Ship Details
Billow (H.M.C.S.) Photo Credit: Colin Levings

 

Registry #1	171790 (Canada)	Registry #2	FY.25 (RCN)	Registry #3
IMO#		MMSI#		VRN#	20456

 

Name 1	1939	Kuroshio (I)	Name 6
Name 2	1942	Billow (H.M.C.S.)	Name 7
Name 3	1946	Kuroshio (I)	Name 8
Name 4	1961	Miss Teresa (I)	Name 9
Name 5	1963	Ocean Traveller	Name 10

 

Year Built	1939	Place	Vancouver	Area	BC	Country	Canada

 

Designer	(nk)	Measurement (imp)	62.8' x 17.7' x 8.5'
Builder	Union Boat Works Ltd.	Measurement (metric)	?m x ?m x ?m
Hull	Wood	Displacement
Gross Tonnage	72.87	Type 1	Fishpacker
Registered Tonnage	47.26	Type 2	Patrol vessel
Engine	1 – 135/450bhp 5.6nhp diesel engine (1939)	Engine Manufacture	Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Co., Oakland CA
Repower	Repowered with a 345bhp diesel engine Cummins Engine Co., Inc., Columbus, IL (1979);	Propulsion	Screw
Rebuilds		Call Sign
Pendant  #	FY.25	Masters	In 1942 Robert D. Patterson (Coxswain RCNR) in command as tender to H.M.C.S. Givenchy. In 1943 William J. Thomas MBE (Skipper Coxswain RCNR) in command with Mereon Skibo (Coxswain RCNR). In 1943 she served as tender to H.M.C.S. Chatham with Pendant Number (With Fishery Pendant Superior) FY 25. In 1944 William J. Thomas MBE (Skipper Coxswain RCNR (FR)) was in command as tender to H.M.C.S. Chatham.

 

Owner(s)

In 1940-1941 she was owned by Chosuke Nakamura, Vancouver BC Canada. In 1942 her ownership was transferred to His Majesty the King. In 1962 she was owned by Stanley J. Palmer, Campbell River BC Canada. In 1963-1966 she was owned by Franklin Gale Jr., Victoria BC Canada. In 1968-1974 she was owned by Gale Ventures Ltd., Victoria BC Canada. In 1975-1987 she was owned by Ocean Traveller Ventures Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada.

 

Fate	Registry closed	Date	1986-04-22

 

Named Features
Significance of Name	Kuroshio is Japanes name for the "Black Current" in the Pacific Ocean.

 

Anecdotes

In 1941 this vessel was seized from her Japanese owners by the Canadian Government. In 1942 her ownership transferred to His Majesty the King. At the time her appraised value was $22,000. A sister ship to the Surf. In 1942 this vessel was renamed as H.M.C.S. Billow. In 1942 this vessel was commissioned into the RCN Fisherman's Reserve as a harbour service auxiliary craft. In 1942 this vessel served as a fireboat in Prince Rupert BC. On October 31, 1975 this vessel foundered and sank off Coal Harbour (VI) BC on the west coast of Vancouver Island BC with the loss of all hands.

 

References
Canada List of Shipping (1939); Transportation Safety Board of Canada (1993); Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Freeman, David J. (2000); Japanese Fishing Vessels Disposal Committee (December 1942) Report of Japanese Fishing Vessels Disposal Committee. Vancouver BC; Popp, Carol (1988); Tucker, G.N. (1952); Macpherson & Burgess (1981); Bryon Taylor (Email 23/01/2019); ; RG12 Reel T-11842 (1942) (Kuroshio); RG12 Reel T-11591 (Ocean Trader) ;
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