SS Ottawa (1888)

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History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
Name
  • SS Elbruze (1888-1900)
  • SS Ottawa (1900-1921)
Owner
Port of registry Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London, United Kingdom
Builder Armstrong & Mitchell Co. Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne
Yard number523
Completed1888
Acquired1888
In service1888
Out of service6 February 1921
Identification Official number: 95480
FateMissing since 6 February 1921
NotesCall letters: KVNM
General characteristics
Type Tanker
Tonnage2,742  GRT
Length94.3 metres (309 ft 5 in)
Beam12.3 metres (40 ft 4 in)
Depth8.6 metres (28 ft 3 in)
Installed powerOne triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion1 screw propeller
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Notes3 masts and 1 funnel

SS Ottawa was a British Tanker that disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean on 6 February 1921, while she was travelling from Puerto Lobos, Mexico for Manchester, United Kingdom with a cargo of 3,600 tons of fuel oil. [1]

Contents

Construction

Ottawa was built as Elbruze at the Armstrong & Mitchell Co. Ltd. shipyard in Newcastle upon Tyne, England and completed in 1888. The ship was 94.3 metres (309 ft 5 in) long, had a beam of 12.3 metres (40 ft 4 in) and a depth of 8.6 metres (28 ft 3 in). She was assessed at 2,742  GRT and had a single triple expansion steam engine producing 225 nhp, driving a single screw propeller. The ship could reach a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and possessed 3 masts and one funnel. [2]

Career and disappearance

Elbruze was sold to Pembroke & Co. Ltd. in 1895 and to Anglo-American Oil Co. Ltd. in 1900 after which she was renamed Ottawa. The ship was chartered by the British Admiralty after the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 and was returned to its owner in December 1918 following the end of the war. In February 1921, Ottawa departed Puerto Lobos, Mexico arriving at Norfolk, United States. She left Norfolk on 2 February en route to Manchester, United Kingdom with a cargo of 3,600 tons of fuel oil. Her last wireless communication occurred with SS Dorington Court on 6 February before she went missing. Ottawa wasn't the only ship in that area of the Atlantic that went missing during that period. Both the British cargo ship SS Esperanza de Larrinaga and Italian cargo ship SS Monte San Michele went missing on the same route on 2 February and 8 February respectively. An additional two ships, the Belgian cargo ship SS Bombardier and the French cargo ship SS Victorieux were abandoned on 7 February and 10 February respectively. These events were all attributed to a hurricane sweeping through the area at the time and all the missing ships including Ottawa are presumed lost with all hands although the exact number of crew on board Ottawa at the time of her loss is unknown. [3]

Titanic connection

Ottawa was crossing the Atlantic Ocean when on 6 June 1912, nearly two months after the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the crew spotted a body floating in the ocean. A lifeboat was lowered and the body was hauled aboard after which Thomas Cook, the third officer aboard Ottawa, described the body as badly decomposed especially the hands and face while the name of the ship the man came from had washed off his lifebelt. Despite this, it had already become clear to the crew that this was a victim of the Titanic Disaster. Still, in order to identify the man, his pockets were searched which resulted in the discovery of the man's wallet bearing the initials W. T. K. and bearing a love letter and a business card. The man was identified as 28 year old William Thomas Kerley, a 2nd Class Assistant Saloon Steward from the RMS Titanic and was found about 543 miles from Titanic's wrecksite. Mr. Kerley was given a proper sea burial according to the ceremony of the Church of England. William Thomas Kerley was the second to last victim recovered following the Titanic Disaster. [4] [5] [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Overdue vessels". The Times. No. 42688. London. 7 April 1921. col. F, p. 12.
  2. ↑ "SS Ottawa (+1921)". wrecksite.eu. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Ottawa - (1900-1921)". aukevisser.nl. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Titanic Body Recovery". titanicfacts.net. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "William Thomas Kerley". encyclopedia-titanica.org. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "List of recovered victims". titanic.fandom.com. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
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