SS Cokesit

Cokesit was a steam cargo ship built in 1918–1919 by Guy M. Standifer Construction Company of Vancouver for the United States Shipping Board as part of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) to restore the nation's Merchant Marine. The vessel was largely employed on the East Coast of the United States to Australia route until 1928 when she was laid up. In late 1937 the ship together with several other vessels was bid on and subsequently acquired next year by the Greek tramp operator John D. Chandris to carry cargo from Australia to Greece and United Kingdom. The freighter was also renamed Adelfoi Chandris. Following the surrender of France, the ship was interned in Dakar and passed into Vichy government hands in 1940 and renamed Saint Marin. Under the terms of Nevers Agreement she eventually was transferred to Italy and renamed Catania. In early August 1943 the vessel together with several other ships was bombed and damaged in Naples harbor by the Allied aircraft.
Design and construction.
After the United States entry into World War I, a large shipbuilding program was undertaken to restore and enhance shipping capabilities both of the United States and their Allies. As part of this program, EFC placed orders with nation's shipyards for a large number of vessels of standard designs. Design 1015 cargo ship was a standard cargo freighter of approximately 9,400 tons deadweight designed by Moore Shipbuilding Co. and adopted by USSB.
"Cokesit" was part of the order for 10 vessels placed by USSB with Guy M. Standifer Construction Co. on 8 January 1918 and was laid down on 3 August 1918 and launched on 31 December 1918 (yard number 1), with Miss Ruth Standifer, sister of Guy M. Standifer, principal owner of the G. M. Standifer Construction Co., being the sponsor. Due to the ship being the first vessel launched by a newly established yard, there was a large crowd in attendance consisting of common folk and local dignitaries. Just as with many other vessels being built for the Shipping Board, her name was picked by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson who often chose Native American words for naming purposes.
The ship had two main decks as well as forecastle and poop deck and was built on the Isherwood principle of longitudinal framing providing extra strength to the body of the vessel. The freighter had five main holds and also possessed all the modern machinery for quick loading and unloading of cargo from five large hatches, including ten winches and a large number of derricks. She was also equipped with wireless apparatus, had submarine signal system installed and had electrical lights installed along the decks.
As built, the ship was long (between perpendiculars) and abeam, a depth of . "Cokesit" was originally assessed at and and had deadweight of approximately 9,627. The vessel had a steel hull with double bottom throughout with exception of her machine compartment, and a single 2,800 ihp triple expansion steam engine, with cylinders of , and diameter with a stroke, that drove a single screw propeller and moved the ship at up to . The steam for the engine was supplied by three single-ended Scotch marine boilers fitted for both coal and oil fuel.
The sea trials were held on the Columbia River on 16 April 1919 during which the ship could easily maintain an average speed of on several runs over a measured distance, half a knot above her contract speed. Following their successful completion, the ship was turned over to the USSB two weeks later.
Operational history.
While the steamer was still under construction she was allocated by the USSB to Pacific Steamship Company to transport flour to the East Coast for delivery to Europe. Following an established USSB policy the Shipping Board ship could only continue with cargo to Europe if an equivalent amount of cargo space would be allocated by a foreign shipping operator. After finishing her test trial, the freighter was put back into shipbuilder's yard for minor repairs and painting. She then moved to an elevator where she took on board 7,525 tons of flour and cleared from loading area on May 16. "Cokesit" then proceeded on a twelve-hour long loaded trail run arriving at Astoria next day at around noon. The vessel finally sailed out on May 19 and arrived at Hampton Roads via the Panama Canal on June 17 where she unloaded her entire cargo of flour. Soon after she was reallocated to Barber Line and proceeded to Savannah where she loaded 6,085 bales of cotton in addition to other cargo and departed for Liverpool and Glasgow on August 22. "Cokesit" returned to Newport News from her European trip on November 14 and from there proceeded to Tampa on December 15 to load a full cargo of phosphate rock for delivery to Denmark. The freighter made one more voyage for Barber Line in May 1920 carrying a mixed cargo of cotton and phosphates to Le Havre and Ghent and returning to Newport News on July 8. She then remained berthed at Hampton Roads until being chartered for one trip to France and departing with 6,611 tons of coal for Dunkirk on 29 October 1920. She returned to Savannah from her trip in mid-December of the same year and remained idle there for an entire 1921.
In December 1921 "Cokesit" was allocated to Lykes Brothers to serve on their trade route from Galveston to French and German ports and departed Savannah on 6 January 1922 bound for New Orleans. She sailed from there on January 26 for Rotterdam carrying a cargo of grain and lumber. She made one more trip in April 1922 to Bremen with a cargo of 85,731 bushels of rye before being withdrawn from Gulf service in May 1922 due to her being a coal-burning vessel and her inability to hold enough coal to make a round trip voyage to Europe.
Upon her return from Europe in June 1922 "Cokesit" was assigned to the United States & Australia Line to operate between New York and Australian, New Zealand and other Oriental ports. The freighter departed New York on her first trip on the new route on 29 July 1922 carrying full cargo of case oil. She called at Port Natal on September 3 to refill her bunkers, and arrived at Fremantle on September 28. The freighter then visited several ports in Australia unloading her cargo and sailed from Newcastle in ballast on November 6 bound for the Philippines and China. After loading approximately 6,500 tons of general cargo largely consisting of sugar at Cebu, Pulupandan, Manila and Shanghai the freighter arrived at Boston via Comox and Panama Canal on 4 March 1923 and from there proceeded to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore to unload the freight. Subsequently, she proceeded to James River on July 23 where she was laid up.
"Cokesit" was reactivated at the end of 1924 and arrived at New York for loading on 8 December 1924. She was again allocated to the United States & Australia Line and sailed from New York on December 23 bound for Australia. The freighter continue serving the same route through September 1926. Following a return from one of this trips, "Cokesit" was allocated to Roosevelt Line to serve on the newly inaugurated route from East Coast to Australia. The ship made only one trip in this capacity leaving New York in November 1926 and returning to Boston on 1 April 1927 with a large cargo of wool, hides and cocoa. She was scheduled to depart for another trip on July 20 of the same year but that trip never happened and the ship remained idle waiting for another opportunity. "Cokesit" was eventually laid up and relocated to a ship anchorage off Staten Island.
After being laid up for approximately nine years "Cokesit" was designated for sale and disposal in 1936. However, in October 1937 the U.S. Maritime Commission offered a large number of vessels in their reserve fleet for sale and Greek shipowner John D. Chandris stepped in and inquired about buying four large vessels off this list. These steamers, "Arcturus", "Cokesit", "Oakspring" and "Rockport", were cleared by the Maritime Commission for sale to a foreign entity and were acquired by the Greek firm for 367,536 the same month. "Cokesit" was renamed "Adelfoi Chandris" and was immediately put on the company's trade routes in the Baltic and the Mediterranean. The vessel remained in this trade through the entire 1938. Early in 1939 the freighter was chartered for one trip to Australia and New Zealand and departed from Sfax with a cargo of Gafsa phosphates on 11 February 1939 bound for Auckland and New Plymouth. After unloading her cargo in New Zealand the ship continued on to Sydney where she took on board 8,602 tons of wheat and left on 3 June 1939 bound for United Kingdom and Greece. She arrived in England in early September 1939, and due to the start of World War II could no longer be used in the Baltic trade. The ship then proceeded to North America arriving in Vancouver in January 1940.
While in British Columbia "Adelfoi Chandris" loaded approximately 8,000 tons of lead and lumber and departed New Westminster on 19 February 1940, passed through the Panama Canal on March 3 and arrived in Halifax in mid-March. While there, "Adelfoi Chandris" was made part of convoy HX-29 and sailed from Halifax on 21 March 1940 for Liverpool successfully reaching her destination on April 4. On 23 April 1940 while still at Garston the ship was seized by the French government and put under control of Chargeurs Reunis. The freighter then proceeded to Barry in ballast as part of convoy OB 136 arriving there on April 28. Following the surrender of France the vessel left England and eventually ended up at Dakar on August 8 where she was interned and remained berthed. On 21 October 1941 the vessel was transferred to Société Nationale d'Affrêtements (SNA) and renamed "Saint Marin". She continued her stay at Dakar undergoing repairs from October 1941 through February 1942 before sailing for Marseilles where she underwent further repairs from 5 March through 15 April 1942.
Under the terms of Nevers Agreement signed between the Nazi Germany and the Vichy Government on 27/28 August 1942 all foreign merchant ships in French custody were to be transferred to Germany. On 23 October 1942 "Saint Marin" was restored to their former Greek owners under her original name and simultaneously transferred to Italy and put under control of Società Anonima di Navigazione Italia under a name "Catania". On 12 November 1942 the vessel was requisitioned by Regia Marina and remained in their service until 3 March 1943 when the ship charter was annulled. The vessel subsequently was chartered by Regio Esercito and remained under their control until the end of her career. On 4 August 1943 she was heavily damaged during an Allied air raid on Naples. She was further damaged during another air raid on 8 September 1943, and was finally scuttled by the retreating German troops on 15 September 1943 a few days before arrival of Allies in Naples. After the end of the World War II the ship was raised and Italy was allowed to scrap the wreckage in 1949.


