: Sold to Union Whaling Company Ltd., S. Africa. 1975: Renamed F. H. HUGHES. 17.12.1975: Scuttled south of Durban.

HW.19. TERRIER III (1967 – 1968) see ship HW.6 above.

Bill
 
#10 ·
From my years of research into the British & Comonwealth (Cayzer, Irvine) group.

Principle sources were

Lloyd's Register of Shipping,
Lloyd's Confidential Indices
Lloyd's Register of Shipowners
Lloyd's Register of Shipping Wreck Books
Lloyd's Register Shipbuilders & Existing Ships
Lloyd's Register Shipbuilding Records
Mercantile Navy Lists

Bill

The above were accessed in either The Lloyd's Collection at the Guildhall Library, London or the Information Section Reference Library at Lloyd's Register of Shipping, Fenchurch St, London.


Bill
 
#11 · (Edited)
Hector Whaling Ltd. & Saldanha Whaling Ltd
London & Cape Town

(London Company Reg No. 232432)
28 June 1961: Acquired by Cayzer, Irvine & Company Ltd
By 1968 the whalecatching fleet had been disposed of.
15 August 1995 Hector Whaling Ltd dissolved.

The following also surprised me with the connections

Hector Tankers Ltd.
Incorporated on 10 November 1948 – Reg. No. 461012
Share capital £50,000 in £1 shares.
28 June 1961: Acquired by Cayzer, Irvine & Company Ltd

13 July 1961 restyled as
Hector Trawlers Ltd. (1)
London

21.12.1982 resolution passed to rename and on 6 January 1983 registered at Companies House as
Scottish Shire Line Ltd. (2)
20 March 1984 restyled as
Houston Line Ltd. (2)
6 October 1994 dissolved.

HT.1. HECTOR GANNET (1962 - 1968) Stern Trawler.
O.N. 304294. 361g. 136n. 0d. 125’ 1” x 29’ 11” x .
6-cyl. 4 SCSA (12” x 15”) oil engine made by National Gas & Combustion Engine Company, Ashton under Lyne, geared to a controllable pitch propeller. 1,160 BHP.
3.5.1962: Launched by P. K. Harris & Sons Ltd., Appledore (Yard No. 528) for Hector Trawlers Ltd., (W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd, managers), London. 7.1962: Completed. 1968: Sold to Offshore Marine Ltd., London. 15.11.1968: Whilst standing by an oil rig in distress following a “blow-out” struck the rig, capsized and sank in a position 53.00N., 1.51E., in the North Sea. Three lives were lost.

HT.2. HECTOR GULL (1962 - 1968) Stern Trawler.
O.N. 304383. 361g. 114n. 0d. 125’ 1” x 29’ 11” x .
6-cyl. 4 SCSA (12” x 15”) oil engine made by Mirrlees National Ltd, Ashton under Lyne, geared to a controllable pitch propeller. 1,160 BHP.
9.3.1962: Launched by P. K. Harris & Sons Ltd., Appledore (Yard No. 527) for Hector Trawlers Ltd., (W. H. Kerr (Ship Chandlers) Ltd, managers), London. 12.1962: Completed. 6.1.1964: Mortgaged to the White Fish Authority, Lincoln’s Inn Chambers, 2/3 Cursiter Street, London. EC4. 18.1.1967: Mortgaged repaid. 1968: Converted to a buoy ship and sold to Seapool Ltd. 1971: Sold to the Secretary of State for Defence, London (same manager), and renamed DOLWEN. 1979: Removed from management. 1980: Owners restyled as Government of The United Kingdom (Secretary of State for Defence).1991: Sold to Mira Towage Ltd., Malta. 1996: Sold to unspecified Honduras flag operators. 6.1996: Foundered.


Appendix No. 12 –
Seapool Ltd. (1)

Incorporated in 1950; Coy reg No. 492854, little is known of the purpose of this shortlived company as on 10th April 1951 a “notice to voluntarily wind-up” was placed in the London Gazette by Margaret Fleming, the appointed liquidator. It was however not finally dissolved until 1988.

