SS Empire Abbey
Encyclopedia
SS Empire Abbey was a refrigerated
cargo ship
built in 1943 and in service until 1966. She was also known as SS Teviot, SS Ardilles and SS Tung An.
for the MoWT and launched on 10 December 1943 and completed in March 1944. She was placed under the management of Elders & Fyffes Ltd
. On 26 April 1944, Empire Abbey sailed from New York
as part of Convoy HX289, arriving in Liverpool
on 13 May. On 23 November 1944, Empire Abbey sailed from Milford Haven
as part of Convoy OS96 bound for Gibraltar
, Empire Abbey was in ballast, with a final destination of Buenos Aires
. On 15 February 1945, Empire Abbey was in a collision with Free French Ship
L'Ardent in Cora Harbour which resulted in L' Ardent being sunk.
which lasted for over three weeks. On the 16th day of the storm, her propellor shaft broke off, leaving Empire Abbey drifting without propulsion. On the 24th day, the tug Foundation Franklin
managed to take Empire Abbey in tow. A message was sent from Empire Abbey that the captain had died after thirteen days without sleep. In May 1946 she was sold to Royal Mail Line
and renamed Teviot, the third Royal Mail Line ship to bear that name. In 1959, Teviot was laid up.
In 1960, Teviot was sold to Mullion & Co, Hong Kong
and renamed Ardellis, She was sold to Hai An Shipping Co in 1963 and being renamed Tung An. She arrived for scrapping in Kaohsiung
, Taiwan
on 6 August 1967.
.
Empire Abbey had the UK Official Number 169178 and used the Code Letters
BFKK.
Reefer (ship)
A refrigerator ship is a type of ship typically used to transport perishable commodities which require temperature-controlled transportation, mostly fruits, meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products and other foodstuffs....
cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
built in 1943 and in service until 1966. She was also known as SS Teviot, SS Ardilles and SS Tung An.
War service
Empire Abbey was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
for the MoWT and launched on 10 December 1943 and completed in March 1944. She was placed under the management of Elders & Fyffes Ltd
Fyffes Line
Fyffes Line was the name given to the fleet of passenger-carrying banana boats owned and operated by the UK banana importer Elders & Fyffes Limited.-History:...
. On 26 April 1944, Empire Abbey sailed from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as part of Convoy HX289, arriving in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 13 May. On 23 November 1944, Empire Abbey sailed from Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
as part of Convoy OS96 bound for Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, Empire Abbey was in ballast, with a final destination of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. On 15 February 1945, Empire Abbey was in a collision with Free French Ship
Free French Naval Forces
Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. They were commanded by Admiral Emile Muselier.- History :...
L'Ardent in Cora Harbour which resulted in L
Postwar
In February 1946, Empire Abbey, en route to Europe laden with food, was hit by a storm off NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
which lasted for over three weeks. On the 16th day of the storm, her propellor shaft broke off, leaving Empire Abbey drifting without propulsion. On the 24th day, the tug Foundation Franklin
Foundation Franklin
The SS Foundation Franklin was a sea-going salvage tug built for the Royal Navy in 1918 but most famous for many daring salvage operations and rescues while operated by Foundation Maritime between 1930-1949.- History :...
managed to take Empire Abbey in tow. A message was sent from Empire Abbey that the captain had died after thirteen days without sleep. In May 1946 she was sold to Royal Mail Line
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company
The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was a British shipping company founded in London in 1839 by Scot James Macqueen. After good and bad times it became the largest shipping group in the world in 1927 when it took over the White Star Line....
and renamed Teviot, the third Royal Mail Line ship to bear that name. In 1959, Teviot was laid up.
In 1960, Teviot was sold to Mullion & Co, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and renamed Ardellis, She was sold to Hai An Shipping Co in 1963 and being renamed Tung An. She arrived for scrapping in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
on 6 August 1967.
Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO NumbersIMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
.
Empire Abbey had the UK Official Number 169178 and used the Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
BFKK.