SS Cristoforo Colombo

SS "Cristoforo Colombo" () was an Italian ocean liner built in the 1950s, sister ship of the .
Origins and construction.
The origins of the "Cristoforo Colombo" lie in the situation of the Italian Line at the end of World War II. The war had been devastating to them, as two of their newest and largest ships - the and - had been destroyed. The Italian Line at this point decided to build only moderately-sized ships that were very luxurious, comfortable, and stylish.
The "Cristoforo Colombo" was built in Genoa at the Ansaldo Shipyards. The "Andrea Doria" was already built by the time "Cristoforo Colombo" was completed. She was launched in 1953 and was ready for a 1954 maiden voyage. When launched, the "Cristoforo Colombo" was larger than the "Andrea Doria". Hence, the ship was the largest merchant ship in Italian service.
Italian Line service.
After the "Andrea Doria" was sunk after a collision with the in 1956, the "Cristoforo Colombo" was on her own until 1960 when the ship was joined by the "Andrea Doria"'s replacement, SS "Leonardo da Vinci".
In the spring of 1964, the "Cristoforo Colombo" carried the "Pietà" from the Vatican to the 1964 New York World's Fair. "Pietà" was put in a crate that was filled with plastic foam, which was lowered onto a rubber base in the first class pool where the least damage was likely to happen to it. During the actual loading, the "Cristoforo Colombo" had been put in dry dock so that she would not move and jeopardize the crate and its content. Only easily removable snap hooks secured the crate so that it could be released easily in case of accident. In case the "Cristoforo Colombo" sank during the voyage, the crate had the ability to float. In New York, the crate was lifted by a heavy-lift floating crane onto a barge that was put alongside the ship.
The "Cristoforo Colombo" and the "Leonardo da Vinci" were kept as the flagships and the prime Italian ships on the North Atlantic until 1965, when the new and were placed into service. She was painted entirely white in 1966 in order to match with the other ships in the Italian Line, who had abandoned black as a hull color.
In popular culture.
The "Cristoforo Colombo" is prominently featured in the 1962 Warner Brothers film "Rome Adventure" starring Suzanne Pleshette, Troy Donahue and Rossano Brazzi.
The opening titles of the 1971 film "The Burglars" ("Le Casse") by Henri Verneuil shows the "Cristoforo Colombo" at dock in Athens, Greece. The ship's name is clearly seen.
Retirement from Italian Line service.
In 1973, the "Cristoforo Colombo" gave up the New York service. It was therefore redirected to the Genoa-Barcelona-Lisbon-Rio-Montevideo-BuenosAires service to replace the that had suffered serious mechanical problems. As the South American service accepted a ship of sub-standard maintenance, she stayed, until 1977. She was then sold to Venezuela, where she was used as an accommodation ship for workers at Ciudad Guayana.
In 1981, the "Cristoforo Colombo" was sold to US scrappers. However, upon arrival at Kaohsiung, "Cristoforo Colombo" was towed to Hong Kong with hopes of returning to service. As the ship was expensive to operate (she was designed to operate on an Italian subsidy) and was in poor condition after her time in Venezuela, the "Cristoforo Colombo" was towed back to Kaohsiung in the autumn of 1982 and scrapped.


Dmitriy Furmanov-class motorship

"Dmitriy Furmanov" class is a class of Russian river passenger ships, project 302, 302M, 302MK / German name BiFa129M.
The class is named after the first ship in the class Dmitriy Furmanov, which in her turn was named after Dmitry Furmanov.
Four-deck cruise ships manufactured in Boizenburg, Germany, 1983–1992.


SS Empire Dell

Empire Dell was a CAM ship that was built in 1941 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She served until May 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk by whilst a member of Convoy ONS 92.
Description.
The ship was built in 1941 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. She was yard number 947.
The ship was long, with a beam of . She had a depth of and a draught of . She was assessed at , .
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke. The engine was built by Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Greenock.
She was armed with a Hawker Sea Hurricane. Her crew numbered 41, plus seven Royal Air Force personnel.
History.
"Empire Dell" was built for the MoWT. She was launched on 26 May 1941. She was placed under the management of George Nisbet & Co Ltd, Glasgow. "Empire Dell" was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 167004 and Code Letters BCMD. Her port of registry was Greenock.
"Empire Dell" departed from the Clyde on 11 July 1941 for the Belfast Lough, from where she sailed on 16 July to join Convoy OB 347, which departed from Liverpool, Lancashire that day and dispersed at sea on 31 July. she then sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, arriving on 2 August. Laden with grain, she departed from Halifax on 10 August as a member of Convoy HX 144, which arrived at Liverpool on 30 August. "Empire Dell" was transferred to Convoy SC 40, which had departed from Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia on 10 August and arrived at Liverpool on 29 August.
"Empire Dell" was a member of Convoy ON 16, which departed from Liverpool on 13 September and dispersed at sea on 27 September. She sailed to Halifax, arriving on 5 October. She departed from Halifax a week later and sailed to Sydney, arriving the next day. Laden with a cargo of wheat, "Empire Dell" was a member of Convoy SC 50, which departed from Sydney on 17 October and arrived at Liverpool on 4 November. She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 3 November to join Convoy BB 97, which departed on 6 November and arrived at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire the next day. She sailed on to Avonmouth, Somerset, arriving on 8 November. She left four days later and sailed to Cardiff, Glamorgan, arriving on 13 November.
"Empire Dell" departed from Cardiff on 22 November and sailed to Liverpool, arriving on 24 November. She was a member of Convoy ON 40, which departed on 25 November and dispersed at sea on 4 December. She detached from the convoy and put into the Clyde, arriving on 27 November. She sailed from the Clyde the next day to join Convoy OG 77, which departed from Milford Haven on 24 November and arrived at Gibraltar on 13 December. She departed from Gibraltar on 29 December for Huelva, Spain, arriving the next day.
"Empire Dell" departed from Huelva on 7 January 1942 for Gibraltar, arriving the same day. Laden with a cargo of iron ore, she departed from Gibraltar on 11 January as a member of Convoy SL 97G, which arrived at Liverpool on 24 January. She sailed to the Clyde, arriving on 23 January. "Empire Dell" departed from the Clyde on 24 February to join Convoy OG 80, which departed from Milford Haven on 22 February and arrived at Gibraltar on 8 March. She left Gibraltar on 26 March, returning on 30 March. Carrying a cargo of iron ore, she departed from Gibraltar on 5 April as a member of Convoy HG 81, which arrived at Liverpool on 15 April.
"Empire Dell" was a member of Convoy ON 92, which departed from Liverpool on 6 May and arrived at Halifax on 21 May. At around 02:00 (German time) on 12 May, "Empire Dell" was hit by a torpedo fired by , which was under the command of Kapitänleutnant Johann Mohr. "U-124" was operating as part of Wolf pack Hecht. She sank at . Two of her crew of 48, which included seven RAF personnel, were killed. Twenty-one survivors were rescued by the convoy rescue ship and 25 were rescued by . They were landed at St. John's, Newfoundland on 17 and 16 May respectively. Those lost on "Empire Dell" are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.


SS Arthur M. Huddell

SS "Arthur M. Huddell" is a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Arthur M. Huddell, an American union leader. Huddell had been president of the Boston Central Labor Union, vice president of the International Engineers’ Union, and president of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).
From delivery on 18 December 1943 the ship was operated by an agent for the War Shipping Administration until laid up September 1945 with a brief operating period in 1947. Between October 1947 and February 1956 the ship was in long term layup. In 1956 "Arthur M. Huddel" began operations as a cable transport for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T).
The Historic American Engineering Record for the ship notes significance as an existing Liberty ship example and role in Operation PLUTO (pipeline-under-the-sea) and later work as a cable transport for AT&T communications cable installations and then for installation of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) until 1983. In 2009 "Arthur M. Huddel" was donated to Greece to serves as the museum ship "Hellas Liberty." The fully restored ship is on display in the Port of Piraeus, Athens.
Construction.
"Arthur M. Huddell" was laid down on 25 October 1943, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1215, by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida; she was sponsored by Mrs. Arthur M. Huddell, the widow of the namesake, and was launched on 7 December 1943. The ship, assigned official number 244760, was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 18 December 1943 with A.H. Bull & Co., Inc. assigned as the WSA operating agent under a general agency agreement.
War history.
After "Arthur M. Huddell" loaded explosives and general cargo in Jacksonville, she sailed for New York, in February 1944, where she joined a convoy for London.
Following the completion of this voyage the ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia, in March 1944 before at the end of April 1944 departing from Charleston, South Carolina, with a cargo of explosives to Oran, in Algeria.
During the summer of 1944 the ship was modified with number 4 and 5 holds converted to carry coiled pipe for the construction of a fuel pipeline under the English Channel as part of Operation PLUTO supporting the Normandy landings. She departed New York, 22 September 1944, carrying of pipe and general cargo. She then spent 84 days in London, unloading of pipe into a cable laying ship, and unloading the remainder at the dock. This turned out to be "Arthur M. Huddell"s first and only fuel pipe transport mission.
For the remainder of the war and immediate post war period she carried coal, general cargo, and personnel. Departing in February 1945, the ship carried coal in a convoy from Hampton Roads in Virginia to Marseilles in France before returning the following month to Philadelphia. In May 1945, the ship departed transporting general cargo to Naples in Italy, and Oran in Algeria, before returning to New York.
In June 1945, the ship transported coal to Marseilles in France before continuing on to Port de Bouc from where it carried 619 French and Moroccan troops to Oran in Algeria. In July of that year the ship returned to Baltimore, Maryland before making a voyage to New York before the Maritime Commission laid up the ship in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia, 25 September 1945, with $20,000 worth of costly repairs needed.
Between 15 February 1947 and 9 October 1947 the ship was again assigned under a general agency agreement and bareboat charter to A.H. Bull before being again laid up in the Reserve Fleet.
Post war history.
As the ship’s pipe and cable-handling fittings had been left intact she was chartered by AT&T, 23 February 1956, and converted to a cable transport and layer. After operations delivering undersea telephone and communication cables laid between the US mainland, Hawaii and Alaska in support of Distant Early Warning (DEW) line the ship was transferred to the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, California on 11 October 1957.
With a brief service in 1963, she was again returned to Suisun Bay on 10 July 1964. On 13 December 1977, the US Navy took delivery of the "Arthur M. Huddell", where after its propeller, lifeboats and most of its equipment had been removed the ship was reclassified as a barge in July 1978, to support cable operations for the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS).
Two years later, following the loading of cables from the Simplex Wire & Cable Company pier in Newington the vessel was again employed in cable transport operations, this time in conjunction with the cable ship "Long Lines". In 1982, the "Arthur M. Huddell" was used in US Navy cable-laying operations in the Pacific. Once this work was completed the vessel was again laid up at James River Fleet, 22 August 1983. After that date, many components, including the rudder, were removed and used as spare parts for .
By the late 1970s the US reserve fleets had considerably increased due to Victory ships being decommissioned following the end of the Vietnam War. As a result there was no need to retain in the reserve the few remaining Liberty ships, which led to most being scrapped or scuttled with obsolete ammunition, or to create dive and fishing reefs. By the end of the 20th century the "Arthur M. Huddell" was one of three Liberty ships remaining afloat, the others being "John W. Brown" and . both of which had been restored and preserved following dedicated lobbying and hard work by US preservation groups.
Museum ship.
Of the 1,272 ships operating under the Greek flag at the start of World War II, 914 were lost during the course of the war. Following the end of the war all of the undamaged Allied shipyards were operating at full capacity, building replacement ships for their own fleets. Greece was among a number of countries wanting to rebuild their fleets. In response the United States passed a law in March 1946 allowing the sale of American vessels to foreign nationals. In July of that same year the US Maritime Commission decided to sell ships for cash or on credit to allied governments or individuals from allied powers who could produce a letter of guarantee from the state.
As a result a number of Greeks shipowners who had dollars in American banks bought Liberty ships, with many registering them in Honduras, Panama and the United States. Those shipowners without this source of funds asked the Greek state to provide them with a letter of guarantee which on 6 April 1946, the Greek government issued for the purchase of up to 100 Liberty ships. Backed by this financial guarantee Greek shipowners were able to purchase 98 Liberty ships from the US Government between December 1946 and April 1947.
Further Greek purchases of Liberty ships continued through the 1950s, with the peak occurring in 1963 before the number in the Greek fleet began declining in 1964. Of the 722 Liberties in service in 1966, 603 were owned by Greeks. By the early 1970s, Greeks controlled the biggest commercial fleet in the world. As the Liberty ships had formed the foundations on which their post-war merchant fleet was built, the Greek shipping community refer to the Liberties as the “blessed ships”. To honor the service of the Liberties several members of the Greek shipping industry developed a vision of acquiring a Liberty-type ship for conversion into a floating museum in Greece. While the "Arthur M. Huddell" was awaiting its turn to be scuttled as a fish reef, an exchange of communications between Greece and officials in the United States began in an effort to obtain the ship for Greece. Shipowner Spyros M. Polemis played a significant role in activating members of the Greek Diaspora to assist in this effort. As a result of the efforts of US politicians of Greek heritage headed by Rhode Island Senator Leonidas Raptakis and Connecticut congressman Dimitrios Yiannaros approval was given for the gifting of the "Arthur M. Huddell" to Greece with legislation being passed by the US Congress to allow the transfer of ownership.
The relative agreement was signed on between US Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton and Greek Minister of Merchant Marine, Georgios Voulgarakis on 30 June 2008. The ship was subsequently towed in the next month to a repair facility in Norfolk, Virginia for the necessary inspections and preparations before on 6 December 2008 the ship left Norfolk under tow by the Polish tug "Posidon", and arrived at Piraeus on 11 January 2009.
The project, still without formal Greek government support, was largely financed by Greek shipowners. In January 2009 "Arthur M. Huddel" was officially transferred to Greece after several years mitigating hazardous materials and negotiations and was renamed "Hellas Liberty". General repairs and conversions took place at Perama and Salamis, during 2009 and 2010, including installation of a new rudder and propeller. The rudder was fabricated new in Greece, but the propeller was donated by the United States government to the Greek government. The propeller was a spare Victory ship propeller, which is the same diameter of , as on a Liberty ship. The difference is that the Liberty has an output of while the Victory is . They had a different pitch, but as it isn't turning, it doesn't make a difference. In June 2010, she was presented to the public in her restored form in Piraeus harbor in Athens.
Other work was undertaken to restore the vessel, as near as possible, to being a sistership to the Greek Liberties of the post-war years including changing the grey paint which had covered her hull and superstructure throughout her the service of the US Government to more commercial colours.


