SS Marialaura

Career
Name:	Empire Eddystone (1945–47) Winston Churchill (1947–52) Marialaura (1952–66)
Owner:	Ministry of War Transport (1945) Ministry of Transport (1945–47) Aegean Shipping Co Ltd (1947–52) Fratelli D'Amico (1952–66)
Operator:	Evan T.Radcliffe & Co (1945–47) S G Embiricos Ltd (1947–52) Fratelli D'Amico (1952–66)
Port of registry:	West Hartlepool, UK (1945-47) Cardiff (1947–52) Rome, Italy (1952-66)
Builder:	William Gray & Co Ltd
Yard number:	1176
Launched:	11 May 1945
Completed:	July 1945
Out of service:	May 1966
Identification:	-United Kingdom Official Number 0084 (1945—52) Code Letters GKMC (1945-52)
Fate:	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type:	Cargo ship
Tonnage:	7,318 GRT
Length:	431 ft (131 m)
Beam:	56 ft (17 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine

Marialaura was a 7,318 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1945 as Empire Eddystone by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Winston Churchill. A sale to an Italian owner in 1952 saw her renamed Marialaura, serving until she was scrapped in 1966.

Description

The ship was built in 1945 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool.^[1] She was yard number 1176.^[2]

The ship was 431 feet (131 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet (17 m).^[3] She was assessed at 7,318 GRT.^[1]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.^[1]

History

Empire Eddystone was launched on 8 December 1943 and completed in May 1944.^[1] She was placed under the management of E T Radcliff & Co Ltd, Cardiff, Glamorgan.^[3] She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 180084,^[4] and Code Letters GKMC. Her port of registry was West Hartlepool.^[5]

In 1947, Empire Eddystone was sold to Aegean Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Winston Churchill. She was placed under the management of S G Embiricos Ltd, London.^[1]

In 1952, Winston Churchill was sold to Fratelli D'Amico, Rome, Italy and renamed Marialaura. She served until May 1966, when she was scrapped at Trieste.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} 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. 
2. ^ "Marialaura Originally known as: Empire Eddystone". Portcities Hartlepool. http://www.hartlepoolbuilt.co.uk/search-results.html?sf_name=empire+eddystone&sf_type=0&sf_yard_no=&sf_official_no=&sf_year_bulit=&sf_ship_builder=2&sf_ship_owners=&sf_port_of_registry=&sf_ship_managers=&sf_engine_maker=0&sf_master=&sys_id=1087. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "EMPIRE - D - E". Mariners. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireD.html. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
4. ^ "ON180000". Mariners. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/ON180000.htm. Retrieved 5 August 2011. 
5. ^ "Signal Letters Database". Convoyweb. http://convoyweb.org.uk/signal/index.html?search_all.php~signalmain. Retrieved 5 August 2011.  (Enter GKMC or Empire Eddystone in relevant search box)