ST Oriana

Oriana was a 295 GRT tug which was built in 1945 as Empire Frieda by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd., Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Ownership was transferred to the Ministry of Transport in 1946 and the Admiralty in 1947, when she was renamed Oriana. She struck a mine and sank in the River Colne, Essex on 19 January 1948 with the loss of all on deck.

For other ships with the same name, see Oriana (disambiguation).
History
Name:
  • Empire Frieda (1945–47)
  • Oriana (1947–48)
Owner:
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945–46)
  • Ministry of Transport (1946–47)
  • Admiralty (1947–48)
Operator: Overseas Towage and Salvage Co. Ltd.
Port of registry: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Builder: Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd., Port Glasgow
Yard number: 377
Launched: 22 October 1945
Completed: 31 January 1946
Out of service: 19 January 1948
Identification:
  • United Kingdom Official Number 169463
  • Code Letters GFDP
Fate: Struck mine and sank
General characteristics
Class and type: Tug
Tonnage: 295 GRT, 262 NRT
Length: 116 ft 9 in (35.59 m)
Beam: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Draught: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Depth: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Installed power: Triple expansion steam engine, 900 ihp
Propulsion: Single screw propeller
Crew: 15

Description

The ship was 116 ft 0 in (35.36 m) long, with a beam of 27 feet 6 inches (8.38 m). She had a depth of 12 feet 7 inches (3.84 m) and a draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m). She was assessed at 295 GRT, 262 NRT.[1][2]

The ship was propelled by a 900 ihp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 14 inches (36 cm), 25½ inches (65 cm) and 41 inches (100 cm) diameter by 27 inches (69 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Ferguson Brother (Port Glagsow) Ltd. It drove a single screw propeller.[2]

History

Empire Freetown was built in 1945 as yard number 377 by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Co. Ltd., Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).[3] She was launched on 22 October 1945 and completed on 31 January 1946.[2] Her port of registry was Glasgow. The United Kingdom Official Number 169463 and Code Letters GFDP were allocated.[1] She was operated under the management of the Overseas Towageand Salvage Co. Ltd, London.[2]

The MoWT became the Ministry of Transport in April 1946. She was passed to the Admiralty on 31 May 1947 and renamed Oriana. On 19 January 1948, with the French tug Vagrant, she was towing HMMS 366 from Chatham Dockyard to Brightlingsea, Essex when she struck a mine and sank in the Colne Estuary with the loss of all fifteen of her crew, who all hailed from the Medway Towns, Kent.[2][3][4][5]

References
  1. Lloyd's of London (1944). "Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers &c" (PDF). Lloyd's Register. Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  2. "Empire Frieda". Clydeships. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  3. Mitchell, W H, and 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.
  4. "Tug Lost After Explosion". The Times (50973). London. 20 January 1948. col E, p. 5.
  5. "Tug Wreck Seen". The Times (59074). London. 21 January 1849. col C, p. 2.
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