ALBERT SAN

Location

East Coast, Cape Conran, Beware Reef

VHR Number

S13

Date lost

13/08/1926

Year of construction

1915

Official number

152168

Statement of Significance

This vessel is significant historically for its employment in the experimental state trawling industry in Victoria in the early stages of the 20th century.

Physical Description

Construction Material Steel

Rig Other

Hull Details Steel

Propulsion Steam - Screw

Engine Builder Triple expansion engine 57 HP

Length / Breadth / Depth 117.0 Feet / 22.0 Feet / 11.9 Feet

History

Builder Smiths Docks Ltd

Built Date 1915

Built Port / Country Southbank on Tees / England

Registration Port / Country Auckland / New Zealand

Details
Name changed to ALBERT SAN in June 1924. Landed cost 13,389 pounds. The SS Brolga was a "Castle" type steam side-trawler built by Smiths Dock Ltd in Middlesborough, England, and was purchased by the NSW government in 1915 along with two other Castle trawlers. The trawlers were to be the backbone of the experimental State Trawling Industry, designed to supply Sydney and Newcastle with supplies of cheap fish. They also provided the blueprint for other trawlers built in Australia. The 217 tons gross Brolga's dimensions were 115 x 22 x 12 feet (35 x 6.7 x 3.7 metres). All vessels in the "Castle" class were powered by a triple expansion compound steam engine allowing an 8-10 knot maximum speed. In 1917 the Royal Australian Navy requisitioned these trawlers for auxiliary mine-sweeping work, and the Brolga swept for mines around the NSW coast and Gabo Island in World War I between October 1917 and 1918. After the war she was used as a trawler by different owners including the NSW government and a New Zealand company. The Brolga was renamed the Albert San in June 1924. Its owners at time of loss were the Coastal Trading Company Ltd of NSW. On 13 August 1926 on a voyage from Melbourne to Sydney, the Albert San struck Beware Reef and commenced sinking by the bow. All eleven crew got off safely in a boat and reached the mainland shore. The blame was attributed to faulty navigation by the Captain, J. Renton. No wreckage found on Beware Reef to date has been confirmed as belonging to the Albert San. It is possible that after striking Beware Reef it drifted off and sank in deeper water. #VHR: The steam trawler Albert San ran ashore on Beware Reef off the East Gippsland coast. All the crew escaped safely.#

Uses of Vessel

Primary Use Transport

Secondary Use Cargo - Coastal

Voyage Details

Date Lost 13/08/1926

Voyage from Melbourne to Sydney

Owner Coastal Trawling Co

Master of Vessel Captain J Renton

Weather conditions
Thick weather

Cause of Loss
Struck Beware Reef

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 11

Physical Description
Construction Material	Steel
Rig	Other
Hull Details	Steel
Propulsion	Steam - Screw
Engine Builder	Triple expansion engine 57 HP
Length / Breadth / Depth	117.0 Feet / 22.0 Feet / 11.9 Feet

Builder	Smiths Docks Ltd
Built Date	1915
Built Port / Country	Southbank on Tees / England
Registration Port / Country	Auckland / New Zealand
Details	Name changed to ALBERT SAN in June 1924. Landed cost 13,389 pounds. The SS Brolga was a "Castle" type steam side-trawler built by Smiths Dock Ltd in Middlesborough, England, and was purchased by the NSW government in 1915 along with two other Castle trawlers. The trawlers were to be the backbone of the experimental State Trawling Industry, designed to supply Sydney and Newcastle with supplies of cheap fish. They also provided the blueprint for other trawlers built in Australia. The 217 tons gross Brolga's dimensions were 115 x 22 x 12 feet (35 x 6.7 x 3.7 metres). All vessels in the "Castle" class were powered by a triple expansion compound steam engine allowing an 8-10 knot maximum speed. In 1917 the Royal Australian Navy requisitioned these trawlers for auxiliary mine-sweeping work, and the Brolga swept for mines around the NSW coast and Gabo Island in World War I between October 1917 and 1918. After the war she was used as a trawler by different owners including the NSW government and a New Zealand company. The Brolga was renamed the Albert San in June 1924. Its owners at time of loss were the Coastal Trading Company Ltd of NSW. On 13 August 1926 on a voyage from Melbourne to Sydney, the Albert San struck Beware Reef and commenced sinking by the bow. All eleven crew got off safely in a boat and reached the mainland shore. The blame was attributed to faulty navigation by the Captain, J. Renton. No wreckage found on Beware Reef to date has been confirmed as belonging to the Albert San. It is possible that after striking Beware Reef it drifted off and sank in deeper water. #VHR: The steam trawler Albert San ran ashore on Beware Reef off the East Gippsland coast. All the crew escaped safely.#

Primary Use	Transport
Secondary Use	Cargo - Coastal

Date Lost	13/08/1926
Voyage	from Melbourne to Sydney
Owner	Coastal Trawling Co
Master of Vessel	Captain J Renton
Weather conditions	Thick weather
Cause of Loss	Struck Beware Reef

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	11

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