SS George C. Yount


Francis H. Leggett

Francis H. Leggett was an American-flagged steam-powered schooner built in 1903 by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, as a timber-hauling ship serving Andrew Benoni Hammond's timber operations on the United States West Coast. She served in this capacity for 11 years before she sank off the Columbia Bar on the coast of Oregon. The disaster killed 35 of the 37 passengers aboard and all 25 crewmen. It was the worst maritime accident in the history of Oregon and was attributed to the ship being overloaded with railroad ties.
Construction.
In 1903, with his timber operations in full bloom in the Pacific Northwest, timber baron A. B. Hammond began acquiring what became known as "Hammond's Navy," a flotilla of 72 ships (not all owned simultaneously) that served his operations. The flagship of this flotilla was "Francis H. Leggett", which Hammond named after one of his business partners and commissioned to be the largest ship in the Pacific lumber trade. With a capacity of 1.5 million board-feet of lumber, her steel hull was so large that she could not enter many of the ports on U.S. West Coast. Nicknamed "Hammond's Folly," she nevertheless was a commercial success when she arrived on the U.S. West Coast from the Virginia shipyard where she was built. In 1905 alone, "Francis H. Leggett" and her sister ship "Arctic" netted Hammond $62,000 in profit, more than the profit of some of his timber operations. The success of "Francis H. Leggett" led Hammond to acquire more ships.
Later, "Francis H. Leggett" was one of the pioneering ships behind the technique of ocean rafting (also called Benson rafting), whereby large rafts of logs were chained together and towed. These rafts could be up to long and contain up to 11 million board feet of timber. After some years of success, the practice was banned by the United States Congress in 1912 after several rafts broke up in storms, spreading large logs up and down the coast and creating a hazard to shipping.
Sinking.
On September 17, 1914, "Francis H. Leggett" departed Grays Harbor, Washington, for San Francisco, California, with a load of railroad ties lashed to her deck. While the weather was calm in Grays Harbor, it worsened as the ship steamed south, where a gale was blowing off the coast of Oregon. On September 18, the ship′s cargo of railroad ties began to shift, and a hatch cover was torn off by the storm, allowing waves to flood into the ship. Charles Moro, the captain of "Francis H. Leggett", ordered the ship's radio operators to send a distress call as the ship began to sink.
The distress signal was detected by the Imperial Japanese Navy armored cruiser "Izumo", but "Izumo" did not respond to "Francis H. Leggett" out of fear that she would encounter the Imperial German Navy light cruiser , which was nearby; World War I had begun, Japan was at war with Germany, and "Izumo" feared being attacked by the larger German ship. "Izumo" relayed the distress signal to other ships, including the oil tanker "Buck" and the steamer "Beaver". Both ships responded to the call for help, but by the time they arrived on the scene, "Francis H. Leggett" had sunk, leaving only its cargo of railroad ties still afloat. Two passengers aboard "Francis H. Leggett" were rescued. One of the survivors, Alexander Farrell, explained that the storm swamped both of the ship's lifeboats as soon as they were lowered. Both survivors lived by clinging to railroad ties. The death toll of 60 people makes it Oregon′s worst maritime disaster on record.


Vision-class cruise ship

The Vision class is a group of six cruise ships built by Royal Caribbean International, and operated by themselves and Marella Cruises. Although called a class by Royal Caribbean, the Vision-class ships were built as three pairs of sister ships, each pair differing from the others in size and design. Unlike other Royal Caribbean classes, the Vision class is not named for the first ship built; was the last ship in the class to be built. Royal Caribbean had been promoting "Project Vision" for some time before ordering the first two ships in the class in 1992, but "Vision of the Seas" was not ordered until 1994.
Vision-class ships were designed to have more glass windows than any other ships at the time they debuted, and therefore greater views of the oceans from interior spaces. Ships in the Vision class were also the fastest built in 25 years thanks to their diesel-electric propulsion systems (the first in the Royal Caribbean fleet), which allowed the larger engines to be placed closer to the middle of the ships for better weight balance.
Two of the ships were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Helsinki New Shipyard, Finland, while the others were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France.


CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci

CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci is an Explorer class containership built for CMA CGM. It is named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. It has a capacity of 13,830 TEU.


SS Hawaiian Packer


SS Frederick E. Williamson

SS "Frederick E. Williamson" was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Frederick E. Williamson.
Construction.
"Frederick E. Williamson" was laid down on 18 November 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2334, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida; sponsored by Mrs. Ruby Harris, the owner of the Cove Hotel, Panama City, she was launched on 23 December 1944.
History.
She was allocated to International Freigting Corp., on 12 January 1945. On 5 June 1946, she was laid up in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York. On 29 January 1947, while being withdrawn from the fleet to be delivered to Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., she was damaged. With estimates of repairs at $70,000 she was returned to the Hudson River Reserve Fleet. After repairs she was charted to Waterman Steamship Corp., 30 August 1947. She was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia, 6 October 1947. On 20 October 1951, she was charted to American President Lines. She was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, Washington, 2 October 1953. On 8 April 1970, she was transferred to the US Navy for use as a Ammo Disposal Ship. She was scuttled with obsolete ammunition off the coast of Tatoosh Island, Washington.


Artemisia (ship)