Seapool Ltd. (2)
(Inc 21.12.1955 - Coy Reg.No.576087 )
The company’s registered address was 2-4 St. Mary’s Axe London.

Share capital was £100 in £1 shares of which two were issued, to two solicitors and on registration the shareholders were stated as Baron Herbert Robin Cayzer and Sir William Nicholas Cayzer, who were also listed as the company Directors. The company articles of association state that “The Company can acquire shares, stock, debenture stock, debenture shares etc.
A Special Extraordinary General Meeting was held on 30 June 1982 to pass a resolution to voluntary wind up the company. The resolution was passed and company was finally dissolved on 22 December 1982

RELKO (1963 – 1968) stern trawler
O.N. 187941. 270g. 92n. 0d. 122’ 0” x 25’ 9” x .
Two, 4-cyl. 4 S.C.S.A. (185 x 20mm) Maybach type oil engines made by Bristol Siddeley Engineering Ltd, Coventry, geared to a singe screw shaft with a controllable pitch propeller. 800 BHP
18.7.1962: Launched by T. Mitchison Ltd., Gateshead (Yard No. 518) for Seapool Ltd. 5.7.1963: Completed by Greenock Dockyard Company (Gateshead) Ltd. 6.1.1964: Mortgaged to the White Fish Authority, Lincoln’s Inn Chambers, 2/3 Cursiter Street, London. EC4. 18.1.1967: Mortgaged repaid. 1968: Sold to Vickers Ltd., (James Fisher & Sons Ltd., Barrow, managers). Converted into a research and submersible submarine mothership. 4.6.1968: Commissioned at Barrow, as VICKERS VENTURER. 1972: Transferred to Vicker Oceanics Ltd. 1980: Sold to British Oceanics Ltd., (Premier Shipping & Engineering Ltd., managers), and renamed VENTURER. 1981: Sold to Eagle Tugs Ltd., (Shipmarc Ltd., managers), Cayman Islands. 1986: Sold to Albin Maritime Corp., (Southern Engineering Company Ltd, managers), St Vincent. 1988: LR class withdrawn, owners and managers deleted. 9.10.2007: Reported as having been sold to undisclosed buyers, on the Equasis website.

HECTOR GULL (1968 – 1971) see ship No. HT.2 above.

Seapool (Pelamid) Ltd.
( Reg No. 777899 – incorporated 1962 and dissolved 18.3.1982)
2-4 St. Mary’s Axe London and Lincoln’s Inn Chambers, 2/3 Cursiter Street, London. EC4

PELAMID (1963 – 1965) Stern trawler
O.N. 187942. 270g. 92n. 0d. 122’ 0” x 25’ 9” x .
Post 1969: 299g. 117n 349d. 46.51 x 7.65 x 3.791 metres.
Two, 4-cyl. 4 S.C.S.A. (185 x 20mm) Maybach type oil engines made by Bristol Siddeley Engineering Ltd, Coventry, geared to a singe screw shaft with a controllable pitch propeller. 800 BHP
Post 1973: 6-cyl 4 S.C.S.A. (320 x 450mm) Deutz type engine made in 1957 by Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz, Koeln. 750 BHP. 11.5kts.
12.9.1961: Launched by T. Mitchison Ltd., Gateshead (Yard No. 516), for Seapool Ltd. 24.10.1963: Registered. 14.11.1963: Completed by Greenock Dockyard Company (Gateshead) Ltd. for Seapool (Pelamid) Ltd. 1965: Sold to Chr. Bjelland & Company A/S, Norway, and renamed STAVANGEREN.1966: Converted into a fish factory ship. 1969: Lengthened. 6.1973: Re-engined. 1977: Sold to AS KS Age Majala, Norway. 1985: Sold to KS AS Stavangeren, Aalesund. 1987: Sold to AS Sea-Frost, Hammerfest, and renamed SEA-FROST. 1989: Sold to Sjuve Ship Gjenvinningsindustri, (Hans Jorgen Sjuve, manager), Norway. 1991: Demolished.

