History
Name
  • Empire Belgrave (1945-47)
  • Aqueity (1947)
Owner
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945-47)
  • Shell Tankers Ltd (1947)
  • F T Everard (1947)
Operator
  • Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd (1945-47)
  • F T Everard (1947)
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Glasgow
BuilderA. & J. Inglis Ltd, Glasgow
Yard number1299
Launched16 March 1945
Completed19 June 1945
Out of service11 November 1947
Identification
FateStruck a mine and sank 1947
General characteristics
Tonnage
Length193 ft (58.83 m)
Beam32 ft (9.75 m)
Depth14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
PropulsionOne 2SCSA oil engine, 125 hp (93 kW)

Aqueity was an 890 GRT coastal tanker which was built by A & J Inglis Ltd, Glasgow in 1945 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Belgrave. In 1947 she was sold to F T Everard and Sons and renamed Aqueity, being lost later that year when she struck a mine and sank off the coast of the Netherlands.

Description

Empire Belgrave was built by A. & J. Inglis Ltd, Glasgow.[1] She was yard number 1299. Empire Belgrave was launched on 16 March 1945 and completed on 19 June.[2] She was 193 feet (58.83 m) long, with a beam of 32 feet (9.75 m) and a depth of 14 feet 5 inches (4.39 m).[3] Her GRT was 890,[1] DWT 900[4] with a NRT of 382.[3]

Career

Empire Belgrave was managed for the MoWT by the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd.[3] Postwar management passed to Shell Tankers.[5] In 1947, Empire Belgrave was sold to F T Everard & Sons Ltd, Greenhithe and renamed Aqueity. On 11 November 1947, she struck a mine off Terschelling, the Netherlands and sank.[1] The wreck lies in 22 metres (72 ft) of water at 53°32′N 05°02′E / 53.533°N 5.033°E / 53.533; 5.033.[6]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. The ship had the UK Official Number 169440 and the Code Letters GKJW.[3]

Propulsion

The ship was propelled by a two-stroke Single Cycle, Single Action diesel engine which had four cylinders of 13+3⁄4 inches (350 mm) diameter by 22+7⁄16 inches (570 mm) stroke. It was built by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "1169440". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  4. ^ "mv EMPIRE BELGRAVE". Clydesite. Archived from the original on 29 July 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2009.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Empire Belgrave". Helder Line. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  6. ^ "MV Aqueity (1947)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
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