The Artemisia was the first immigrant ship to arrive in Moreton Bay bringing the first assisted free settlers from England. She was a barquentine of 492 tons (558 tonnes) built at Sunderland in 1847 and owned by A. Ridley. Under her master, Captain John Prest Ridley, the "Artemisia" arrived in Moreton Bay in December 1848.
Free settlers for Moreton Bay.
The Moreton Bay Settlement was established in 1824 as a place of secondary punishment for convicts sentenced by the colonial courts in New South Wales and the newly separated colony of Van Diemen's Land. It was opened to free settlement in 1842. By 1846, North Brisbane had 483 European settlers, South Brisbane 346 and Ipswich (formerly known as Limestone) 103. A great labour shortage had developed: manual workers, shepherds, tradesmen and domestics were needed by the pastoralists and by those living within the towns.
The Reverend Dr John Dunmore Lang, who had sponsored German missionaries to the Moreton Bay settlement in 1835, visited the district again in 1845 and decided to travel to Britain in 1846 to recruit free settlers for "Cooksland", the name he gave to north-eastern Australia. However, Lang had antagonised both the colonial and imperial authorities and his mission to England spurred the government to organise its own emigrant efforts.
The Land and Emigration Commissioners were charged with British emigration. In a report dated 1 August 1848 to Under Secretary Merivale, the commissioners advised that they had received recent, urgent representations on behalf of New South Wales for emigrant vessels to ports other than Sydney and Melbourne. They advertised for vessels for Moreton Bay and Twofold Bay and chose the "Artemisia" for Moreton Bay.
The ship and her master.
Built at Sunderland in 1847, the "Artemisia" was a new vessel, a barquentine of 492 tons (558 tonnes) owned by Anthony Ridley and the journey to Australia was the maiden voyage. The master of the "Artemisia" was Captain John Prest Ridley who was to command her on other voyages. He died in Mauritius aged 47 on 6 June 1859 when in command of the "Adamant".
The upper deck of the ship was fitted out for the wealthier passengers.
Emigration arrangements.
The "Artemisia" was inspected by The "Illustrated London News" which reported in its 12 August 1848 number the following arrangements prevailing at the time:
"We should first explain that it is not as generally known as it should be, that the Government gives free passage (including food), to New South Wales and South Australia, to agricultural labourers, shepherds, female domestic and farm servants, and dairy maids; also, to a few blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carpenters, and other country mechanics. The vessels are first-class, and proceed every month to Sydney and Port Philip, in New South Wales, and to Port Adelaide, in South Australia. The ships sail from London and Plymouth, where dépôts are fitted up for the emigrants.
"The conditions may be learned from "The Colonisation Circular", issued by her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, so that we need not here enter into the details. We may, however, mention that the emigrants must be of good character, and recommended for sobriety and industry. Each must provide himself with clothing and, on being accepted, must pay £1 10 shillings for every child under 14, as security that he will come forward and embark.
"During the voyage they are placed under the exclusive superintendence of the surgeon, not only as their doctor, but as their sole superintendent and, on their arrival, a Government Agent gives advice as to wages, and places where they will get work. No repayment is required. ...
"Saturday, July 29th, was the day fixed for the departure of the "Artemisia". She lay off the stairs adjoining the Royal Dockyard at Deptford, near which, also, is the dépôt. This is a house rented by Mr. Cooper, who receives here any persons who may produce an 'Embarkation Order' for any ship chartered by the Government Commissioners. The premises are situated in Czar Street, Deptford, nearly upon the spot where Peter the Great, a century and half ago, learned practical shipbuilding. ... Here the applicants, provided they appear on the date specified in the Order, are boarded and lodged at two shillings per day, paid by the Commissioners; they are kept there until they have been examined as to the state of their health by the surgeon appointed to the ship in which they are to embark and by Lieutenant Lean, R.N., the Emigration Officer, and his assistant, Mr. Smith, as to their answering the description given of themselves as to their previous occupation. During their stay here, they are treated with kindness and attention. The above enquiries are, however, indispensable, and should the applicants appear in every respect eligible for free passage, arrangements are made for berthing and messing the passengers: a ticket with a number is a fixed to his or her berth; the bags and messing utensils are given out, and on the former is marked the number, so that each knows his or her berth, ongoing board. To each adult is also supplied bedding, which is put into the respective berths. These preliminaries usually occupy three days."
Unaccompanied child migrants.
Whilst the Illustrated London News were undertaking their inspection, the then Lord Ashley arrived on board, and made a tour of the vessel. His visit was occasioned by the berths on the lower decks of seven boys and two girls from his Ragged Schools at Westminster, the first batch of abandoned children to be sent to the colonies. The News reported that another 150 London children were awaiting the same fate. The eldest of the boys had been taken from "the street in a wretched condition, almost without clothing" and was being "sent out at the private expense of a Lady and two gentlemen."
First leg, London to Plymouth.
On 27 July 1848 the "Artemisia" previously berthed in the East India Dock, London sailed to Plymouth according to the Lloyd's Register. There were 209 passengers on board. The "Illustrated London News" reported that more passengers were to be taken on at Plymouth and gave the following breakdown of those who embarked at London:
At Plymouth, another 31 embarked to bring the complement to 240. Once aboard, the passengers came under the care of Dr. George K. Barton, the medical superintendent. From Plymouth, the "Artemisia" set sail for Moreton Bay on 15 August 1848.
Launceston, then off Sydney Heads.
The "Sydney Morning Herald" had carried reports of the Plymouth departure and expected arrival of the "Artemisia" since October 1848. On 15 November 1848, the Hobart "Courier" reported that the "Artemisia" was in the port of Launceston "loading for Moreton Bay." On 13 December 1848, the "Sydney Morning Herald" reprinted the report from the "Illustrated London News" from 12 August and carried a report on the arrival off Sydney Heads of the "Artemisia". Having signalled for a pilot, a Mr Gibson set out to guide her into Port Jackson. The report continued:
"Upon getting on board, however, he was informed by the captain, who was ill in bed from a disease of the liver, that it was not his intention to come into this port, and that he wished him to proceed in the vessel to Moreton Bay, having no chart of the place himself, and his chief officer knowing nothing of the coast. This Mr. Gibson declined doing, and advised the captain to allow him to take the vessel into harbour, when he would he able to obtain a competent person to do the duty he wished. Captain Riddle (sic) not falling in with Mr. Gibson's suggestion, the latter quitted the vessel, and had a narrow escape of losing his own life, and those of his boat's crew, for, on the boat entering the heads, a gale commenced from the southward, and a terrific sea instantly rising, the men were unable to pull against it. On two or three occasions they were almost buried in the sea; but fortunately, with a great deal of exertion, were enabled to run up North Harbour, where they encamped for the night, returning to Watson's Bay, yesterday morning. The only recompense we believe Mr. Gibson received from Captain Ridley was £2. With the strong southerly wind of Saturday night, the Artemisia, is doubtless now a considerable way on towards her destination. She spoke no vessels on the passage connected with the colonies. Three deaths and four births occurred on the voyage."
Moreton Bay.
On 13 December 1848, the "Artemisia" arrived off Cape Moreton.
On 5 January 1849, the "Artemisia" set sail for Sydney where she loaded wool for London.


William Cossar

William Cossar was a small 20 ton wooden New South Wales Colonial Government schooner that was wrecked in 1825.
The ship was named after the Government master boat builder, William Cossar.
On 7 July 1817 a party of convicts stole "William Cossar" from Newcastle, New South Wales. In late November the ship was seen to have been driven ashore at Port Stephens. "Nancy" was sent to investigate and on 10 December 1818 "William Cossar" was found to be lying on a beach at the high tide mark. The rigging, sails, gaffs, booms, bowsprit and rudder were missing, as was most of the copper sheathing. There were no signs of the convicts. They may have been killed by aborigines although it was reported that one survivor returned to Sydney on 1 May 1819. The ship was repaired and refloated after much effort.
On 11 March 1824, the ship capsized near Fort Macquarie, Sydney Harbour, in a squall, and three men drowned. The ship was righted and repaired but then on 14 February 1825, while under the command of Captain Wise was wrecked on the Sow and Pigs Reef in Sydney Harbour, after towing the ship "Mangles" out to sea.


CCNI Arauco

The CCNI "Arauco" is a large container ship that experienced a major fire in the Port of Hamburg on September 1, 2016.
The vessel was only a year old, having been built in the Philippines, in 2015, at the Hanjin Subic Shipyard.
It took four days to extinguish the fire. Authorities took the risk of flooding her holds, and breaking her back, due to thermal shock, when local fireboats couldn't extinguish the fire.


Culloden-class ship of the line

The "Culloden"-class ships of the line were a class of eight 74-gun third rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade. The "Cullodens" were the last class of 74s which Slade designed before his death in 1771.


SS Charles S. Haight

SS "Charles S. Haight" was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Charles Haight, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey.
Construction.
"Charles S. Haight" was laid down on 15 August 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2376, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. Glenn Fite, and launched on 23 September 1944.
History.
She was allocated to Marine Transport Lines, Inc., on 3 October 1944. On 1 April 1947, she was grounded off Cape Ann, near Rockport, Massachusetts, she was declared a Constructive Total Loss (CTL) the next day. On 30 December 1947, she was sold for $500, to A. Joseph Martell & Arthur Wagner, without restrictions.


Evergreen S-class container ship

The Ever S-class is a series of 10 container ships built for Evergreen Marine. The Ships were built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at their Kobe shipyard in Japan. The ships have a maximum theoretical capacity of around 6,944 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).


MV Blue Star

MV Blue Star is a bulk carrier. It was hijacked by Somali pirates in January 2009, while carrying a cargo of 6,000 tons of fertilizer. The ship was released with all of its crew on March 5 after a one million dollar ransom was rumored to have been paid.


Farfadet-class submarine

The "Farfadet"-class submarines were a group of submarines built for the French Navy at the beginning of the 20th century. There were four vessels in this class, of the Maugas type. They had little success in service and were converted to other use after the loss of two vessels in diving accidents. All were disposed of prior to the outbreak of the First World War.
Design and construction.
The "Farfadet"s were designed by Gabriel Maugas, an early French submarine engineer at the Rochefort Naval Dockyard. The "Farfadet"s were single-hulled, and powered by electric motors only, limiting their range and surface performance compared to the contemporary "Sirene" class. However they had variable-pitch propellers, developed by Maugas, obviating the need for a reversing engine.
Service history.
The "Farfadet"s were ordered as part of the French Navy's 1899 building programme, and were constructed over the next three years at the naval dockyards at Rochefort. However they were not successful in service; "Farfadet" was lost in a diving accident in July 1905, and "Lutin" in October 1906. "Farfadet" was raised and recommissioned as "Follet", remaining in service until 1911, but the other three vessels were disarmed and converted to other use.


Golden State (schooner)

Golden State was a 3-masted schooner built in the W.F. Stone yard in Oakland, California in 1913.
She embarked on a fishing expedition from San Francisco to the Bering Sea in 1936.
"Golden State" was laid up in Long Beach, California, in 1937 after being used in movies. She was sold in Costa Rica in 1943.
Earlier 19th century schooner.
The schooner "'Golden State,' of San Francisco" was involved in the 1858 lawsuit "Wetherbee vs. Schooner "Golden State"" (and Captain W. S. Tuttle).


Osaka Express

Osaka Express (built in 2007) is a container ship operated by the shipping company Hapag-Lloyd. This vessel has a capacity of and . It can achieve a speed of 25 kn. It belongs to the "Colombo Express" class of ships.


MV Monet

MV Monet is a cruise ship operated by "Elegant Cruises", based in New York City.
Built in 1970, "Monet" has been refurbished and designed in 1997 to serve as a large luxury yacht.


USS Iowa (SSN-797)

"Iowa" (SSN-797), a , will be the fourth U.S. Navy vessel named for the state of Iowa. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus officially announced the name on September 2, 2015, during a news briefing at Iowa State University.


SS Benjamin Hawkins

SS "Benjamin Hawkins" was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Benjamin Hawkins, an American planter, statesman, and US Indian agent. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a United States Senator from North Carolina. Appointed by George Washington as General Superintendent for Indian Affairs (1796–1818), he had responsibility for the Native American tribes south of the Ohio River, and was principal Indian agent to the Creek Indians.
Construction.
"Benjamin Hawkins" was laid down on 30 July 1942, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 913, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. Lelia W. Wright, the wife of a yard employee, and was launched on 7 September 1942.
History.
She was allocated to States Marine Corp., on 22 September 1942. On 13 May 1948, she was laid up in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 7 July 1949, to be loaded with grain, returning 18 July 1949, full. On 19 January 1950, she was withdrawn to unload grain, returning empty on 31 January 1950. On 2 August 1950, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain, returning full on 10 August 1950. On 26 January 1951, she was withdrawn to be unloaded, she returned empty on 6 February 1951. She was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, North Carolina, 15 July 1952. On 4 October 1957, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 4 December 1972, she was sold for scrapping to N. V. Intershitra, for $103,450. She was removed from the fleet on 31 January 1973.
Bibliography.