Seapool (Noblesse) Ltd.
( Reg No. 777897 – incorporated 1962 and dissolved 13.8.1964)
2-4 St. Mary’s Axe London and Lincoln’s Inn Chambers, 2/3 Cursiter Street, London. EC4

NOBLESSE (1963 – 1964) Stern trawler
O.N. 187943. 270g. 92n. 0d. 122’ 0” x 25’ 4” x .
Two, 4-cyl. 4 S.C.S.A. (185 x 20mm) Maybach type oil engines made by Bristol Siddeley Engineering Ltd, Coventry, geared to a singe screw shaft with controllable pitch propeller. 800 BHP
Post 1984 Two, 8-cyl. 4 S.C.S.A. (127 x 140mm) vee type oil engines made by Saab Scania, Sodertajle. 656 BHP.
3.10.1962: Launched by T. Mitchison Ltd., Gateshead (Yard No. 520) for Seapool Ltd. 3.12.1963: Registered. 4.12.1963: Completed by Greenock Dockyard Company (Gateshead) Ltd., for Seapool (Noblesse) Ltd. 1964: Sold to the National Environment Research Council, Plymouth. 1966: Renamed JOHN MURRAY. 1977: Tees & Hartlepool Port Authority appointed as managers. 1979: Removed from management. 1981: Sold to Tecship BV, Den Helder, Netherlands, and renamed ALKAID. 1984: Re-engined.1986: Seateam BV, appointed as managers. 1991: Removed from management. 1995: Owners restyled as Seateam Subsea Support BV. 2000: Sold to DSNB Consub S.A. under Panama flag. 2003: Demolished.
 
#12 ·
Hi Bill ...

Many thanks for this, but sorry I didn't look back here for the last few days and respond earlier !

Hector xxx gets more and more complex all the time. My interest stems from the time I was on Hector Heron in the 1970's, a fascination as to why a UK liner company should have a 'subsection' so oddly named.

I have also discovered they used 3 ex RAF Supermarine Walrus aircraft for whale spotting in the Antarctic under the ownership of United Whalers Ltd, London; using the Hector Whaling house flag; only for the 1946/47 season as their use was apparently deemed "unsporting".

Cheers

Andy
 
#13 ·
Hi Andy,

The origins of Hector are routed in Norway I believe and only came into B&C in 1961.

You say that Hector XXX becomes more complex. Believe me the Cayzer, Irvine / B&C group is a hell of a lot more complex as I have discovered during some 10 years of digging and delving.

Every time I think I am about there, something comes out of the woodwork to turn aspects on their head and in some cases have discredited previously published works, including aspects of the recently published CLAN LINE by Ships in Focus.

I trust you have at least Microsoft Word 2003 on your system so if you do, either private or e-mail me your address I will send you the table of companies so far discovered and how company titles were swopped around in some cases to keep ahead of creditors.

I can also supply a CD containing the entire work with images laid up as one long do***ent of 270 odd pages in book layout ready, but this would be for your private use only as it is under review of a publisher at present.

Bill
 
#14 ·
Hi Bill ....

Hector Whaling started off in 1928 as a London branch of N R Bugge of Tonsberg, with directors from some merchant banks with Scandinavian connexions. One of them was Rupert Troughton who had been one of JM Keynes assistants.

Cheers

Andy
 
#15 ·
I was employed by United Whalers Oct 1950 to Oct54 . The catchers were as follows: Setters approx 8, Terje( Terrier in English) approx a similar number, Terje 10 an ex Flower class corvette, Kai and Hektor 6 the last two had a derrick for ferrying store etc. Terje 10 used as a buoy boat . There were two additional vesels Thule ex german cablelayer tanker and supply ship and SS Bransfield ex Corillera used as a Fridge and processing ship. T Wilkinson
 
#20 ·
Hi Haldane ...

