SS Haleakala

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History
United States
NameHaleakala
NamesakeHaleakalā
OwnerUSSB
Operator
Port of registryLos Angeles
Ordered10 July 1918
Builder
Long Beach Shipbuilding Co., Long Beach
Cost$1,750,000
Yard number134
Laid down3 February 1919
Launched13 September 1919
Sponsored byMrs. Violet Makee
Commissioned10 December 1919
Maiden voyage6 January 1920
Identification
FateDisappeared, September 1926
General characteristics
TypeDesign 1019 Cargo ship
Tonnage
Length410.5 ft (125.1 m)
Beam54.3 ft (16.6 m)
Depth27.2 ft (8.3 m)
Installed power2800
Nhp
Propulsion
triple expansion
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)

Haleakala was a

hurricane
with the loss of all hands.

Design and construction

After the United States entry into World War I, a large shipbuilding program was undertaken to restore and enhance shipping capabilities both of the United States and their Allies. As part of this program, EFC placed orders with nation's shipyards for a large number of vessels of standard designs. Most of these new vessels were known as the West ships as they were built by several shipyards on the West Coast of the United States and all were given names that began with the word West. Design 1019 cargo ship was among the designs adopted by USSB, and was a standard cargo freighter of approximately 8,800 deadweight tonnage designed by Theodore E. Ferris.

Haleakala was part of the order for eight vessels placed by USSB with the Long Beach Shipbuilding Co. on 10 July 1918 and was laid down at the shipbuilder's yard on 3 February 1919 and launched on 13 September 1919 (yard number 134), with Mrs. Robert A. Smith, formerly Miss Violet Makee of Ulupalakua Ranch on

Liberty Loan by the residents of Maui, USSB deferred naming rights to them to recognize their contribution.[2]
The launch was witnessed by several thousand people, mostly workers of the shipyard. The vessel was launched approximately 80% complete, and was expected to be finished in sixty days.

Similar to all vessels of this class the ship had two main decks and was built on the

winches and eleven booms. She was also equipped with wireless apparatus and submarine signal system and had electric lights installed along the decks.[3]

As built, the ship was 410.5 feet (125.1 m) long (

triple expansion steam engine, with cylinders of 24+1⁄2-inch (62 cm), 41+1⁄2-inch (105 cm) and 72-inch (180 cm) diameter with a 48-inch (120 cm) stroke that moved the ship at up to 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h).[4][5][6] The steam for the engine was supplied by three Scotch marine boilers
fitted both for coal and oil fuel.

The sea trials were held on December 2–3 and after their successful completion the ship sailed into San Pedro to load part cargo destined for East Asia.[7][8] While there Haleakala was examined by the Shipping Board representatives and officially accepted by them on December 10. The ship then continued on to San Francisco where she were to load the rest of her cargo.

Operational history

While Haleakala was nearing her completion, she was allocated by the Shipping Board to

Calcutta and Colombo. Aside from her regular oriental cargo, the ship carried back home a large number of various exotic animals such as monkeys, orangutan, tigers and a 100 year old elephant destined to be sold to zoos around the country. During the trip an elephant died and had to be buried in the ocean, and monkeys got free and the crew was forced to shoot the orangutan when he tried to engage the reverse gear.[13] On her way back Haleakala also met another Shipping Board steamer, SS West Selene, who lost two of her propeller blades and was drifting helplessly. Haleakala took the stricken ship into tow and safely brought her into Honolulu where West Selene was repaired.[14] The vessel returned to San Francisco on 29 April 1920, thus successfully completing her maiden voyage. Following her arrival, four more monkeys escaped from the freighter and after swimming for about an hour made it ashore under the wharves where they joined an existing monkey tribe.[15] After conducting one more trip to India and the Philippines, Pacific Mail Steamship Co. returned Haleakala to the USSB in October 1920 due to significant overabundance of available tonnage and scarcity of cargo.[16]

At about the same time, Sudden & Christensen decided to charter a steamer for one trip from the

laid up as the shipping crisis was still ongoing.[19]

On 13 April 1922 EFC announced that Haleakala was allocated to the International Freighting Corporation to be used in the

quebracho and animal bones. For example, in October 1923 the freighter brought near record load of coffee to Boston in addition to general cargo.[25] Similarly she brought in another large cargo of coffee, wool and hides to Boston in July 1924.[26]

Disappearance

Haleakala cleared out from Philadelphia on 21 August 1926 laden with case oil, sugar and structural steel bound for

Bahamas and Florida
around that time and foundered with the loss of her entire crew.

References

  1. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  2. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  3. ^ a b c Register of Ships Owned by United States Shipping Board. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. 1 August 1920. p. 41.
  4. ^ a b c Merchant Vessels of the United States. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. 1920–1921. p. 107.
  5. ^ Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships. London: Lloyd's Register. 1921–1922.
  6. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  7. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  8. ^ "Shipping News". San Pedro Daily News. 4 December 1919. p. 5.
  9. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  10. The San Francisco Examiner
    . 7 January 1920. p. 14.
  11. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  12. The San Francisco Examiner
    . 12 February 1920. p. 27.
  13. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  14. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  15. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  16. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  17. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  18. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  19. The New York Tribune
    . 20 February 1921. p. 16.
  20. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  21. ^ "Shipping News". New York Herald. 13 May 1922. p. 19.
  22. ^ "Port of Baltimore: Memoranda". The Baltimore Sun. 9 July 1922. p. 21.
  23. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  24. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  25. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  26. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  27. ^ "News Of The Ships And Shipping Men". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 22 August 1926. p. 20.
  28. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  29. ^ "The Tribune Shipping News: At Other Ports". The Tampa Tribune. 4 September 1926. p. 25.
  30. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  31. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
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