Coconut Princess

Coconut Princess is a Chinese cruise ship operated by Hainan Strait Shipping Co. It connects Hainan island with the Paracel Islands. Service began in April 2013 and the trip took 20 hours, but was expected to be reduced to 6 hours by 2 September, with the home port changing from Haikou to Sanya. The cruise lasts four days. It has transported over 3,000 people in over 20 trips. It's the only maritime connection between the islands.


Alfred-class ship of the line

The "Alfred"-class ships of the line were a class of four 74-gun third rates for the Royal Navy by Sir John Williams. They were an enlarged version of the .


MV Danica White

The Danish-owned cargo ship MV "Danica White" was hijacked and maneuvered into Somali waters on 1 June 2007. On 3 June 2007, , a engaged the pirates, firing machine-gun bursts at the skiffs in tow behind the Danish ship, but failed to stop them. Following 83 days in captivity, the crew of five and the ship were released after the owner, H. Folmer & Co, paid a ransom of 723,000 United States dollars, which was negotiated down from $1.5 million.


SS Alexander Lillington

SS "Alexander Lillington" (MC contract 869) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Alexander Lillington, a North Carolina Patriot militia officer who served at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and the Battle of Camden.
The ship was laid down by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in their Cape Fear River yard on November 2, 1942, and launched on December 6, 1942. "Lillington" was chartered to the South Atlantic Steamship Company for the War Shipping Administration until January 1947. She was operated by Waterman Steamship Corporation until December 1947. From then until January 1948 when "Lillington" was placed in the Wilmington Fleet of the National Defense Reserve Fleet she was chartered to Boland & Cornelius. The vessel was scrapped in 1961.


SS Ranchi

SS "Ranchi was Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company "R"-class steam ocean liner that was built in 1925 and scrapped in 1953. From 1939 to 1943 she was the Royal Navy armed merchant cruiser HMS "Ranchi.
From 1943 to 1947 she was a troop ship for the Ministry of War Transport and post-war Ministry of Transport.
Building and technical data.
Hawthorn Leslie and Company of Hebburn, County Durham built "Ranchi" for P&O. Her yard number was 534. She was launched on 24 January 1925 and completed on 29 July. She was long and had a beam of . Her gross register tonnage was 16,738, and as built her net register tonnage was 8,850.
P&O's "R"-Class included "Ranchi"s sister ships , and , all built in 1924 and 1925. Like her sisters "Ranchi" had quadruple-expansion steam engines, but unlike her sisters she also had low-pressure steam turbines to re-use exhaust steam from her reciprocating engines. The turbines were coupled to her propeller shafts by double reduction gearing. She had twin propellers. The turbines both improved her fuel efficiency and made "Ranchi" slightly faster than her sisters, with a cruising speed of .
"Ranchi" had berths for 600 passengers. Lord Inchcape's daughter Elsie Mackay designed much of the interiors of all the R-class ships.
The ship was named after the city of Ranchi, now the capital of Jharkhand state in eastern India. Her UK official number was 148130. Her code letters were KSTQ until 1933, when they were superseded by the call sign GLKW.
Until the Second World War "Ranchi" was painted in P&O's traditional colours for steamships. Her hull was black with a white band. Her boot-topping was red, her superstructure was stone-coloured, and her funnels and ventilators were black. As built, she had two funnels.
Pre-war service.
"Ranchi" sailed on a scheduled route between England and Bombay, India. Later she sailed to the Far East.
Novelist Evelyn Waugh travelled on "Ranchi" in 1929 from Port Said to Malta as described in his travel book "Labels".
In 1939 "Ranchi"s net register tonnage was revised to 8,827.
Armed merchant cruiser.
The Admiralty requisitioned "Ranchi" for the Royal Navy on 27 August 1939, less than a week before the UK entered World War II. She was commissioned on 23 October 1939 as the armed merchant cruiser (AMC) HMS "Ranchi" with the pennant number F15. The Admiralty also requisitioned her sisters "Ranpura", "Rawalpindi" and "Rajputana" as AMCs. AMCs escorted merchant convoys in the early years of the war, as the Royal Navy did not have enough warships to spare for the purpose.
From October 1939 until February 1942 "Ranchi" served the East Indies Station. From March 1942 until January 1943 she was part of the Eastern Fleet (Indian Ocean). On 16 March 1943 the Admiralty released "Ranchi" from the Royal Navy, and the Ministry of War Transport had her converted into a troop ship.
Troop ship.
In Britain in November 1943 "Ranchi" embarked 3,542 troops for the Middle East. On 15 November she sailed from the Firth of Clyde in Convoy KMF 26. In the Mediterranean, early on 16 December, Heinkel He 111 aircraft based on Rhodes attacked the convoy. One bomb hit "Ranchi"s fo'c'sle, penetrated the troops' toilets and went out through the ship's side before exploding. One man was killed. The ship reached Alexandria where she underwent repairs that took 50 days.
Two months after the end of the Second World War in the Pacific, in October 1945 "Ranchi" sailed from Singapore to Southampton carrying amongst others released prisoners of war and civilian internees recently liberated from Japanese camps. Hilda Bates, who had been interned in Batu Lintang camp at Kuching, Borneo, wrote on 23 October 1945: "We are now speeding towards England aboard the S.S. "Ranchi", which is packed with troops and other ex P.O.W.s like ourselves ... In our cabin there are twelve women, – five of who[m] are returning home as widows."
Post-war service.
On 18 July 1947 the Ministry of Transport returned "Ranchi" to P&O. She was refitted at Southampton and London Docks. Her second funnel was removed, her hull was painted cream but her funnel was restored to traditional P&O black.
Singer Cliff Richard travelled to his parents native United Kingdom aboard "Ranchi" when his family left India in 1948.
"Ranchi" was used as an emigrant ship between June 1948 and 1952, when she completed 15 voyages from the United Kingdom to Australia. The shipping nominal rolls are held at the Victorian Public Records Office, Melbourne, Australia. Her first post war voyage was from Tilbury Docks on 17 June 1948, although her journey was delayed into Fremantle as there were rough seas off the coast of Western Australia.
"Ranchi" was broken up at Newport, Monmouthshire, beginning on 19 January 1953.
In popular culture.
In 1984 the P&O liner doubled for "Ranchi" in the final episode of Tenko, the BBC television drama series about civilian women interned by Japanese forces in the Far East.
"The Blue Lotus," fifth volume of the comic book series "The Adventures of Tintin," features an ocean liner named "Ranchi" that operates in Asia.


SS Benjamin Ide Wheeler

SS "Benjamin Ide Wheeler" was a Liberty ship, a cargo ship during World War II. Built by California Shipbuilding Corporation (Calship) of Los Angeles for the United States Maritime Commission (USMC). "Benjamin Ide Wheeler" was Calship's 100th ship built. She was sponsored and christened by Mrs. Robert Gordon Sproul, wife of Robert Gordon Sproul President of the University of California system. She was named after Benjamin Ide Wheeler President of the University of California from 1899 to 1919. Her Hull # was 675, she was type EC2-S-C1 ship, built in 50 days as part of the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Her keel was laid down on 28 October 1942, launched on 27 November 1942 and delivered on 17 December 1942. She was assigned to American-Hawaiian Steamship Company of San Francisco for merchant operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA).
World war 2.
"Benjamin Ide Wheeler" departed San Francisco on 27 January 1944 with war dogs for India. "Wheeler" arrived at Calcutta on 6 April 1944. Some of the dogs were sent to Burma. The dogs were used by the United States Marine Corps and US Army. The US Army's Veterinary Service cared for the dogs on the ship and at arrival.
"Benjamin Ide Wheeler" continued from India with her other cargo and passengers: 267 Army Engineers with all their gear, including high explosives and gasoline.
Benjamin Ide Wheeler continued from India to the Philippines, to be part of the supply ships that supported the Battle of Leyte from 7 October to 26 December 1944 in the Pacific war campaign. Before she could drop anchor at Leyte Gulf, Empire of Japan planes started attacking her. SS Benjamin Ide Wheeler's United States Navy Armed Guards had to man the ship's deck guns 353 times in 76 days. But on 27 October 1944 a Kamikaze Zero plane dive-bomber already hit and smoking crashed down into one of her cargo holds. The plane and its aerial bomb exploded and sank the ship in 36 feet of water, the United States Navy Armed Guard were able to continue to defend, as the deck guns were above the waterline. It is reported that they shot down four planes that day. One Seaman and Armed Guard were killed in the explosion. Earle Woodring received a Bronze Star Medal for his actions.
She was refloated and use as a stationary depot ship at Leyte. She was not repaired and was scrapped after the war in 1948.


SS Eugene T. Chamberlain

SS "Eugene T. Chamberlain" was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Eugene T. Chamberlain, the commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Navigation from 1893–1915.
Construction.
"Eugene T. Chamberlain" was laid down on 19 June 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2368, by J.A. Jones Construction, Brunswick, Georgia; she was sponsored by Mrs. L.D. Cox, and launched on 1 August 1944.
History.
She was allocated to the Isbrandtsen Steamship Co. Inc., on 13 August 1944. On 8 October 1945, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 3 March 1966, she was sold for "non-transportation use" (NTU) to Northern Metals Co., for $47,750. She was removed from the fleet on 29 March 1966.


