SS Empire Cameron

Summary

Empire Cameron was a 7,015 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold in 1946 and renamed St Margaret. In 1960, she was sold and renamed Agna, serving until scrapped in 1963.

History
Name
  • Empire Cameron (1941-46)
  • St Margaret (1946-60)
  • Agna (1960-63)
Owner
  • Ministry of War Transport (1941-46)
  • Shakespear Shipping Co Ltd (1946-60)
  • Agna Compagnia Navigazione SA (1960-63)
Operator
  • F C Strick & Co Ltd (1941-43)
  • Shakespear Shipping Co Ltd (1943-46)
  • South American Saint Line Ltd (1946-60)
  • Tharros Shipping Co Ltd (1960-63)
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom Glasgow (1941-46)
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom (1946-60)
  • Panama Panama City (1960-63)
BuilderWilliam Denny & Bros Ltd
Yard number1358
Launched19 November 1941
CompletedDecember 1941
Identification
  • Code Letters BCRW (1941-60)
  • United Kingdom Official Number 169447 (1941-60)
FateScrapped 1963.
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length432 ft 2 in (131.72 m)
Beam56 ft 3 in (17.15 m)
Depth34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propellor
Speed9.5 knots (17.6 km/h)

Description edit

The ship was built by William Denny & Bros Ltd, Dumbarton,[1] as yard number 1358.[2] She was launched on 19 November 1941 and completed in December.[1]

The ship was 432 feet 2 inches (131.72 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 3 inches (17.15 m) and a depth of 34 feet 0 inches (10.36 m). Her GRT was 7,015 and she had a NRT of 5,175.[3] Her DWT was 9,207.[2] She was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 23+12 inches (60 cm), 37+12 inches (95 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by J G Kincaid Ltd, Greenock.[3]

History edit

Empire Cameron was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of F C Strick & Co Ltd. The Code Letters BCRW were allocated.[3] Her Official Number was 168704.[4]

On 10 August 1942, Spitfire Vb EP192 was loaded onto Empire Cameron as part of her cargo. It was delivered to Takoradi, Gold Coast on 15 September.[5]

Convoys edit

Empire Cameron was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.

ONS 100

Convoy ONS 100 was a North Atlantic convoy that departed Liverpool on 2 June 1942 bound for Cape Cod.

MKS 4

Convoy MKS 4 departed Algiers, Algeria on 24 December 1942 bound for Liverpool.[6]

MKS 8

Convoy MKS 8 departed Gibraltar on 22 February 1943 bound for Liverpool. Empire Cameron was on a voyage from Algiers and joined the convoy at Gibraltar.[6]

MKS 13G

Convoy MKS 13G departed Gibraltar on 22 May 1943 bound for Liverpool. Empire Cameron was carrying a cargo of molybdenum.[6]

MKS 46

Convoy MKS 46 departed Oran on 20 April 1944 bound for Liverpool. Empire Cameron was on a voyage from Alexandria, Egypt, joining the convoy at Oran and leaving at her destination of Augusta, Italy.[7]

MKS 48 / MKS 48G Convoy MKS 48 departed Oran on 8 May 1944 bound for Liverpool. Empire Cameron was a member of this convoy. On 10 May 1944, the convoy sailed from Gibraltar under the designation of MKS 48G.[7]

During 1943, management was transferred to Shakespear Shipping Co Ltd.[8] In 1946, Empire Cameron was sold to Shakespear Shipping and renamed St Margaret. She was placed under the management of South American Saint Line. In 1960, St Margaret was sold to Agna Compagnia Navigazione SA, Panama. She was renamed Agna, serving until 1963. She arrived at Yawata, Japan on 17 July 1963 for scrapping.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "Launched 1941: ss EMPIRE CAMERON". Clydesite. Archived from the original on 27 April 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b c "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  4. ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  5. ^ "Spitfire aircraft production, page 037". Spitfires. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  6. ^ a b c "MKS Convoys – November 1942-1945, MKS 1 through MKS 30". Warsailors. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  7. ^ a b "MKS Convoys – November 1942-1945, MKS 46 through MKS 60". Warsailors. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  8. ^ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 26 February 2010.