History of the Arctic Corsair

The Arctic Corsair was built in 1960 at Beverley Shipyard for the Boyd Line and had a long and successful career despite the decline of the local fishing industry after 1975.

A veteran of the Cod Wars, the Arctic Corsair was rammed by an Icelandic gun boat in the 1970s.  After a lay-up of seven years she achieved a record breaking return to fishing in 1986 before being finally laid up in the winter of 1987.

Since opening to the public in 1999, she has since attracted in excess of 20,000 visitors.

Specification

There are still many old trawlers involved in oil rig support duties but these have been greatly modified. The Arctic Corsair has been restored to her original condition and is now a typical example of an early 1960's fishing vessel.

Dimensions
191ft 7ins long (58.4 metres)
33ft 11ins wide (10.3 metres)

Engine
Mirless Monarch six cylinder diesel
2,000 horse power
Top speed 16 knots

Weight
764 tons gross

Crew
20 men - skipper, mate, bosun, third hand (uncertified watch keeper), wireless operator, chief engineer, second engineer, two firemen/greasers, cook, eight spare hands (deck hands), decky learner and galley boy.