Registration number 3007
Status Archived
adminnhs
Viola in port at South Georgia
  • port bow
  • stern view
  • starboard view
  • Viola anchor bitt
  • Viola painting by Larry Malkin for calendar
  • port side view
  • Viola in South Georgia 2
  • Viola deck 2
  • Viola deck
  • Viola on South Georgia

Previous names

  • Viola

Details

Function Fishing Vessel
Subfunction Trawler
Location South Georgia
Archive reason Overseas Watch List
Current use Ongoing conservation
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Cook, Gemmel & Welton Ltd, Beverley
Built in 1906
Hull material Iron
Propulsion Steam
Primary engine type Steam

Dimensions

Length: Overall
108.50 feet (33.07m)
Breadth: Beam
21.50 feet (6.55m)
Depth
11.50 feet (3.51m)
Tonnage: Gross
174.00

History

VIOLA-DIAS was built as a steam fishing trawler in 1906 by Cook, Welton and Gemmell of Beverley, East Yorkshire, and has had a long and varied career as a Boxing fleet trawler, armed patrol vessel during World War I, Norwegian trawler and Whaler Sealer Polar exploration support vessel.

The vessel is at present beached at Grytviken, South Georgia and the Viola Trust supported by Hull City Council has been established to survey the vessel prior to writing the business case and raising the funds required to return the vessel to Hull.

In November 2025, a BBC News story reported that 'Plans to return an Edwardian trawler to its home port have been abandoned in favour of producing a virtual version of the ship. The plan has been cancelled "as a result of the escalation in costs", the Trust said. Instead a "Virtual Viola" has been created by the Glasgow School of Art and will be housed in the city's renovated Maritime Museum when it reopens in 2026.'

Key dates

  • 1906

    Built as a fishing trawler by Cook Welton and Gemmel of Beverly
  • 1906-1914

    As VIOLA served a long and varied career as a Boxing fleet trawler
  • 1914-1919

    Served as armed patrol vessel HMT VIOLA during the First World War
  • 1919

    Purchased by L. Thorsen of Norway and renamed KAPDUEN
  • 1924

    Renamed DIAS and used for whaling off coast of Africa
  • 1928-1958

    As DIAS served as polar exploration support vessel as well as whaling
  • 1964

    DIAS laid up following closure of whaling station at Grytviken
  • 1974

    Vessel foundered at mooring at Grytviken
  • 2000

    Vessel beached at Grytviken, South Georgia
  • 2004

    Vessel refloated and surveyed to establish whether sound enough to be recovered to Hull
  • 2016

    Further survey carried out to assess suitability for transport to Hull
  • 2017

    VIOLA Trust plan to return her to Hull

Sources

BBC News story, 7/11/2025: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxnrdr0l9zo 

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk