MV Bessel

Last updated

History
Name
  • Sorrento (1925–28)
  • Bessel (1928–45)
  • Empire Coniston (1945–47)
  • Birgitte Skou (1947–59)
  • N Martini (1959–61)
  • Nicolo Martini (1961–73)
Owner
  • Robert M Sloman Jr (1925–26)
  • Otwi Werke GmbH (1926–28)
  • Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Neptun (1928–45)
  • Argo Reederei AG (1933–37)
  • Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co (1937–45)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945–47)
  • Danish Government (1947)
  • Ove Skou Rederiaktieselskab (1947–59)
  • Armamento Agenzia Marittima Framar (1959–72)
Operator
  • Robert M Sloman Jr (1925–26)
  • Otwi Werke GmbH (1926–28)
  • Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Neptun (1928–45)
  • Argo Reederei AG (1933–37)
  • Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co (1937–45)
  • Stone & Rolfe Ltd (1945–46)
  • Ove Skou Rederiaktieselskab (1946–58)
  • M Martini (1959–72)
Port of registry
  • Merchant flag of Germany (1919-1933).svg Hamburg (1925–26)
  • Merchant flag of Germany (1919-1933).svg Bremen (1926–33)
  • Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Bremen (1933–40)
  • War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Kriegsmarine (1940–45)
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London (1945–47)
  • Flag of Denmark.svg København (1947–59)
  • Civil Ensign of Italy.svg Genoa (1959–73)
BuilderAG Weser
Yard number395
Launched1925
Out of service
  • April 1958 – September 1959
  • April 1972 – October 1973
Identification
  • Code Letters RFLM (1925–34)
  • ICS Romeo.svg ICS Foxtrot.svg ICS Lima.svg ICS Mike.svg
  • Code Letters DOIE (1934–45)
  • ICS Delta.svg ICS Oscar.svg ICS India.svg ICS Echo.svg
  • Code Letters GTFY (1945–46)
  • ICS Golf.svg ICS Tango.svg ICS Foxtrot.svg ICS Yankee.svg
  • Code Letters OXZI (1946–59)
  • ICS Oscar.svg ICS X-ray.svg ICS Zulu.svg ICS India.svg
  • United Kingdom Official Number 180717 (1945–47)
  • IMO number:  5251496 ( -1973)
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Type Cargo ship
Tonnage
Length283 ft 7 in (86.44 m)
Beam41 ft 7 in (12.67 m)
Depth16 ft 5 in (5.00 m)
Installed power4SCSA diesel engine
PropulsionScrew propeller

Bessel was a cargo ship that was built in 1925 as Sorrento by AG Weser, Bremen for German owners. She was sold in 1926 and renamed Bessel. She was seized by the Allies in Vigo, Spain, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Coniston. In 1946, she was lent to the Danish Government and was allocated to them in 1947. She was sold into Danish merchant service and renamed Birgitte Skou. In 1959, she was sold to Italy and renamed N Martini. She was renamed Nicolo Martini in 1961, serving until 1972 when she ran aground at Portoscuso, Sardinia. Although refloated she was declared a total loss and was scrapped in 1973.

Contents

Description

The ship was built in 1925 as yard number 395 by AG Weser, Bremen. [1] [2]

The ship was 283 feet 7 inches (86.44 m) long, with a beam of 41 feet 7 inches (12.67 m). She had a depth of 16 feet 5 inches (5.00 m). The ship had a GRT of 1,878 and a NRT of 915. [3]

The ship was propelled by two 4-stroke Single Cycle Single Acting diesel engines, which had 6 cylinders of 22+1⁄16 inches (56.0 cm) diameter by 39+3⁄8 inches (100 cm) stroke. The engines were built by AG Weser. [3]

History

Sorrento was built for Robert M Sloman Jr, Hamburg. [2] In October 1926, she was sold to Otwi Werke GmbH, Bremen and renamed Bessel. In December 1928, [2] she was sold to Dampschiffs Gesellschaft Neptun, Bremen. [1] The Code Letters RFLM were allocated. [3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DOIE. [4]

In 1940, Bessel was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. [5] She put into Vigo, Spain, during 1940 where she remained for the duration of the war. [1] Bessel was used to refuel U-boats eight times during the war. Although supposedly a merchant ship, she was camouflaged. [6] In May 1945, she was surrendered to the United Kingdom, and sailed from Vigo to the UK in August 1945. [1]

Ownership passed to the MoWT and she was placed under the management of Stone & Rolfe Ltd. Her port of registry was changed to London and the Code letters GTFY and United Kingdom Official Number 180717 were allocated. [7] In 1946, Empire Coniston was lent to the Danish Government. She was passed to them in 1947 and sold to Ove Skou Rederiaktieselskab in 1947, when she was renamed Birgitte Skou. [1] Her port of registry was changed to København and the Code Letters OXZI were allocated. On 6 November 1951, a fire on board the ship while docked at Valencia, Spain affected the crew accommodation area. Birgitte Skou was repaired and returned to service. On 21 January 1952, there was an industrial dispute while the ship was moored at Helsingør, Denmark. In April 1958, she was laid up in Kobenhavn. In September 1959, Birgitte Skou was sold to Armamento Agenzia Marittima Framar, Genoa, Italy. [2] She was operated under the management of M Martini, Italy and was renamed N Martini. She was renamed Nicolo Martini in 1961. [1] With the introduction of IMO Numbers in the 1960s, Nicolo Martini was allocated the IMO Number 5251496. [2]

On 24 April 1972, Nicolo Martini struck a submerged object at Portoscuso, Sardinia while on a voyage from Caloforte to Genoa. She developed a leak and was beached to prevent her sinking. [2] Although refloated, she was declared a total loss. In December 1972, she was sold for scrap. Nicolo Martini was scrapped in October 1973 at Vado Ligure, Italy. [1]

Related Research Articles

Stettin was a 2,646 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1923 for the Stettiner Dampfer Compagnie. In 1930 she was sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd and renamed Akka. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1940. Akka was seized as a war prize in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and being renamed Empire Calder.

Ceuta was a 2,719 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1929 for the Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Reederei. She was sunk during an air raid in 1943, but later raised, repaired and returned to service. She was seized as a war prize in 1945, passed to the British Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Camel.

Goodleigh was a 3,857 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1928 by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Dulverton Steamship Company. In 1937 she was sold to Fisser & Van Doornum, Emden and was renamed Christian Van Doornum. She was in port in Canada when war was declared between the United Kingdom and Germany. She was seized as a war prize and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Renamed Empire Commerce, she served until 9 June 1940 when she struck a mine off Margate, Kent. She was beached and her cargo was salvaged, but Empire Commerce was deemed a constructive total loss and was scrapped in situ. She was the first Empire ship lost through enemy action in the Second World War.

Klio was a 1,403 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1924 by AG Weser, Bremen, Germany for Neptun Line. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), renamed Empire Conclyde. In 1946, she was passed to the Soviet Union and renamed Shota Rustavelli.

Theresia L M Russ was a 1,694 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1927 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for Ernst Russ. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for two years during the Second World War. In 1944, she was sunk by bombing at Gotenhafen, German occupied Poland. The ship was raised and repaired in 1945. She was seized by the Allies at Copenhagen and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Concrete.

Elbe was a 1,197 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1921 by Nobiskrug Werft, Rendsburg for German owners. She was seized by the Allies at Copenhagen, Denmark in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Confederation. In 1946, she was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed José Dias. She served until she was scrapped in 1966.

Nordmark was a 987 GRT Coaster that was built as Faust in 1920 by Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Unterweser AG, Bremen, Germany for German owners. She was renamed Nordmark after a sale in 1930 and was again renamed Angeln in 1936. She was sold in 1944 and renamed Ermland. She was seized by the Allies at Lübeck in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Congerstone. In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Oakley. In 1953, she was sold to Costa Rica and renamed Lucy. She served until 1960 when she was scrapped.

Orlanda was a cargo ship that was built in 1920 by F Krupp AG, Emden for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in Hamburg, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conington. In 1946, she was allocated to the Newfoundland Government. In 1949, she was sold to Panama and renamed Alabe. She served until 1958, when she was scrapped.

Ambria was a cargo ship that was built in 1922 by Deutsche Werft, Finkenwerder for German owners. She was sold in 1934 and renamed Gumbinnen. She was sunk by a British destroyer in 1941, raised and repaired. Gumbinnen was seized by the Allies in Flensburg, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conleith. In 1946, she was allocated to the Norwegian Government and renamed Dragnes. She was sold into Norwegian merchant service and renamed Mimona. In 1959, she was sold and renamed Malay. She served until 1961 when she was scrapped.

