The Northern Chief was constructed in Germany at Bremerhaven by Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde in 1936 Ordered by Leverhulme Ltd to absorb frozen credits in Germany.
11/1936 Completed and went to Fleetwood as LO 165 for her owners Iago Steam trawlers Ltd.
Operating out of Fleetwood (Edward D. W. Lawford, manager).
10/1937 she was sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London (H. Markham Cook, Grimsby, manager) and was transferred to Grimsby.
08/1939 requisitioned, she was converted as an Armed Boarding vessel and later for anti-submarine duties.
03/1942 she was on loan to the US Navy operating on the East Coast of the USA.
She was returned to the Royal Navy and began operating in the South Atlantic based in Cape Town.
02/1946 She was returned to her former owners after a survey and restoration which was performed at Birkenhead over seen by Wiliam A. Bennet manager.
12/1946 London Registry Closed and was registered Grimsby GY 455
02/1947 Grimsby Registry was closed
02/1947 Sold to H/F Gylfi Vatneyri Iceland renamed GYLFI BA 77
1950 Sold to Ludwig Janssen & Co, Wesermünde Bremenhaven Germany, Renamed Island RE 195
Her details are
- LO 165 / GY 455 / BA 77
- Official No 165352
- Built 11/1936
- Yard No 554
- GT 655 NT 251
- Length 198.5 x 28.7 x 13.9
- Pennant FY 4.34
- Engines T.3-cyl & LP turbine with DR gearing & hydraulic coupling by Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde. Top speed of 12 knots.
1957 she was sold to W. Ritscher, Hamburg for demolition arriving 15/07/1957.