- SS North Britain (1945)
-
For other ships of the same name, see SS North Britain.
Career Name: Empire Cyprus (1945-48)
North Britain (1948-62)
Jesselton Bay (1962-68)Owner: Ministry of War Transport (1945)
Ministry of Transport (1945-48)
North Shipping Co Ltd (1948-62)
Kinabatagan Shipping Co Ltd (1962-68)Operator: Charlton, McAllum & Co Ltd (1945-47)
Hugh Roberts & Son Ltd (1947-62)
United China Shipping Co Ltd (1962-68)Port of registry: 
Greenock (1945-48)
Newcastle upon Tyne (1948-62)
Hong Kong (1962-68)Builder: Lithgows Yard number: 1005 Launched: 18 April 1945 Completed: June 1945 Maiden voyage: 23 June 1945 Identification: Code Letters GFWV (1945-62)
Fate: Scrapped in 1968 General characteristics Class and type: Cargo ship Tonnage: 7,189 GRT Length: 433 ft (132 m) Beam: 56 ft (17 m) Propulsion: Triple expansion steam engine North Britain was a 7,189 GRT Cargo ship that was built in 1945 by Lithgows, Port Glasgow as Empire Cyprus for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold into merchant service in 1948 and renamed North Britain. In 1962, she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Jesselton Bay, serving until 1968 when she was scrapped.
Contents
Description
The ship was built in 1945 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow.[1] She was yard number 1005.[2]
The ship was 433 feet (132 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet (17 m).[3]
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.[1]
History
Empire Cyprus was launched on 18 April 1945, and completed in June.[1] She was operated under the management of Charlton, McAllum & Co Ltd.[3] Her port of registry was Greenock and the Code Letters GFWV were allocated.[4] She departed from the Clyde on her maiden voyage on 23 June 1945, bound for New York, United States. Over the next six months, she would visit Port Said, and Suez, Egypt; Colombo, Ceylon; Calcutta, India; and Rangoon and Kyaukpyu, Burma.[5]
In 1947, management was transferred to Hugh Roberts & Son, Newcastle upon Tyne.[3] In 1948, she was sold to North Shipping Co Ltd and renamed North Britain. She remained under the management of Hugh Roberts & Son.[1] On 28 January 1952, North Britain ran aground off Fiji. She was refloated later that day.[6] In 1962, North Britain was sold to Kinabatagan Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Jesselton Bay. She was operated under the management of United China Shipping Ltd, Hong Kong. She arrived on 2 April 1968 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ^ "Launched 1945: EMPIRE CYPRUS". Clydesite. http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=18330. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ a b c "EMPIRE - C". Mariners. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireC.html. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ "Signal Letters Database". Convoyweb. http://convoyweb.org.uk/signal/index.html?search_all.php~signalmain. Retrieved 15 May 2011. (Enter GFWV or Empire Cyprus in relevant search box)
- ^ "EMPIRE CYPRUS". Convoyweb. http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20CYPRUS~armain. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ "Hurricane Damage In Fiji Islands" The Times (London). Tuesday, 29 January 1952. Issue 52221, col F, p. 3.
External links
Ships built by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Merchant ships Atheltemplar · City of Benares · Empire Addison · Empire Austen · Empire Baffin · Empire Balfour · Empire Beatrice · Empire Buckler · Empire Comet · Empire Conrad · Empire Cyprus · Empire Dell · Empire Dew · Empire Galahad · Empire MacCallum · Empire MacRae · Iron Knight · Maudie · Nile · River AftonRoyal Fleet Auxiliary ships Warships Categories:- 1945 ships
- Clyde-built ships
- Empire ships
- Ministry of War Transport ships
- Steamships of the United Kingdom
- Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
- Maritime incidents in 1952
- Steamships of Hong Kong
- Merchant ships of Hong Kong
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