MV Aqueity (1945)

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Career
Class and type: Coastal tanker
Name: Empire Belgrave (1945-47)
Aqueity (1947)
Owner: Ministry of War Transport (1945-47)
Shell Tankers Ltd (1947)
F T Everard (1947)
Operator: Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd (1945-47)
F T Everard (1947)
Port of registry: United Kingdom Glasgow
Builder: A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow
Yard number: 1299
Launched: 16 March 1945
Completed: 19 June 1945
Out of service: 11 November 1947
Identification: UK Official Number 169440
Code Letters GKJW
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Fate: Struck a mine and sank 1947
General characteristics
Tonnage: 890 GRT
900 DWT
382 NRT
Length: 193 ft (58.83 m)
Beam: 32 ft (9.75 m)
Depth: 14 feet 5 inches (4.39 m)
Propulsion: One 2SCSA oil engine, 125 horsepower (93 kW)


Aqueity was a 890 GRT coastal tanker which was built by A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow in 1945 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Belgrave. In 1947 she was sold to F T Everard and Sons and renamed Aqueity, being lost later that year when she struck a mine and sank off the coast of the Netherlands.

Description

Empire Belgrave was built by A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow.[1] She was yard number 1299. Empire Belgrave was launched on 16 March 1945 and completed on 19 June.[2] She was 193 feet (58.83 m) long, with a beam of 32 feet (9.75 m) and a depth of 14 feet 5 inches (4.39 m).[3] Her GRT was 890,[1] DWT 900[4] with a NRT of 382.[3]

Career

Empire Belgrave was managed for the MoWT by the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd.[3] Postwar management passed to Shell Tankers.[5] In 1947, Empire Belgrave was sold to F T Everard & Sons Ltd, Greenhithe and renamed Aqueity. On 11 November 1947, she struck a mine off Terschelling, the Netherlands and sank.[1] The wreck lies in 22 metres (72 ft) of water at 53°32′N 05°02′E / 53.533°N 5.033°E / 53.533; 5.033.[6]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. The ship had the UK Official Number 169440 and the Code Letters GKJW.[3]

Propulsion

The ship was propelled by a two-stroke Single Cycle, Single Action diesel engine which had four cylinders of 1334 inches (349 mm) diameter by 22716 (570 mm) stroke. It was built by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. 
  2. ""1169440"" (subscription required). Miramar Ship Index. R.B. Haworth. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=45a0327.pdf. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
  4. "mv EMPIRE BELGRAVE". Clydesite. http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=2112. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
  5. "Empire Belgrave". Helder Line. http://www.helderline.nl/tanker/1226/empire+belgrave/. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
  6. "MV Aqueity (1947)". Wrecksite. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11874. Retrieved 29 October 2009.