British pass/cargo liner ATHENIC (1), imo 1115239/ 158m/ 12.234gt/ twin screw/ 14kn/ pax; 121 1st 117 2nd 460 3rd; 23/01/1902 completed by Harland & Wolff, Ltd, Belfast, for Oceanic Steam Navigation Co., Ltd, (White Star Line), Liverpool/ Shaw Savill & Albion & Co, Ltd, joint venture; 13/02/1902 she sailed from London on her maiden voyage to Cape Town and Wellington. She continued on this service until 1917 when she was taken over under the liner requisition scheme and ran to NZ via Panama. 10/01/1920 she returned to commercial service on the London, later Liverpool, - Panama - New Zealand route; 03/05/1920 rescued the crew and 80 passengers from the Munson liner MUNAMAR which was aground near San Salvador and carried them to Newport News. 04/1927 she made a single round voyage to Sydney and Brisbane and her last Liverpool - Wellington voyage started 18/10/1927. Sold in 05/1928 to Brunn & von der Lippe, Tonsberg and converted into a whale factory ship. Renamed PELAGOS she came under the ownership of Hvalfangerselskapet Pelagos A/S. Captured by the German armed raider PINGUIN on 15/01/1941, together with another factory ship, one depot and 11 whale catchers, she was sent to Bordeaux. She was then attached to the German 24th submarine flotilla based in Norway; 24/10/1944 she was sunk at Kirkenes, raised by the Norwegians in 1945 and put back into service; 28/06/1962 arrived Hamburg for breaking up by Eckardt & Co.
Sources: Ship Description - [North Star to Southern Cross by John M.Maber] [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.10, Shaw, Savill & Albion] [Shaw, Savill & Albion by Richard de Kerbrech] |
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