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James Malam - a general history

Completed July 1873; Official No. 67540: Code Letters MBTW.

Owners: 1873 Groves, Maclean & Co. West Hartlepool: 1888 William Maclean, Doughty & Co. West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1873-74 Payne: 1876-80 J Lundwall: 1880 R Jefferson: 1880-83 Borret: 1884-88 P Dalziel: 1888-92 John Whyte: 1893-94 T Tregartha: 1895 John: August 1895-99 William Williams.

Voyages: 14 January 1888 she left Terneuzen bound for West Hartlepool in water ballast & with a crew of 17. When passing Flushing the master slipped & sprained his ankle so command of the vessel was passed to the mate-who also held a master’s certificate. Near Flamborough Head the vessel collided with a fishing smack, the Jane of Grimsby, which sank with all hands. The master & mate of James Malam were not found responsible for the collision but were found in default for not making more of an effort to save life.

Bound from Munksund for Rochefort with a cargo of deals & a total crew of 16 James Malam foundered in a Force 9 NW gale in the North Sea in 54.30N/4.38E on 14 October 1899. Four lives lost.

The inquiry found that the deck cargo was not properly distributed & there had been a grave error of judgement in taking so much cargo aboard.

Crew January 1888:

Dixon, John, 1st mate

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