HMS Rampisham (M2786)

HMS "Rampisham" was one of 93 ships of the of inshore minesweepers.
Their names were all chosen from villages ending in "-ham". The minesweeper was named after Rampisham in Dorset.
She was renamed in December 1957, and reverted to "Rampisham" in December 1959.
References.
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SS Stanwood

SS "Stanwood" was a British collier that was sunk off Falmouth in December 1939 after her cargo of coal caught fire.
Ship history.
The ship was built in 1915 by the "Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik" shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, as the Itajahy on behalf of the "Hamburg-Sudamerikanische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft" ("Hamburg-South America Line"), but was requisitioned by the German Navy. In 1919 she was handed over to the UK as war reparations. She was owned by Elder Dempster & Company until 1921, when she was sold to R.P. Houston & Company, and renamed Hesione. In 1937 she was sold to the Stanhope Steamship Company and renamed Stanwood.
On 10 December 1939 the "Stanwood"s cargo of coal caught fire. The ship was scuttled in of water in Carrick Roads in order to extinguish the fire, with intention of then raising her. Unfortunately she slipped into deeper waters, and the crew abandoned her with the loss of one man. Attempts to refloat her were unsuccessful although her cargo was recovered. Deemed a hazard to shipping the wreck was later broken up with explosives.
The wreck remains popular with divers, though permission must first be obtained from the harbour master.
External links.


British H-class submarine

The British H-class submarines were Holland 602 type submarines used by the Royal Navy. The submarines constructed for the British Royal Navy between 1915 and 1919 were designed and built in response to German boats which mined British waters and sank coastal shipping with ease owing to their small size. The H class was created to perform similar operations in German waters, and to attack German submarines operating in British waters.
Despite their cramped size and lack of a deck gun on some submarines, the class was popular amongst submariners, and saw action all around the British Isles, some being transferred as far as the Adriatic. Owing to the late arrival of most of the class, they were unable to have much impact in service, only destroying two German submarines and for the loss of four of their own number.
Post-war, many were retained in the Royal Navy for training purposes, while four more were lost in accidents during the 1920s. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the class was obsolete, but retained in training and coastal warfare roles to help the Royal Navy cope with heavy losses to the submarine fleet during the early stages of the war. Two were sunk in this role by German countermeasures. The Canada-built boats were equipped with Fessenden transducers, which were missing from the US-built boats.
Boats.
Group 1.
Group 1 was built in Canada at the Canadian Vickers Yards in Montreal before being transported across the Atlantic and deployed from Britain as British shipyards were too busy to construct submarines at this time.
Group 2.
The second group was constructed simultaneously with the first group, but at Fore River Yard at Quincy, Massachusetts in the then-neutral United States. When the US government discovered the construction, they impounded all the completed units, only releasing them following their own declaration of war two years later. To escape this difficulty, the British government gave six units to the Chilean Navy as partial payment for the appropriation of six Chilean ships for British service in 1914.
Group 3.
Group 3 was the largest group, and was constructed in 1917–1919 in Britain, shipyard space having been granted to the project and more boats needed following the seizure of those building in the United States. They were built by Vickers, Cammell Laird, Armstrong Whitworth and William Beardmore at several locations, and most of the boats enjoyed long careers in the Royal Navy.


Type 925 submarine support ship

The Type 925 Dajiang (大江) is a type of naval auxiliary ship belonging to the People's Republic of China. Each ship is usually equipped with up to two Type 7103 DSRV class Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs). The lead ship of the Dajiang class is the Changxingdao. The Type 925 is a submarine tender that can also be used as a submarine rescue ship, and hence, it is designated as a submarine support ship (Qian-Ting Zhi-Yuan Jian, 潜艇支援舰) by Chinese.
Each ship has a crew of 308 sailors and is equipped with an aft helicopter deck and hangars for 2 Z-8 Super Frelon helicopters. These large multi role naval auxiliary ships are the most fexilible type in the Chinese navy, capable of performing a variety of tasks, including serving as a submarine rescue ship (ARS), marine salvage rescue ship (ASR), submarine tender (AS), and surface ship's tender. Two Type 7103 DSRVs can be carried during submarine rescue operations and they are handled by a large crane on the fore deck, though usually, only one Type 7103 DSRV is carried while the slot for the second is used for a Type 7103 training submersible, which is used to simulate stranded submarines in training exercises. The handling system of Type 7103 DSRV is also used for Sea Pole class bathyscaphes and Osprey class submersibles. With only slight modifications, Type 925 Dajiang class is capable of supporting all submersibles and Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) in the Chinese inventory, including:
During the Chinese ICBM test in the early 1980s, one of the Type 925 Dajiang class was converted as missile instrumentation support ship and temporarily renamed as Yuanwang-3 (远望-3) to support the test, and after the conclusion of the test, the unit was converted back to its original role with the name consequently changed back.
With a displacement of 10,087 tons full, and a length of 512½ feet, this ship can reach a speed of powered by two MAN diesels producing delivered to the two driveshafts. The ships were built by Hudong SY, Shanghai. The Dajiang class submarine ship has three vessels. They are named as follows:
A new more modern Type 925 class has also recently been built, comprising:


SS Bowling Green Victory


SS Middlesex Victory


SS Francis Scott Key

SS "Francis Scott Key" was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Frederick, Maryland, who is best known for writing the lyrics for the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Construction.
"Francis Scott Key" was laid down on 21 June 1941, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 16, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; and was launched on 15 November 1941.
History.
"Francis Scott Key" was allocated to Lykes Brothers Steamship Co., Inc., on 29 January 1942. On 20 October 1949, she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, Oregon. On 22 June 1954, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1954", she returned loaded on 9 July 1954. On 14 March 1957, "Francis Scott Key" was withdrawn to be unload, she returned empty 19 March 1957. She was sold for scrapping on 14 September 1967, to Zidell Explorations, Inc., for $54,001. She was removed from the fleet, 29 September 1967.
Bibliography.


Admiral Gifford (ship)

Admiral Gifford was a wooden schooner that was lost while travelling between Port Macquarie and Sydney, New South Wales, on 8 October 1834 with a cargo of grain, hides and tallow.
Description.
Little detail is known about "Admiral Gifford". She was variously described as a colonial schooner with Walker as the master, and 43 tons, coppered and copper fastened.
She was similarly described whilst on a journey from Sydney to Hobart as
Service history.
The vessel made a number of journeys to and from New Zealand as well as Western Australia and Queensland
Trips included departing Sydney Thursday 13 November 1828, and returning Sunday 11 January 1829 with a general cargo of pork and flax as well as Mr. Love and 3 New Zealanders as passengers.
March 1829 "Admiral Gifford" arrived in Sydney and reported her cargo to be potatoes and flax from New Zealand. She remained in the New South Wales port until early May when she departed on another speculative voyage. It was during this voyage on 24 June 1829 that she picked up the boats and crew of the cutter , which had struck a reef near Frankland Reef, Queensland, and later transferred them to the brig "Swiftsure". However, within a few hours "Swiftsure" was also wrecked and both crews again forced to take to their boats. They were eventually picked up by "Resource" and landed at Port Raffles on 20 July.
"Admiral Gifford" supported the settlement of the Swan River Colony on the west coast of Australia at the time of the founding of Perth. She arrived there on 22 October 1829 carrying a cargo of spirits and corn.
In 1830 "Admiral Gifford" was working along the east coast of Australia between Sydney and Newcastle carrying coal, apparently under the command of Captain Taggart. It was during January 1832 that "Admiral Gifford" made her trip to Hobart.
During 1832 she made another journey to New Zealand and arrived back in Sydney with a cargo of 11 tons of flax from New Zealand. On this trip she left an old captain from Sydney called William Kinnard, who was accompanied by two whites and several New Zealanders on Rocky Point, where they intended to establish a sealing station.
The barque "Vittoria", 281 tons, S. Ashmore, belonging to R. Jones & Co., brought up 37 tons of flax, 50 pounds whalebone and 5 butts whale oil to Sydney on 12 November 1832. She also brought sad news. "Vittoria", had gone to pick Kinnard's party and their bales of sealskins but found find no trace of them. Ashmore learned, to his horror, that a band of local Maori had burned Kinnard's camp, seized the men, and then slaughtered and eaten them.
On 1 November 1833 "Admiral Gifford" left again New Zealand for Sydney, her supercargo including Europeans Spyres, Battersy and Thomas Baker and three native New Zealanders. Her voyage back to Sydney took 12 days
The master of "Admiral Gifford" also had strong views on the local Aborigines
Wreck.
Little is known how "Admiral Gifford" sank. Fears were being raised by late October 1834
Great fears are entertained for the safety of "Admiral Gifford". In order that the communication may, in the meantime, not be interrupted, Messrs. John Lord & Co. have advertised "Taree" to sail on Saturday.
By December no sign had been heard
There is no doubt of the melancholy loss of the schooner "Admiral Gifford" belonging to Mr. F. Mitchell, of Sydney, and of late employed as a trader to Port Macquarie, By a private letter from a person on that settlement, we are enabled to furnish the names of the unfortunate individuals who have, by this catastrophe, met a premature death, viz
making in all twelve human beings, who have met a premature grave.
Further reading.
Online Databases
Australian National Shipwreck Database
Australian Shipping - Arrivals and Departures 1788-1968 including shipwrecks
Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks - New South Wales Shipwrecks
Books


DeepFlight Merlin

DeepFlight Merlin is a personal submarine by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, part of the DeepFlight line of submersibles. The positively buoyant submersible was designed by Graham Hawkes. The "Merlin" was the first winged open-cockpit submarine (a wet sub) available on the market, and first three-man submarine in the "aero submarine" class, representing a major advance in scuba diving technology.
It travels up to 5 knots, has an operating time of one hour, and an open cockpit, requiring the use of scuba gear by occupants, and giving them 360-degree views of the space around them. The sub carries three, two passengers and one pilot. The occupants have "windshields" to protect them from the water stream. It is capable of hydrobatic maneuvers and 360-degree turns. It weighs 750 kg, is 4.6 m long, 3.0 m wide, 1.2 m tall, and runs off battery power. It is available as either a single-seater or two-seater. The design work on the sub started in July 2009.
Necker Nymph.
The first example of the Merlin, the "Necker Nymph", was sold to Richard Branson's Virgin Hotel Group. It cost US$670,000 and is operated by Virgin Aquatic from the 32-metre yacht Necker Belle, which is based at the Virgin Limited Edition resort Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.


MV Patriot

The MV "Patriot" is a German owned, Maltese-flagged handysize bulk carrier captured by Somali pirates 2009-04-25.


