Extract from the Evening News 23rd August 1938
The Polar Prince run aground on the rocks at St. Mary's Island.
Shields Trawler Grounds in Fog
Refloated After Seven Hours
Cullercoats Lifeboat Stand By, Not Needed
The North Shields trawler Polar Prince ran aground near St Mary's Island, Whitley Bay, in dense fog early to-day. She was refloated about noon with the aid of a Blyth tugboat, after having made several unsuccessful attempts to get off under her own steam.
The trawler ran aground about a quarter of a mile S.S.E. of the island at 5.30 a.m. - shortly before low tide.
It is understood that her bottom plates were badly damaged as a result of the pummelling she received while on the rocks. She was towed in the direction of the Tyne by the tugboat.
The Polar Prince had been aground about two hours when a fresh south-easterly wind sprang up and the noise of her plates scraping the rocks could be plainly heard from the mainland.
She was first seen through the a temporary break in the mist by the keeper at St. Mary's Lighthouse. Blyth coastguard station was informed and officers immediately communicated with Cullercoats Lifeboat Station.
Crew Safe
The lifeboat, in charge of Coxswain G. Brunton, arrived at about 6.30 a.m. but the skipper of the trawler said the vessel was not seriously damaged and the crew was quite safe. He thought he would be able to get the vessel off under her own steam with the rising tide.
The trawler was first seen facing the cliffs, but later she swung around to face north and shortly afterwards swivelled again for her bows to be pointing to sea. At low tide it was obvious that her stern had stuck fast on the rocks, and she was swinging freely forward.
When the fog lifted at about 8 a.m. hundreds of visitors scrambled quarter of a mile across the rocks to get within a stone's throw of the trawler.
The Blyth coastguard officer waded to within 50 yards and megaphoned the skipper, asking if he required the services of a tug. The skipper expressed the opinion that he would be able to get off shortly before noon with the rising tide.
About 10.30 a.m. representatives of the owners arrived on the scene and were taken to the trawler in a foyboat.
Tug on Scene
A message was then received to communicate with the Blyth tug and at 11.30 the tug arrived on the scene.
Kedge anchors [ A light anchor used for kedging off, by hauling in on an anchorline that has been secured in deeper water by a dinghy] were brought into use by the Polar Prince and several attempts were made to free the stern, but it was not until the tug lent assistance that any definite headway was made.
Shortly after the tug had connected a hawser [large heavy rope for nautical use]she was able to release the Polar Prince from the grip of the rocks and haul her into deep water. Altogether the trawler was aground about seven hours.
The Cullercoats lifeboat then made her way back to the station.
A keeper at St. Mary's Lighthouse told The Evening News that he was not at all sure when he first saw the trawler through a break in the fog, that she seemed aground.
"It is easy the heaviest sea fret, we have had for the past week," he said, "and we were not able even to make out the area at the bottom of the lighthouse."
Fog Lifted
"Shortly after, however, the fog lifted a little and with the aid of a telescope I was able to make out the numbers on the vessel. I immediately communicated with Blyth Coastguard Station and they got into touch with the Cullercoats Lifeboat Station. The lifeboat arrived shortly after, and it was then that the breeze started to spring up from the southeast. "
The lighthouse keeper said he did not know exactly how long the Polar Prince had been on the rocks.
The Polar Prince was involved in a collision with the Swedish motor vessel Montrose (1,784 tons) off the Northumberland coast in April, when a North Shields man was drowned.
The trawler moored up at North Shields Fish Quay when she came into the Tyne. It is understood she will go into dry-dock for inspections.
Mr William Bowden is the Skipper of the vessel.
The Polar Prince is owned by Richard Irvin and Sons Ltd. North Shields.