SS Kuroshio Maru

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Coordinates: 2°33′N 104°40′E / 2.550°N 104.667°E / 2.550; 104.667
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SS “Kuroshio Maru"
History
Name
  • Kuroshio Maru (1938–50)
  • Yung Hao (1950–51)
  • Surf Pilot (1951–60)
Owner
  • Chigai Kisen KK, (1938–43)
  • Towa Kisen KK (1943–46)
  • China Merchants Steam Navigation Co / China Tanker Co Ltd (1946–51)
  • Admiralty (1951–60)
Operator
  • Tyugai Kaiun KK (1938–41)
  • Imperial Japanese Navy (1941–42)
  • Imperial Japanese Navy (1942–45)
  • China Tanker Co Ltd (1946–51)
  • Admiralty (1951–60)
Port of registry
BuilderHarima Zōsen KK
Yard number264
Laid down21 January 1938
Launched8 December 1938
Identification
  • Japanese
    Official Number
    45674 (1938–45)
  • Code Letters JZPM (1938–45)
FateScuttled 1960
General characteristics
Class and typeKawasaki-type oiler / Surf-class tanker
Tonnage10,519 GRT, 6,206 NRT
Displacement10,383 tons
Length504.7 feet (153.8 m)
Beam66.0 feet (20.1 m)
Depth37.5 feet (11.4 m)
Installed powerGeared steam turbine
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed17 knots (31 km/h)
SS Kuroshio Maru is located in Malaysia
SS Kuroshio Maru
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Location where Surf Pilot was scuttled off the coast of Malaya

Kuroshio Maru (

Pulau Aur, Malaya
in 1960.

Description

Kuroshio Maru was built as a tanker for carrying oil in bulk and assessed at 10,519 

aft, was manufactured by Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Tokyo.[1] It was capable of propelling her at 17 knots (31 km/h).[3]

History

Japanese service

Kuroshio Maru was built as

Sasebo on 30 November for Pulau Condore Island. Kuroshio Maru arrived at Sasebo on 16 February 1942 and was then sent to Kobe for a refit by Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation.[4]

The charter to the Imperial Japanese Navy was terminated on 1 May and Kuroshio Maru was returned to her owners. She was chartered afresh on 23 May by the

Task Force 38, United States Navy.[5] The ship was removed from the Imperial Japanese Army list on 1 March.[4]

Post-war history

In 1946, the ship was refloated and allocated as a

British Admiralty on 7 April to prevent her falling into Chinese hands on orders from Governor Sir Alexander Grantham.[4][7] The next day, the issue was raised in the British Parliament. Answering a question from Ernest Kinghorn, Secretary of State for the Colonies James Griffiths stated that the requisitioning had been done in consultation with the British Government and was to prevent North Korean and Chinese forces using the ship.[8]

It was discovered that Yung Hao's engine had been disabled, so she was towed from Hong Kong to Singapore, with a Royal Navy crew for the voyage, by RFA Salvalour, escorted by HMS Charity, arriving on 24 April 1951.[4][9] The Chinese called her seizure an act of piracy, robbery and open provocation.[10][11] China requisitioned all property belonging to the British-owned Asiatic Petroleum Company in retaliation for the seizure of the ship.[12]

The intention was that she would be repaired and sailed to the United Kingdom for use by the

Pulau Aur, Malaya (2°33′N 104°40′E / 2.550°N 104.667°E / 2.550; 104.667).[4][2][3]

On 5 June 1987, the British and Chinese governments reached an agreement over the vessel and the requisitioning and a treaty to this effect was later signed in Beijing.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lloyd's Register, Steamers and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1939. Retrieved 7 October 2015. Listed as Kurosio Maru (sic)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "KUROSHIO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement". Combined Fleet. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Aur Tanker Identified". GS Diving. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ""RFA" Surf Pilot". RFA Historical Organization. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Kuroshio Maru (+1945)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Seizure of tanker in Hongkong". The Times. No. 51972. London. 11 April 1951. col D, p. 3.
  7. ^ "Crew ordered off ship". The Straits Times. Singapore. 10 April 1951. p. 3.
  8. ^ HC Deb, 13 April 1951 vol 486 cc111W
  9. ^ "Communist ship for Singapore". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 14 April 1951. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Hongkong Accused Of Piracy". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. Newcastle, New South Wales. 17 April 1951. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Protest on seizure of Red vessel". The Newcastle Sun. Newcastle, New South Wales. 19 April 1951. p. 5.
  12. ^ "China grabs oil company". Examiner. Launceston, Tasmania. 1 May 1951. p. 6.
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