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)