Two months after Golden Shore N 153 was completed by Mooney Boats Ltd for G & H Chambers & Sons Ltd of Annalong, during which time the vessel has showcased her versatility by engaging in scallop dredging and queenie trawling, David Linkie caught up with her owners at Kilkeel to share their first impressions of the new build.
“Both in terms of fishing efficiency and seakeeping qualities, Golden Shore has returned a highly encouraging level of performance since being handed over to us (G & H Chambers & Sons) at Killybegs by Mooney Boats, and one that augers well for the future.
“While harder challenges undoubtedly lie ahead in the coming winter months, Golden Shore more than meets any expectations we might have had, and is well-suited to our long-term requirements. Full credit for this goes to designer Ian Paton, Lee Mooney and his team at Killybegs, and everyone else associated with the build and supply of machinery and equipment to Golden Shore.”
Paul Annett, Gareth, Geoffrey and Christopher Chambers are impressed with the level of performance Golden Shore returned in the first two months of fishing. (Crewman Gareth Graham was not available at the time this photograph was taken).
These were the initial thoughts of Geoffrey Chambers, who, together with his sons Christopher and Gareth Chambers, and crewmen Paul Annett and Gareth Graham, have now fished Golden Shore for eight weeks, during which time the 14.95m vessel has alternated between scallop dredging and queenie trawling.
This level of versatility, which in time will also include prawn trawling, highlights the well-established pattern of seasonal fisheries Golden Shore will engage in. These are expected to closely follow those that proved successful with the family’s previous boat, the Kilkeel-based, 17m wooden-hulled Lynn Marie N 264, and made the new build possible.
In addition to spanning two generations of a long-standing Annalong fishing family, Golden Shore is particularly significant in the fact that she is the first new, dedicated scallop vessel to be built for Co Down owners.
Golden Shore’s home port, Kilkeel, like the other two Co Down harbours of Ardglass and Portavogie to the north, have experienced severely challenging times since the introduction of the much-maligned cod recovery programme in the Irish Sea 14 years ago. Clearly, this had both an immediate and lingering negative impacts on the local fleet, as well as the equally important infrastructure ashore.
In recent years, a combination of sheer grit and determination displayed by a nucleus of forward-looking skippers, together with their representatives ashore and local processors, has led to the local fishing industry regaining some much needed momentum, which now needs to be carefully nurtured, as it is still very much a work in progress.
That brothers Christopher and Gareth Chambers, who alternate as skipper of Golden Shore when Geoffrey is ashore, are highly committed to the long-term future is extremely welcome news, which needs to be further encouraged with incentives, rather than obstacles, which has been the case for far too long.
Insured by Sunderland Marine, Golden Shore is initially expected to fish mainly in the Irish Sea, including the Manx grounds, which skipper Geoffrey Chambers has worked in line with the licensed seasonal king and queen scallop fisheries for many years now.
General view of the working deck.
The spacious and well-arranged engineroom.
Always display your country’s colours with pride.
Taking Golden Shore’s 12-fathom queenie trawl onto the net drum in Kilkeel harbour.
Wheelhouse interior.
When fishing around the Isle of Man, Golden Shore will usually land to Tim Croft and Billy Caley’s company, Island Shellfish Processing Ltd of Port St Mary. When fishing into Northern Ireland, Kilhorne Seafoods of Annalong will process queenies landed by Golden Shore, while scallops will go to Sea-Source in Kilkeel.
On taking the decision to investigate new build options, the owners subsequently contacted Naval Architect Ian Paton of SC McAlister & Co Ltd, and Mooney Boats, which at the time were fitting-out the 24m twin-rig prawn freezer trawler Patrick C DA 77 and preparing to start work on the 26.5m Audacious DA 14, again for Clogherhead owners.
Following further discussion with the designer, SC McAlister’s well-proven design of sub-15m hull was evolved in line with the owners’ requirements, which focused on fishing efficiency, safety and versatility.
