Ship Details

Departure Bay No. 2

Vessel image

Photo Credit: Richmond Archives

 
 
Registry #1 154660 (Canada) Registry #2 FY.21 (RCN) Registry #3
IMO# MMSI# VRN# 29092
 
Name 1 1928 Departure Bay No. 2 Name 6
Name 2 1942 Valdes (H.M.C.S.) Name 7
Name 3 1944 Departure Bay No. 2 Name 8
Name 4 1959 China Hat (II) Name 9
Name 5 1988 Ocean Defender (II) Name 10
 
Year Built 1928 Place Nanaimo Area BC Country Canada
 
Designer (nk) Measurement (imp) 72.0' x 16.6' x 7.9'
Builder Arimoto, Jirokichi Measurement (metric) ?m x ?m x ?m
Hull Wood Displacement
Gross Tonnage 61.74 Type 1 Fishboat, seiner
Registered Tonnage 37.84 Type 2 Patrol vessel
Engine 100bhp 5nhp diesel engine (1928) (No. 7146) Engine Manufacture Washington-Estep, Seattle WA USA
Repower Repowered with a 225bhp diesel engine (1959) Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby GBR Repowered with a 230bhp diesel engine (1967) General Motors (Canada), Oshawa, ON Propulsion Screw
Rebuilds Call Sign VYKS
Pendant  # FY.21 Masters In 1942 Frank R. Brown (Coxswain RCNR) in command. In 1943 Carl Gustafson (Coxswain RCNR) in command. In 1944 Angus Neish (Coxswain RCNR (FR)) in command with Martin Charlebois (Skipper RCNR (FR)) as Mate.
 
Owner(s)
In 1928-1936 she was owned by Ryotaro Kita, Vancouver BC Canada. In 1936-1942 she was owned by Nanaimo Shipyards Ltd., Nanaimo BC Canada. In 1941 this vessel was seized by the Custodian of Enemy Property (Frank Shears), Ottawa ON Canada. In 1942 her ownership was transferred to His Majesty the King (Japanese Fishboat Disposal Committee) for the Minister of Munitions and Supply, Ottawa ON Canada. At the time her appraised value was $12,500. In 1942 she was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy Fisherman's Reserve as H.M.C.S. Valdes. In 1944 she was owned by John C. Horan (MO), Vancouver BC Canada. In 1944-1959 she was owned by Richard Nelson (MO), Vancouver BC Canada. In 1959-1986 she was owned by British Columbia Packers Ltd., Vancouver & Richmond BC Canada. In 1991-1995 she was owned by Spirit Management Ltd., Squamish BC Canada.
 
Fate Registry closed Date 1995-12-04
 
Named Features
Significance of Name
 
Anecdotes
In 1941 this vessel was seized by the Custodian of Enemy Property (Frank Shears), Ottawa ON Canada. In 1942 her ownership was transferred to His Majesty the King (Japanese Fishboat Disposal Committee). At the time her appraised value was $12,500. In 1942 this vessel was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy Fisherman's Reserve as H.M.C.S. Valdes. In 1942 this vessel was serving as tender to H.M.C.S. Givenchy. In 1943 this vessel was tender to H.M.C.S. Givenchy II. In 1944 this vessel was serving as a Tender to H.M.C.S. Chatham. On February 11, 1089 this vessel grounded and sank off the east side of Sarah Island , in Finlayson Channel BC Canada.
 
References
Harbour & Shipping (Progress Publishing Co. Ltd.) Vol. 11 (1928); Tucker, Gilbert Norman (1952); Popp, Carol (1988); Macpherson, Ken and Burgess, John. (1981); Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Freeman, David J. (2000); Canada List of Shipping; Japanese Fishing Vessels Disposal Committee (December 1942) Report of Japanese Fishing Vessels Disposal Committee. Vancouver BC; Canada List of Shipping;, Volume II (Fishing Vessels on Register in Canada) 1991; Bryon Taylor (Email to Nauticapedia 23/01/2019); ; RG12 Reel T-11842 (1942) (Departure Bay) RG12 Reel T-11577 (China Hat); RG24 Volume 6729 File 8000-471/62 General Information - HMCS VALDES; Skogland, Neil (Email to Nauticapedia (Attachment) 27/11/2023); https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=5531813&q_type_1=q&q_1=ship%20registration%20154660&ecopy=e011446341_076 (website viewed 22/06/2025); https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=6351864&q_type_1=q&q_1=ship%20registration%20154660&ecopy=e011451268 (website viewed 22/06/2025);
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