Sorry, only just woken up to the fact that you'd responded to my post !!!

There are three sources I have found for pics and info of the Walrus being used by United Whalers :

1. The Profile aircraft series Nr 224, published after 1967.
(I already have a scan of that publication)
2. The Yellow Series book on the Walrus/Stranraer, published in 2004
3. The book by John Grierson called 'Air Whaler', published in 1949

Cheers

Andy
 
#23 ·
good morning billh,13.september.2008.02:33.(no 10) re:hector whaling catchers.i have been reading this old thread with interest,i noted your reply as to were you got your information,you the gave a list of were you obtained it.mostly from Lloyd's.the one I would be interested in is ,Lloyd's register of shipping wreck books.can you let me have a link if you have one,thank you in advance,have a good day,ben27
 
#24 ·
Good morning Ben,

Unfortunately "Lloyd's Wreck Books" are not on line. They are very large leather-bound ledger type tomes in hand written form and are only available to view at Lloyd's Register information section, 71 Fenchurch Street London. Each ship entry runs across two pages.

They are few in number and only cover a short span from around 1947 to 1973 but they do also have bound xeroxed copies of "Wreck Returns" back to around 1890 on the shelf.

Bill
 
#26 ·
Old thread new addition. I am pretty sure there were two Wlarus spotter planes. They were taken on shore after the 47 season. One was sold locally in Tønsberg, Norway. I am also pretty sure that it had nothing to do with the use being unsporting. Rather I have heard that the expedition had to spend to much time and resources on getting the planes back on board (ie finding them when they ran out of fuel and had to "ditch") so they decided it wasn't worth it. Same thing with the use of helicopters and a couple of attempts with regular sea planes.
 
#27 ·
With regard to the stated foundering of the DOLWEN, ex HECTOR GULL, IHS state: DOLWEN – Vessel foundered in 1996 but was subsequently salvaged, repaired and returned to service. Our records indicate that she was involved in another casualty incident in 1998 and was once again repaired and returned to service.

She continues to be shown in Equasis and is regarded as being still in service.
 
#28 · (Edited)
Yes you are correct. Only recently were the vessel casualty details unravelled and updated, which in turn feed into Equasis. The following update from my records includes extracts from those updated vessel casualty reports.

19.6.1996: Whilst on a voyage from Mumbai to Kandia suffered engine room flooding at 20.49N, 71.19E and was presumed to have foundered. Nine crew rescued but vessel subsequently salvaged and returned to service.
1998: SDS Shipping Pvt Ltd., appointed as managers.
9.6.1998: Capsized and sank at Vadinar Terminal, 22.32N., 69.42E., during a cyclone. Subsequently raised, minor repairs undertaken and wreck towed away to Mumbai. Subsequently fully repaired.
5.1999: Returned to service.
 
#29 ·
Whale catchers.

At least one of the Union whaling Co. Catchers came to Australia. It/they worked out of Albany Western Australia for a local Co. One is preserved at the Albany Whaling Station Museum.
As a kid I grew up on the Bluff at Durban near the whale slipway. I spent a lot of time messing about on the catchers with the kids of the Norwegian Officers.
Some years later fully grown and a Marine Engineer myself I was on a crew boat based at Island View. The remnants of the UNI fleet were laid up there. Nothing was locked and I spent many nostalgic hours exploring the boats.
Incidentally I was docked in Capetown when (I think it was Dutch) last fleet went South. They had a brand new catcher with a Free Piston engine fitted. That engine was REALLY noisy and could be heard all over Capetown. The whales could also hear it miles away, and after a short time it returned to Capetown and laid up. It was there some years then bought and re-engined. it became that outlaw catcher that Greenpeace chased for years before finally ending its days.
 
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