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The ''Ross Tiger'' is a traditional side-winder fishing trawler that was converted into a museum ship in 1992.〔 She is currently berthed in Alexandra Dock at her home port of Grimsby, close to the site of the former PS Lincoln Castle. She forms the star attraction of North East Lincolnshire County Council's National Fishing Heritage Centre since restored and opened to the public in 1992.〔(North East Lincolnshire Council: Fishing Heritage Centre - Ross Tiger )〕〔(Tale of a Tiger )〕 As Grimsby's last traditional sidewinder 'conventional trawler', she represents a now virtually extinct breed of vessels that once made up the largest fishing fleet in the world.〔()〕 She is a member of the National Register of Historic Vessels with certificate number 621. == History == The ''Ross Tiger'', GY398, is North East Lincolnshire's memorial to the history of the Port of Grimsby. The town today has thriving industry and is, according to ABP,'Chief vehicle-handling centre of the North, handling almost 400,000 vehicles annually' with ships up to 6000 dwt 〔()〕 However, Grimsby will always be associated with its terrific history. With Victorian docks once the envy of the nation, Grimsby was famed for its great fishing fleet. Fishing from the port of Grimsby goes back as far as Grim, the Danish fisherman who founded the town, and her trawlers were a permanent feature of one of the busiest waterways in the British Isles – the River Humber.〔()〕 The importance of the Humber was not forgotten during both world wars and neither was the town's fishing fleet. Grimsby became the largest base for minesweepers in Britain, with the trawlers and motor minesweepers clearing 34,858 mines from the North Sea lanes during the Second World War.〔()〕 The brave men of the Royal Naval Patrol Service used peacetime fishing vessels to venture into known mine infested waters to sink mines and hunt submarines. Many did not return. They are remembered with a memorial constructed by their surviving comrades who remember how vital their work was for Britain's war effort. When the trawlers returned to their fishing roles the fishing fleet grew along with the national demand for fish, with Grimsby rising to the title of the largest fishing port in the world.〔()〕 The ''Ross Tiger'' (GY 398) was built to supply that demand. Grimsby was witness to the evolution of the fishing trawler. It saw the change from the early timber sailing vessels to the introduction of steam which revolutionised the fishing fleet. Steam allowed for powerful vessels to push ever further north and it was soon found that new steel steam trawler design had to evolve further to cope with the extreme environments the ships were required to encounter; the traditional 'bridge aft side' design of trawler was lost to ships with a hardy sleek steel wheelhouse amidships, the ships developed sleek hulls with the addition of a 'whaleback' forward in an attempt to provide shelter to the fishdeck, steam engines were replaced by modern powerful marine diesel technology and at the final stage of this evolution of the side winder trawler we find the ''Ross Tiger''. Being built in the 1950s she was constructed the decade prior to Grimsby's introduction to the modern 'stern trawlers' and welded ship construction that changed the profile of the trawler forever. She is also old enough to retain the traditional character, brass and woodwork that reminds us of the heritage and atmosphere of trawlers long before her time, but was lost by the 1960s. ''Ross Tiger'' was the first of twelve new trawlers for one of Grimsby's most prolific trawler owners. She entered service fresh from the yards of Cochrane and Sons, Selby, Yorkshire to become part of the 'middle water' fleet for Ross Trawlers Ltd. The trawlers of the town took their crews away in what is recognised as 'the most dangerous job in the United Kingdom'〔http://www.careerbuilder.co.uk/Article/CB-127-Job-Search-Britains-Most-Dangerous-Jobs/〕 and scoured the ocean floors for deep sea fish, with a particular focus on cod and haddock. Haddock, regarded as a cleaner fish by Grimbarians, was preferred locally although the rail links from the town allowed for Grimsby fish to supply the nation, particularly with links to the south and the great Billingsgate Fish Market of London. The Cod Wars spelt the end of the life of many Grimsby trawlers, though some were saved from the breakers' yard to become standby vessels used for offshore oil rigs. The ''Ross Tiger'' was among those fortunate few, changing hands in 1985. However, the aging vessels were soon to be redundant and ''Ross Tiger'' was looking at the breakers' yard or yet another change of hands. Once again, the ''Tiger'' proved lucky. She was purchased by a museum trust to become the star attraction of her home town's Fishing Heritage Centre,〔("Tide turns for fishing museum" ''BBC News'' ) Accessed 2010–06–13〕 and restored to her fishing day glory. An article in the Grimsby Telegraph on the 14th of July 1992 quoted the local council as they made it clear that ''Ross Tiger'' "will remain as a fitting monument to the people who sailed out of what was once known as the world's premier fishing port". Guided tours of the vessel show visitors the unique spaces aboard and demonstrate how various pieces of equipment aboard this traditional design of trawler were used. Despite conversion to a standby vessel, much of the original fabric of the ship is retained. This makes the ''Tiger'' a unique survivor, allowing visitors to witness her original Ruston and Hornsby diesel engines, wood paneling, cabins and bunks, ships galley and mess room as well as the beautifully preserved wheelhouse with period instruments. The plush skipper's berth, just abaft the bridge, is also surprisingly well preserved, down to the original lampshades! This all combines to provide visitors with a genuine feel for this special and unique environment. These are the long lost surroundings that were familiar to the men who, for generations, satisfied much of the nation's desire for deep sea fish. ''Ross Tiger'' has recently undergone substantial maintenance work to her exterior above the waterline, enabling her to continue to give a valuable insight into the lives of the fisherman of the past. She is a very solidly built ship, up for the death-defying role she was designed for, and is still sound. However, unless she is able to secure funding for her future and the required maintenance work that will soon be needed to her hull, including transport to an area of the docks that will permit this, the people of Grimsby will be concerned for her future. The recent grisly fate of the historic PS Lincoln Castle is still fresh in the memories of those who care for the tremendously significant and industrious, yet astoundingly overlooked, history of the region. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ross Tiger」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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