Charlotte Cords was a cargo ship that was built in 1923 by Neptun AG, Rostock for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in Travemünde in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Connah. In 1946, she was allocated to the Soviet Government and renamed Nikolai Bauman. The ship was scuttled while carrying a cargo of nuclear waste in 1964.

SS <i>Ljusneälf</i>

Ljusneälf was a 1,391 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1917 as Tilburg by L Smit & Zoon, Kinderdijk for Dutch owners. She was sold to German owners in 1922 and renamed Ljusneälf. A sale in 1938 saw her renamed Hubert Schröder. She was seized by the Allies in April 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conquest.

Akademik Karpinsky was a 1,122 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1936 as Thalia by Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany for German owners. She was interned at Cadiz, Spain in 1943, and surrendered to the Allies in May 1945. Thalia passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Consett. In 1946, she was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed Akademik Karpinsky, serving until 31 August 1953 when she foundered.

Ganter was a 1,771 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1927 by G Seebeck AG, Bremerhaven, Germany for German owners. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War and operated as Transporter RO 29, she was seized by the Allies in May 1945. She was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Consistance, being sold into merchant service in 1948. In 1950, she was sold to the Dutch government and renamed Jan Willem and then sold and renamed Maria in 1951. She was sold to Finnish owners later that year and being renamed Dagny. She served until she was scrapped in 1967.

SS <i>Barlind</i>

Barlind was a 1,453 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1938 as Süderau by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen, Germany for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Content. In 1946, she was allocated to Norway and renamed Svartnes. She was sold into merchant service in 1947 and renamed Barlind. In 1971, she was sold to Greece and renamed Ikaria. She served until 1972 when she was scrapped.

Alk was a 1,175 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1924 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Contest. In 1946, she was allocated to the Soviet Union and renamed Vereshyagin (Верещагин). She served until about 1960, being deleted from Lloyd's Register in that year.

Jean Marie was a 964 GRT coaster that was built in 1922 by F Schichau GmbH, Elbing, Germany as Tertia for German owners. A sale in 1925 saw her renamed Hornland. In 1926, a further sale saw her renamed Taube. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Contour. In 1946, she was transferred to Belgium and renamed Jean Marie. She was sold into merchant service, serving until 1951 when she sank after her cargo shifted.

Anakriya was a 1,000 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1925 as Riga by Travewerk Gebrüder Goedhart AG, Hamburg, Germany. After a sale in 1934 she was renamed Königsberg. In 1939, she was renamed Stettin. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies at Hamburg, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Conway. In 1946, she was passed to the Soviet Union, initially renamed Stettin, and then renamed Anakriya.

Kolno was a 2,487 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1936 as Nordcoke by Lübecker Flenderwerke AG, Lübeck, Germany. In 1940, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and was renamed Nordlicht. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies at Hamburg, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Conwear. In 1946, she was passed to the Soviet Union and renamed Armavir. In 1947, she was transferred to Poland and renamed Kolno. She served until 1971 when she ran aground off Falsterbo, Sweden, following which she served as a hulk until scrapped in 1983.

Wilhelm Russ was a 997 GRT coaster that was built in 1921 by Stettiner Oderwerke AG, Stettin, Germany. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies at Eckernförde, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Cony. In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Elsie Beth. In 1950, she was sold back to her original managers and renamed Wilhelm Russ. She served until 1958 when she was scrapped.

Empire Conyngham was a 1,408 GRT cargo ship that was built as Marie in 1899 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for German owners. A sale in 1923 saw her renamed Norburg. She was sold to Latvia in 1925 and renamed Gauja, serving until 1941 when she was captured by the Kriegsmarine in the Baltic Sea. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Conyngham. In 1946, she was scuttled with a cargo of obsolete bombs.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN   1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Birgitte Skou" (in Danish and English). Leo Kragh. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  4. ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Neptun Line / Dampfschifffahrts Gesellschaft Neptun". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  6. ↑ Salgado, Juan Carlos. "Los U-Boote en Galicia en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (in Spanish). Uhistoria. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  7. ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.