SS Rosario di Giorgio
History | |
---|---|
Norway | |
Name | Rosario di Giorgio |
Namesake | Rosario di Giorgio |
Owner | Bernhard Hanssen |
Operator | D/S A/S "Avance" |
Builder | Kristiania |
Yard number | 173 |
Launched | 6 April 1907 |
Completed | 11 May 1907 |
Commissioned | 14 May 1907 |
Homeport | Flekkefjord |
Identification |
|
Fate | Wrecked, 25 January 1911 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Cargo ship |
Tonnage | |
Length | 215 ft 9 in (65.76 m) |
Beam | 30 ft 3 in (9.22 m) |
Depth | 20 ft 2 in (6.15 m) |
Installed power | 132 Nhp[1] |
Propulsion | triple expansion |
Speed | 12.0 knots |
Rosario di Giorgio was a steam cargo ship built in 1907 by the
Design and construction
Rosario di Giorgio was laid down at Nylands Verksted shipyard in Kristiania and launched on 6 April 1907 (yard number 173).[3] After successful completion of sea trials on 14 May, during which the vessel was able to reach the speed of 14.0 miles per hour (12.2 kn; 22.5 km/h), Rosario di Giorgio was handed over to her owners.[4] In addition to cargo the ship was also fitted to carry 12 first-class passengers. To operate the vessel, she was transferred to a separate company, Dampskibsaktieselskabet "Avance", owned by Bernhard Hanssen.
As built, the ship was 215 feet 9 inches (65.76 m) long (
Operational history
After delivery Rosario di Giorgio was immediately chartered to the Atlantic Fruit Company, controlled by di Giorgio family, to transport fruit from West Indies to North American ports. The ship left on 14 May 1907 for Cuba via Tyne in ballast and with 22 passengers, 13 of which were bound for Cuba.[5] The ship arrived at Baracoa on 4 June and then proceeded to Port Antonio arriving there 2 days later. Upon loading the ship sailed for Baltimore where she arrived on 24 June with a cargo of 19,689 bunches of bananas and 3 passengers.[6] After unloading Rosario di Giorgio sailed back to Port Antonio on 26 June and returned to New York on 11 July. The ship would continue her fruit trade between Baracoa, Port Antonio, Manchioneal and other Jamaican ports and New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore for the remainder of her career. On her return journeys she was either travelling in ballast, or carried general cargo, mostly food supplies. For example, on 28 January 1908 the ship brought in 14,958 bunches of bananas and 10 bags of coconuts to Baltimore, and loaded 120 barrels of flour for her return trip to Port Antonio.[7]
On 4 November 1909 Rosario di Giorgio sailed from Philadelphia for Port Antonio on her regular trip. She arrived near the Jamaican northern shores on 13 November, right after the hurricane exited Jamaica, leaving behind widespread flooding and devastation. Several ships were wrecked or went aground during the storm, including German steamer SS Bradford, who on 7 November, while attempting to avoid the storm tried to enter Port Antonio but went aground on Hospital reef at the entrance of the harbor.[8] When Rosario di Giorgio tried to enter the harbor on 13 November, she tried to steer clear of SS Bradford but still went aground a few feet ahead from the German ship.[9] The vessel was finally refloated on 15 December and after quick repairs sailed for New York.[10] The vessel returned to service in early March 1910.
During one of her return trips from Jamaica, Rosario di Giorgio collided with a US Navy collier
After undergoing repairs the ship returned to service in early September 1910, departing New York for Port Antonio on 6 September and resumed her trade service between East coast ports and Jamaica.
On her last trip the vessel departed from Baltimore on 18 January 1911 for Port Antonio and other Jamaican ports and arrived off Manchioneal in the afternoon of 25 January. As she was entering the harbor, the ship went aground and got stranded on the reef on the northern side of the entrance to Manchioneal Harbor, on the east coast of Jamaica.[13] Due to impact the boilers got displaced and her hull was penetrated by coral rocks causing quick flooding of the engine room.[14] A wrecking steamer was sent to her aid but bad weather prevented any attempts to salvage the ship until mid-February. Finally, an attempt was made to refloat Rosario di Giorgio on 11 February but the ship soon started drifting broadside on the reefs, and on 14 February 1911 it was decided to abandon her.[2]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships. London: Lloyd's Register. 1909–1910.
- ^ a b "Rosario di Giorgio Abandoned". Baltimore Sun. 17 February 1911. p. 12.
- ^ "S/S Rosario di Giorgio". Agder. 9 April 1907. p. 2.
- ^ "S/S Rosario di Giorgio". Agder. 14 May 1907. p. 2.
- ^ "Til Kuba". Kysten. 14 May 1907. p. 2.
- ^ "Foreign Imports". Baltimore Sun. 25 June 1907. p. 12.
- ^ "Foreign Imports/Foreign Exports". Baltimore Sun. 29 January 1908. p. 10.
- ^ "Vessel Ashore". The Daily Gleaner. 10 November 1909. p. 1.
- ^ "Stranded steamers". The Daily Gleaner. 17 November 1909. p. 6.
- ^ "New York River and Harbor Notes". The Nautical Gazette. Vol. 77, no. 26. 23 December 1909. p. 472.
- ^ "Navy Collier Lost". Army and Navy Register. Vol. 48, no. 1599. 13 August 1910. p. 5.
- ^ "River and Harbor Notes". The Nautical Gazette. Vol. 79, no. 9. 1 September 1910. p. 108.
- ^ "Vessel Ashore". The Daily Gleaner. 27 January 1911. p. 1.
- ^ "Rosario di Giorgio in Bad Shape". Baltimore Sun. 7 February 1911. p. 15.