Borei-class submarine

The Borei class, alternate transliteration Borey, Russian designation Project 955 "Borei and Project 955A "Borei-A, (, NATO reporting name Borei), also referred to as "Dolgorukiy" class, are series of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines being constructed by Sevmash for the Russian Navy. The class is projected to replace the Soviet-era Delta III, Delta IV and classes in the Russian Navy service.
Despite being a replacement for many types of SSBNs, Borei-class submarines are much smaller than those of the Typhoon class in both volume and crew (24,000 tons opposed to 48,000 tons and 107 personnel as opposed to 160 for the Typhoons). In terms of "class", they are more accurately a follow-on for the Delta IV-class SSBNs.
History.
The first design work on the project started in the mid-1980s and the construction of the first vessel started in 1996. Previously, a short-lived, smaller parallel design appeared in 1980s with designation Project 935 Borei II. A new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) called the R-39UTTH Bark was developed in parallel. However, the work on this missile was abandoned and a new missile, the RSM-56 Bulava, was designed. The submarine needed to be redesigned to accommodate the new missile, and the design name was changed to Project 955. The vessels were developed by Rubin Design Bureau are being built by Russia's Northern shipyard Sevmash in Severodvinsk. Because of the repeated failures during Bulava test launches, some experts suggested that the Borei submarines could instead be armed with R-29RMU Sineva SLBMs, already in active duty with the Delta IV-class submarines.
It has been reported that the arrival of the Borei class will enable the Russian Navy to resume strategic patrols in southern latitudes that have not seen a Russian missile submarine for 20 years.
Launch and trials.
The launch of the first submarine of the class, ("Юрий Долгорукий"), was scheduled for 2002 but was delayed because of budget constraints. The vessel was eventually rolled out of its construction hall on 15 April 2007 in a ceremony attended by many senior military and industrial personnel. "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" was the first Russian strategic missile submarine to be launched in seventeen years since the end of the Cold War. The planned contingent of eight strategic submarines was expected to be commissioned within the next decade, with five Project 955 planned for purchase through 2015.
Although "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" was officially rolled out of its construction hall on 15 April 2007 the submarine was not put into the water until February 2008. By July 2009, it had yet to be armed with Bulava missiles and was therefore not fully operational, although ready for sea trials on 24 October 2008.
On 21 November 2008 the reactor on "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" was activated and on 19 June 2009 began its sea trials in the White Sea.
In August 2009 it was reported that the submarine would undergo up to six trials before being commissioned but the problem with the Bulava missile could delay it even more.
On 28 September 2010 "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" completed company sea trials. By late October the Russian Pacific Fleet was fully prepared to host Russia's new Borei-class strategic nuclear-powered submarines. It is expected that four subs will be deployed in the Northern fleet and four subs in the Pacific fleet. On 9 November 2010 "Yuriy Dolgorukiy" passed all sea trials directed to new equipment and systems.
Initially, the plan was to conduct the first torpedo launches during the ongoing state trials in December 2010 and then in the same month conduct the first launch of the main weapon system, RSM-56 Bulava SLBM. The plan was then postponed to mid-summer 2011 due to ice conditions in the White Sea.
On 2 December 2010 the second Borei-class submarine, "Alexander Nevskiy", was moved to a floating dock in Sevmash shipyard. There the final preparations took place before the submarine was launched. The submarine was launched on 6 December 2010 and began sea trials on 24 October 2011.
On 28 June 2011 a Bulava missile was launched for the first time from the Borei-class submarine "Yuriy Dolgorukiy". The test was announced as a success. After long delays finally the lead vessel, "Yuriy Dolgorukiy", joined the Russian Navy on 10 January 2013. The official ceremony raising the Russian Navy colors on the submarine was led by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. It was actively deployed in 2014 after a series of exercises.
On 17 November 2017, the fourth Borei-class submarine and the first of the improved Project 955A, the "Knyaz Vladimir" was moved out of the construction hall at the SEVMASH shipyard. The submarine was launched a year later and subsequently started its factory trials.
Design.
Borei class includes a compact and integrated hydrodynamically efficient hull for reduced broadband noise and the first ever use of pump-jet propulsion on a Russian nuclear submarine. Russian news service TASS claimed the noise level is to be five times lower when compared to the third-generation nuclear-powered Akula-class submarines and two times lower than that of the U.S. Virginia-class submarines. The acoustic signature of Borei is significantly stealthier than that of the previous generations of Russian SSBNs, but it has been reported that their hydraulic pumps become noisier after a relatively short period of operation, reducing the stealth capabilities of the submarine.
The Borei submarines are approximately long, in diameter, and have a maximum submerged speed of at least . They are equipped with a floating rescue chamber designed to fit in the whole crew. Smaller than the Typhoon class, the Boreis were initially reported to carry 12 missiles but are able to carry four more due to the decrease in mass of the 36-ton Bulava SLBM (a modified version of the Topol-M ICBM) over the originally proposed R-39UTTH Bark. Cost was estimated in 2010 at some ₽23 billion (USD$734 million, equivalent to US$863 million in 2020 terms), in comparison the cost of an SSBN was around US$2 billion per boat (1997 prices, equivalent to over US$3 billion in 2020 terms).
Each Borei is constructed with 1.3 million components and mechanisms. Its construction requires 17 thousand tons of metal which is 50% more than the Eiffel Tower. The total length of piping is 109 km and the length of wiring is 600 km. Ten thousand rubber plates cover the hull of the boat.
Versions.
Project 955A (Borei-A).
Units of the Project 955A include improved communication and detection systems, improved acoustic signature and have major structural changes such as addition of all moving rudders and vertical endplates to the hydroplanes for higher maneuverability, and a different sail geometry. Besides, they are equipped with hydraulic jets and improved screws what allows them to sail at nearly 30 knots while submerged with minimal noise. Although first reported to carry 20 Bulava SLBMs, the 955A will be armed with 16 SLBMs with 6-10 nuclear warheads atop each, just like the project 955 submarines.
The contract for five modified 955A submarines was delayed several times due to price dispute between the Russian Defence Ministry and the United Shipbuilding Corporation. The contract was formally signed on 28 May 2012.
The first 955A submarine, "Knyaz Vladimir", was laid down on 30 July 2012, during a ceremony attended by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Two additional project 955A submarines were laid down in 2014, one in late 2015, and one in late 2016.
According to Sevmash official, Vitaliy Bukovskiy, all Borei-A submarines are to be equipped with aspen banyas able to accommodate 3-4 people.
Project 955B (Borei-B).
The Project 955B was expected to feature a new water jet propulsion system, an upgraded hull, and new noise reduction technology. The concept design was to be initiated by the Rubin Design Bureau in 2018 and four project 955B boats were proposed with the first unit to be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2026. However, the project wasn't reportedly included in the Russia's State Armament Programme for 2018–2027 due to cost-efficiency. Instead, six more Borei-A submarines were to be built after 2023. According to a 2018 report, Russia's State Armament Programme for 2018–2027 includes construction of two more Borei-A submarines by 2028. The construction should take place at Sevmash starting in 2024 with deliveries to the Russian Navy in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
Borei-K.
A proposed version armed with cruise missiles instead of SLBMs, similar to the American "Ohio"-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGNs), is under consideration by the Russian Defence Ministry.


MV Tecam Sea

The Motor Vessel "Tecam Sea" is a bulk carrier built in 1984. The ship was built by Hitachi Zosen shipyard in Innoshima, Japan, and purchased by Sea Quality, a shipping company based in Athens, Greece. The ship was involved in a collision with the M/V "Federal Fuji" in the port of Sorel, Quebec on 27 April 2000. The squat effect phenomenon is believed to be a factor in the collision.
The "Tecam Sea", under Panamanian ownership, was involved in illegal oil-waste dumping off the Canadian coast on 8 Sept 2002, resulting in eight serious pollution charges. Due to improper handling of the case by authorities, the case was dismissed and charges were dropped.


Liuzzi-class submarine

The "Liuzzi" class was a class of four submarines built by Tosi in Taranto for the Royal Italian Navy (). The submarines were built in 1939 and began their Second World War service in the Mediterranean Sea, where "Liuzzi" was sunk. The three surviving boats were transferred to the BETASOM Atlantic submarine base at Bordeaux in 1940. After "Tarantini" was sunk, "Bagnolini" and "Giuliani" were selected for conversion to "transport submarines" in order to exchange rare or irreplaceable trade goods with Japan. Cargo capacity of 160 tons reduced reserve buoyancy from 20–25% to 3.5–6%; and armament was reduced to defensive machine guns.
Ships.
"Console Generale Liuzzi".
 was launched 17 September 1939. Two weeks after the Italian declaration of war, "Liuzzi" was sunk by Royal Navy destroyers south of Crete on 27 June 1940.
"Alpino Attilio Bagnolini".
"Bagnolini" (pennant number BI) was launched 28 October 1939 and completed on 22 December 1939. "Bagnolini" was at sea when Italy declared war, and torpedoed the cruiser south of Crete on 12 June 1940. A second Mediterranean war patrol was unsuccessful. "Bagnolini" sailed on 9 September 1940 and passed the Strait of Gibraltar on 13 September for an Atlantic patrol to Bordeaux on 30 September. En route "Bagnolini" torpedoed the neutral Spanish freighter "Gabo Tortosa". "Bagnolini" sank a single ship on its first BETASOM patrol before being damaged by anti-submarine patrols. A July 1941 patrol off Gibraltar and a patrol off the Azores from 18 January to 22 February 1942 were unsuccessful; and three patrols to the South Atlantic from 24 April to 28 June, from 15 September to 7 November 1942, and from 14 February to 13 April 1943 were similarly unproductive. After conversion to a German transport submarine, "Bagnolini" sailed as "UIT-22" on 26 January 1944 and was sunk off the Cape of Good Hope by No. 262 Squadron RAF Consolidated PBY Catalinas on 11 March.
"Reginaldo Giuliani".
"Giuliani" (pennant number GN) was launched 3 December 1939. After two unsuccessful Mediterranean war patrols, "Giuliani" sailed on 29 August 1940 and passed the Strait of Gibraltar on 10 September for an Atlantic patrol to Bordeaux on 30 September. After an unsuccessful BETASOM patrol in November, "Giuliani" sailed on 16 March 1941 to serve as a training submarine at Gdynia to instruct Italian officers in attack techniques and methodologies employed by the Germans. From April 1941 to April 1942 training courses of two to five weeks including Baltic Sea cruises of ten to twenty days were completed by seven Italian crews. "Giuliani" returned to Bordeaux on 23 May 1942. "Giuliani" sank three ships during a patrol off the Cape Verde Islands from 24 June to 3 September 1942. "Giuliani" remained in the Spanish port of Santander, Cantabria until 8 November 1942 repairing damage inflicted by Short Sunderlands on 1 September and No. 304 Squadron's Wellington on 2 September. After return to France and conversion to a transport submarine, "Giuliani" sailed on 16 May 1943 with 130 tonnes of mercury and reached Singapore on 1 August 1943. When Italy surrendered on 8 September 1943 "Giuliani" was seized by Germany in Singapore and renamed "UIT-23". "UIT-23" sailed for France on 15 February 1944 with 135 tonnes of rubber and 70 tonnes of tin, and was torpedoed three days later by . There were 14 survivors from the crew of forty.
"Capitano Raffaele Tarantini".
"Tarantini" (pennant number TT) was launched 7 January 1940 and was on patrol in the Mediterranean when Italy declared war. "Tarantini" sank one ship on its second Mediterranean war patrol, but then had two unsuccessful patrols. "Tarantini" sailed on 31 August 1940 and passed the Strait of Gibraltar on 10 September for an Atlantic patrol to Bordeaux on 5 October. "Tarantini" began its first BETASOM patrol on 11 November and was torpedoed by in the Gironde estuary while returning to base on 15 December 1940. Five of the crew were rescued.


