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RANGER CASTOR (1972)
Service dates: 1972-1973
Official number: 338111
Shipping lines: P&O GENERAL HOLDINGS DIVISION; RANGER FISHING COMPANY
Ship type:
Stern Trawler.
Career
- 06.12.1971
- Launched.
- 03.08.1972
- Delivered as Ranger Castor for Ranger Fishing Company Ltd, North Shields (P&O General Holdings Division, managers).
- 21.09.1973
- Sold to British United Trawlers (Hull) Ltd, Hull, and renamed Gaul.
- 22.01.1974
- Sailed from Hull for the North Cape fishing grounds with a crew of 36. She was in a position 72.1SN, 24.SOE
- 07.02.1974
- Reported in position 72°15’N-24°50’E.
- 08.02.1974
- Reported ‘fishing Harbaken’.
- n.d.
- Nothing further was heard of her and it is assumed that she sunk either on the 8th or 9th February. Extensive searches revealed no clue whatever as to her fate at the time. Considerable speculation arose that she had been seized or sunk by Russian forces but no proof of this has ever been forthcoming.
- 1997
- TV crew, with help from Norwegian experts located the wreck using information from other fishing vessels who had suggested they snagged the wreck in their trawling nets. The surveys
- 1998
- UK Deputy Prime Minister (and Hull MP) John Prescott to ask the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport to carry out extensive surveys of the wreck, which it did and found enough evidence to open a new enquiry. Surveys revealed that some of Gaul’s hatches and doors were open and, specifically, the outer non-return flaps and the inner covers to the duff and offal chutes were open. Additionally, the inner cover to the duff chute appeared to be secured open and the ship’s steering gear (kort nozzle) was found to be full over to port.
- 2004
- Enquiry found that the ship was not engage in any form of espionage and not sunk by Russian forces.