SS Minnewaska
Encyclopedia
SS Minnewaska was a 21,716-ton ocean liner in the service of the Atlantic Transport Line
and the Red Star Line
from 1923–1933
She was the fourth ship of the Atlantic Transport Line
to carry the name “Minnewaska”. The third Minnewaska had been launched in 1908 and sailed the London
to New York
route until 1915 when she was requisitioned by the British Army with disastrous consequences. In 1916, she struck a mine in Souda Bay
, Crete
, in the Mediterranean sea. With 1,800 troops on board and badly damaged, she was beached and written off as a total loss. Her replacement, the fourth SS Minnewaska, in 1923, had accommodation for 369 first class passengers, but was primarily a cargo carrier, the largest afloat at 21,716 tons. She cost the Atlantic Transport Line
£1,175,000. SS Minnewaska and her sister ship SS Minnetonka were the largest ships to use London
Docks prior to the P.& O. “Strath” ships.
Minnewaska was laid down at the Harland & Wolff Ltd, shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1923. She began her maiden voyage from London to New York on 1 September 1923 under the control of Captain T. F. Gates. In 1924, Captain Gates was transferred to the Minnetonka and the Minnewaska was under the command of Captain F. H. Claret. By 1932, the Atlantic Transport Line’s business was severely affected by the Depression
and all of its ships were either laid up or disposed of. The Minnewaska was laid up in Southend on Sea in 1931, the last ship to carry the Atlantic Transport Line’s colours before being sold to the Red Star Line
. She made her first Red Star voyage, Antwerp-New York
, on 13 May 1932. By the autumn of 1933, she was no longer needed by Red Star. Her last Atlantic crossing was in September 1933, and she was sold for scrap along with her sister ship Minnetonka to Messrs Douglas & Ramsey, ship-breakers, for £35,000 in 1934. Minnewaska and Minnetonka had been in service barely ten years, among the shortest careers of any major Atlantic liner.
Storage & Lighterage Co, he found it economical to operate his ships under the British flag. Initial voyages were between Barrow
and New York
and the following year, between Amsterdam
and New York under charter to the Royal Netherlands
SS Co. In 1883, regular London - Baltimore voyages commenced and a London - New York service started in 1890. Occasional voyages were also made to New York from Swansea
and Belfast
. In 1896, Atlantic Transport Line took over the fleet and assets of National Line.
The Atlantic Transport Line was an American company, but was effectively British operated. The solution to this in America was to form the Atlantic Transport Company of West Virginia in 1898 to acquire the assets and ships of Atlantic Transport Line and to build and own their own American flagged ships. For economical reasons, the current fleet continued under the British flag, but was American controlled. In 1904, the company, together with many others came under the control of the newly formed International Mercantile Marine Company. The depression of 1931 caused IMMC to commence selling Atlantic Transport Line's passenger fleet and by 1936 their last ship, COLUMBIA was scrapped and both companies (American and British) ceased to exist.
Atlantic Transport Line
The Atlantic Transport Line was a Baltimore, Maryland-based passenger shipping line that was folded into the International Mercantile Marine shipping trust in 1901. The line developed with railroad support as an offshoot of Bernard N. Baker's Baltimore Storage and Lighterage Company in 1881...
and the Red Star Line
Red Star Line
The Red Star Line was an ocean passenger line founded in 1871 as a joint venture between the International Navigation Company of Philadelphia, which also ran the American Line, and the Société Anonyme de Navigation Belgo-Américaine of Antwerp, Belgium...
from 1923–1933
She was the fourth ship of the Atlantic Transport Line
Atlantic Transport Line
The Atlantic Transport Line was a Baltimore, Maryland-based passenger shipping line that was folded into the International Mercantile Marine shipping trust in 1901. The line developed with railroad support as an offshoot of Bernard N. Baker's Baltimore Storage and Lighterage Company in 1881...
to carry the name “Minnewaska”. The third Minnewaska had been launched in 1908 and sailed the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to 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...
route until 1915 when she was requisitioned by the British Army with disastrous consequences. In 1916, she struck a mine in Souda Bay
Souda Bay
Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
, Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, in the Mediterranean sea. With 1,800 troops on board and badly damaged, she was beached and written off as a total loss. Her replacement, the fourth SS Minnewaska, in 1923, had accommodation for 369 first class passengers, but was primarily a cargo carrier, the largest afloat at 21,716 tons. She cost the Atlantic Transport Line
Atlantic Transport Line
The Atlantic Transport Line was a Baltimore, Maryland-based passenger shipping line that was folded into the International Mercantile Marine shipping trust in 1901. The line developed with railroad support as an offshoot of Bernard N. Baker's Baltimore Storage and Lighterage Company in 1881...
£1,175,000. SS Minnewaska and her sister ship SS Minnetonka were the largest ships to use London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Docks prior to the P.& O. “Strath” ships.
Minnewaska was laid down at the Harland & Wolff Ltd, shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1923. She began her maiden voyage from London to New York on 1 September 1923 under the control of Captain T. F. Gates. In 1924, Captain Gates was transferred to the Minnetonka and the Minnewaska was under the command of Captain F. H. Claret. By 1932, the Atlantic Transport Line’s business was severely affected by the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and all of its ships were either laid up or disposed of. The Minnewaska was laid up in Southend on Sea in 1931, the last ship to carry the Atlantic Transport Line’s colours before being sold to the Red Star Line
Red Star Line
The Red Star Line was an ocean passenger line founded in 1871 as a joint venture between the International Navigation Company of Philadelphia, which also ran the American Line, and the Société Anonyme de Navigation Belgo-Américaine of Antwerp, Belgium...
. She made her first Red Star voyage, Antwerp-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...
, on 13 May 1932. By the autumn of 1933, she was no longer needed by Red Star. Her last Atlantic crossing was in September 1933, and she was sold for scrap along with her sister ship Minnetonka to Messrs Douglas & Ramsey, ship-breakers, for £35,000 in 1934. Minnewaska and Minnetonka had been in service barely ten years, among the shortest careers of any major Atlantic liner.
A brief history of the Atlantic Transport Line
Formed in 1881 by Bernard Baker of the BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
Storage & Lighterage Co, he found it economical to operate his ships under the British flag. Initial voyages were between Barrow
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
and 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...
and the following year, between Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and New York under charter to the Royal Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
SS Co. In 1883, regular London - Baltimore voyages commenced and a London - New York service started in 1890. Occasional voyages were also made to New York from Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. In 1896, Atlantic Transport Line took over the fleet and assets of National Line.
The Atlantic Transport Line was an American company, but was effectively British operated. The solution to this in America was to form the Atlantic Transport Company of West Virginia in 1898 to acquire the assets and ships of Atlantic Transport Line and to build and own their own American flagged ships. For economical reasons, the current fleet continued under the British flag, but was American controlled. In 1904, the company, together with many others came under the control of the newly formed International Mercantile Marine Company. The depression of 1931 caused IMMC to commence selling Atlantic Transport Line's passenger fleet and by 1936 their last ship, COLUMBIA was scrapped and both companies (American and British) ceased to exist.