HMAS Tasman

HMAS "Tasman" (FFG) is the third ship of the "Hunter"-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy.
Development and design.
The "Hunter"-class frigate is a future class of frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the "Anzac"-class. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with the first of nine vessels to enter service in the late 2020s. The Program is expected to cost AU$35 billion and a request for tender was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process.
The "Hunter"-class frigate will be an Australian variation of the Type 26 class frigate that is to be operated by the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s. The class will have a full load displacement and will be approximately in length. The vessel will be capable of sailing in excess of and will have a full complement of 180 crew.
Construction and career.
"Tasman" was ordered on 30 June 2018 and named after Explorer Abel Tasman. She will be built by BAE Systems Australia in Osborne.


MV Harambee

MV "Harambee was a German-built general cargo ship, initially ordered as the Reg IV. Bought while under construction by a different company, she was launched in 1953 and served with the German Merchant Navy under the name Belgrano, making voyages to South America until 1966. She was sold to an African company, renamed Harambee, and served for another thirteen years, before being sold once more, renamed Arambee", and scrapped in Taiwan shortly afterwards.
Construction and early career.
"Harambee" was initially planned as the "Reg IV", ordered from Lübecker Flender-Werke, Lübeck, by Rohstoff Einfuhr Gesellschaft and laid down as yard No 435. She was bought while still under construction by Rudolf A. Oetker, Hamburg and completed for the company under the name "Belgrano". She was launched on 27 August 1953 and delivered to the company on 21 October that year. With a tonnage of , she was long overall, with a beam of and a draught of . Equipped with a 6-cylinder M.A.N. oil engine capable of 4,000 b.h.p., she could achieve a speed of . Manned with a crew of thirty-three, she also had accommodation for eight passengers.
"Belgrano" spent most of her career sailing for Hamburg-Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft (Hamburg-Süd) between Hamburg and South American ports, but was also used for tramping services. She was renamed "Santa Barbara" in September 1965.
African career and disposal.
On 8 December 1966 was sold by Hamburg-Süd to the Eastern Africa National Shipping Line Ltd. (Southern Line Ltd, managers), based in Mombasa and owned jointly by the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in the East African Community. Her new owners renamed her "Harambee", and registered her under the red ensign. In 1969 she appeared on a 50 cents postage stamp issued by the Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania postal service. "Harambee" sailed for thirteen years for the company until being sold to Silverstar Corporation, Panama in August 1979 and renamed "Arambee". Her service in this guise was short-lived, she made only one voyage for the company, between Gdynia and Fushiki, and then was sold for scrapping. She sailed to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, arriving on 3 February 1980, and demolition work began on 20 February in the breaking yards of Yih Shen Steel Enterprise Co. Ltd.


USNS Wheeling (T-AGM-8)

USNS "Wheeling" (T-AGM-8) was a "Wheeling"-class missile range instrumentation ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1962 and converted from her Victory ship cargo configuration to a missile tracking ship, a role she retained for a number of years before being sunk as a target by Harpoon missiles on 12 July 1981.
Victory ship built in Oregon.
The second ship to be so named by the Navy, "Wheeling" was laid down on 10 April 1945 as "Seton Hall Victory" by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 686); launched on 22 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Ross Mclntyre; and delivered to the Maritime Commission on 21 June 1945.
World War II-related service.
From July 1945 to September 1957, "Seton Hall Victory" was operated for the U.S. Maritime Commission by a succession of civilian contractors, beginning with the Olympic Steamship Line and ending with Pope & Talbot, Inc. In September 1957, she was placed out of service and was berthed in Virginia's James River with the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Conversion to missile tracker.
Late in 1962, she was turned over to the Navy Department for conversion to a missile range instrumentation ship. On 19 March 1963, she was renamed "Wheeling" and designated "AGM-8". On 28 May 1964, "Wheeling" was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service to be operated by a civil service crew in support of operations on the Navy's Pacific Missile Range.
"Wheeling" spent her missile tracking years as a mobile tracking station, recording data on missiles and satellites that were out of range of land-based stations. For a number of years she remained on active service on the Pacific coast.
Two other ships were reconfigured in to this new class, "Watertown-class missile range instrumentation ship", the "USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6)" and the "USNS Huntsville (T-AGM-7)".
Surveillance of French Nuclear Tests.
During the summers of 1972 and 1973, Wheeling spent about three months each year in the South Pacific conducting research and surveillance operations in the vicinity of the French nuclear test site at Mururoa Atoll. The operations were conducted under the control of the Defense Nuclear Agency and the primary contractor was the Stanford Research Institute
Inactivation and sinking.
"Wheeling" remained in service until (date unknown) and was struck from the Navy List on 31 October 1990. However, during a naval exercise on 12 July 1981 she was assigned as target ship for Harpoon missile testing. She was struck by two Harpoons, one launched from a submarine and one from a P-3 Orion aircraft. A third Harpoon, planned for launch from a ship, was not launched. Details of how and when the ship sank, or was otherwise disposed of, are lacking.


USS Aludra (AK-72)

USS "Aludra" (AK-72) was a in the service of the US Navy in World War II. Named after the star Aludra in the constellation Canis Major, it was the first ship of the Navy to bear this name.
Construction.
"Aludra" was laid down 28 October 1942, as liberty ship SS "Robert T. Lincoln" under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 437, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, California; launched on 7 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy A. Rainbow; renamed "Aludra" on 30 October 1942; delivered to the Navy on 14 December 1942; and placed in commission at San Francisco, California, on 26 December 1942, Lieutenant Commander Dale E. Collins in command.
Service history.
The new cargo ship joined the Pacific Fleet and held brief shakedowntraining before departing the west coast on 7 January 1943. She anchored in Dumbea Bay, New Caledonia, on 29 January. The vessel got underway on 2 February for Havannah Harbor, Efate Island, and arrived there two days later. "Aludra" continued on to Espiritu Santo, where she remained from 11 February through 6 May.
The vessel left Espiritu Santo on 6 May in company with . The two ships reached Brisbane, Australia, on 11 May and took on cargo. "Aludra" sailed on 17 May for Auckland, New Zealand. She arrived there on 23 May and spent one week in port taking on supplies and equipment. The ship left Auckland on 30 May but returned that same day to repair a steering casualty. She got underway again on 31 May.
Sinking.
"Aludra" made port calls at Nouméa, New Caledonia, and Guadalcanal. She departed the latter port on 22 June, bound for Espiritu Santo. At 04:44 on 23 June, a torpedo fired by Japanese submarine (Ro-100-class submarine) hit "Aludra"s port side and exploded. Approximately five hours later, at 09:33, the cargo ship sank in over of water. Two of her crew members were killed and 12 were wounded.
Awards.
"Aludra" earned one battle star for her World War II service.


SS Drew Victory


United States B-class submarine

The B-class submarines were three United States Navy submarines built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, under a subcontract from the Electric Boat Company. They were eventually stationed in the Philippines, an American possession, beginning in 1912–15. They were shipped there on colliers (coal-carrying ships). All three were stricken and expended as targets 1919–22.
Design.
These vessels introduced some features intended to increase underwater speed, including a small sail and a rotating cap over the torpedo tube muzzles. The streamlined, rotating torpedo tube muzzle cap eliminated the drag that muzzle holes would otherwise cause. In the stowed position, the submarine appears to have no torpedo tubes, as the holes in the cap are covered by the bow stem. This feature remained standard through the K class, after which it was replaced with shutters that were standard through the 1950s.
For extended surface runs, the small sail was augmented with a temporary piping-and-canvas structure (see photo). Apparently the "crash dive" concept had not yet been thought of, as this would take considerable time to deploy and dismantle. This remained standard through the N class, commissioned 1917–1918. Experience in World War I showed that this was inadequate in the North Atlantic weather, and earlier submarines serving overseas in that war (E class through L class) had their bridge structures augmented with a "chariot" shield on the front of the bridge. Starting with the N class, built with lessons learned from overseas experience, US submarines had bridges more suited to surfaced operations in rough weather.


MSC Musica

MSC Musica is the first built in 2006 and operated by MSC Cruises. The vessel has 1,268 passenger cabins which can accommodate 2,550 passengers double occupancy, served by approximately 987 crew members.
History.
COVID-19 pandemic.
On 9 April 2020, "" reported that a 32-year-old Indian crew member of "MSC Musica" had tested positive for COVID-19. The crew member was initially admitted to hospital for emergency care due to anemia and had tested negative for the virus upon admission. However, when the crew member was scheduled for discharge, another test was performed, which returned positive. It is unclear if the virus was contracted aboard the ship or after disembarkation, but "MSC Musica", which had been moored at the Port of Santos, was placed under quarantine as a preventative measure, with the standard 14 days of quarantine beginning on the day the crew member had disembarked.


SS Betty Zane

SS "Betty Zane" (MC contract 873) was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Betty Zane, a frontier heroine of the American Revolutionary War and ancestor of author Zane Grey.
The ship was laid down by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in their Cape Fear River yard on November 20, 1942, then launched on December 22, 1942. "Zane" was operated by the States Marine Corporation for the War Shipping Administration until December 1946 when she entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Wilmington, North Carolina.
In November 1943 while in the Mediterranean Sea she was attacked by numerous German aircraft, downing a JU-88. "Zane" was sold to a Greek firm in December 1946 and renamed "Anastassios Pateras". She was scrapped in 1968