SS West Hika
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | West Hika |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Builder | Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co |
| Yard number | 19[1] |
| Laid down | 4 November 1918 |
| Launched | 12 May 1919 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Susanne Valentine |
| Commissioned | 20 February 1920 |
| Homeport |
|
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Wrecked, 14 January 1936 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Design 1013 ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 410 ft 0 in (124.97 m) |
| Beam | 54 ft 4 in (16.56 m) |
| Depth | 27 ft 2 in (8.28 m) |
| Installed power | 3500 Nhp[2] |
| Propulsion | triple expansion |
| Speed | 10.5 knots |
| Crew | 40 |
West Hika was a
Design and construction
The West ships were cargo ships of similar size and design built by several shipyards on the West Coast of the United States for the
Operational history
West Hika was launched on May 12, 1919, and delivered to the United States Shipping Board in January, 1920.[6] Upon delivery, the vessel was allocated to Los Angeles Pacific Navigation Company, who along with four other ships put it on her routes to the Orient. The voyages were profitable initially, for example a February 1920 trip by West Hika netted $110,500,[7] while in June 1920 the ship brought from Sumatra 7,576 cases of rubber for the Goodyear plant in Los Angeles worth about $750,000.[8]
However, by early 1921 it became clear that with the tariffs imposed by the Shipping Board, it was impossible for American merchants to compete with the foreign companies. West Hika was the last ship of Los Angeles Pacific Navigation Company to sail to the Orient on February 21, 1921, with the cargo of cotton for Japan, livestock for Hawaii, and general merchandise for China.[9] Following the discontinuation of Los Angeles-Orient routes, the ships of Los Angeles Pacific Navigation Company were turned over to the North Atlantic and Western Steamship Company of New York to operate on East coast-West coast routes. West Hika was the last one transferred due to her arrival from the Orient on June 6.[10][11]
At the hearing on August 17, 1922, before the USSB the president of the North Atlantic and Western Steamship Company disclosed operational revenue for the company. From the numbers it appears, West Hika was used only on one trip eastbound, bringing in very modest revenue of $22,540.42.[12] On August 15, 1922 West Hika was towed from Boston Harbor and sent to Norfolk.[13] She arrived in Hampton Roads on August 18 to be laid up.
She was reactivated in 1925 and allocated to
West Hika was involved in several accidents and dangerous encounters. On February 25, 1929, she collided with German steamer Ida Blumenthal in the Scheldt.[18] The German ship had to be beached at Walsoorden and was refloated the next day.[19] On April 16, 1929, she was stuck with a broken rudder off the coast of Nantucket during a heavy gale storm, but managed to get through.[20][21] She lost her rudder again on March 10, 1934, while on her way from Le Havre to Mobile, she sailed into a strong storm about 125 miles east-northeast of Ponta Delgada in Azores. She was saved by a steamer SS City of Omaha who towed her for almost 4,000 miles to New Orleans[22][23]
On September 14, 1931 Waterman Steamship Corporation acquired several vessels that it was already operating including West Hika. She was bought for $75,366.00.[24] On December 22, 1931, Waterman got approved for reconditioning loans from USSB for remodeling, improving and equipping four steamships that it acquired.[25] All ships were assigned to Mobile Oceanic Line.
After completing the updates, the ship had been assessed 5,275 GRT and 3,286 NRT.[3]
Sinking
On December 16, 1935 West Hika departed from
Notes
- ^ a b Colton, Tim. "Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Los Angeles, CA". Shipbuildinghistory.com. The Colton Company. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ a b c "Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships" (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930.
- ^ a b c Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1932.
- ^ a b c d e "Register of Ships Owned by United States Shipping Board, August 1, 1920". Retrieved 2017-07-14.
- ^ Los Angeles Herald, 13 May 1919, p.17
- ^ Marine Review, v.50, p.112
- ^ Marine Review, v. 50, p.420
- ^ The Golden West, v.2, p.25
- ^ Sacramento Union, 20 February 1921, p.9
- ^ Los Angeles Herald, 15 June 1921, p.A-16
- ^ Marine Journal, v. 43, p. 26
- ^ Weekly Commercial News, v.65, N 13, p.13
- ^ Boston Daily Globe, August 15, 1922, p.5
- ^ Biloxi Daily Herald, June 20, 1925, p.2
- ^ Biloxi Daily Herald, August 29, 1925, p.5
- ^ Biloxi Daily Herald, April 24, 1926, p.9
- ^ NOAA Monthly Weather Review, July 1926
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45137. London. 26 February 1929. col G, p. 26.
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45138. London. 27 February 1929. col E, p. 27.
- ^ Marshall Evening Messenger, April 17, 1929
- ^ Marine Review, v.60, p.68
- ^ Dunkirk Evening Observer, March 13, 1934, p.11
- ^ The Franklin Evening Star, May 1, 1934, p.7
- ^ Sixteenth Annual Report Of The United States Shipping Board (PDF). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. 1932. p. 93. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- ^ "Reconditioning Loans Authorized". Pacific Marine Review. Vol. XXIX, no. 2. February 1932. p. 80.
- ^ Panama City Herald, Dec 16, 1935, p.4
- ^ Layton, James. Ships of the Tees, No, 121, February 1995.
References
- Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1932.
- Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930.
- 16th Annual report of the United States Shipping Board (PDF). 1932.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1936 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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