MV Aqueity (1945) explained

Aqueity was an 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. She was 193feet long, with a beam of 32feet and a depth of 14feet.[2] Her GRT was 890,[1] DWT 900[3] with a NRT of 382.[2]

Career

Empire Belgrave was managed for the MoWT by the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd.[2] Postwar management passed to Shell Tankers.[4] 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 22m (72feet) of water at 53.5333°N 7°W.[5]

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.[2]

Propulsion

The ship was propelled by a two-stroke Single Cycle, Single Action diesel engine which had four cylinders of NaNinches diameter by NaNinches stroke. It was built by British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A. 1995. The Empire Ships. Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong. 1-85044-275-4.
  2. Web site: LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS. Plimsoll Ship Data . 29 October 2009.
  3. Web site: mv EMPIRE BELGRAVE . https://web.archive.org/web/20050729085639/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=2112 . usurped . 29 July 2005 . Clydesite . 29 October 2009.
  4. Web site: Empire Belgrave . Helder Line . 29 October 2009.
  5. Web site: MV Aqueity (1947). Wrecksite . 29 October 2009.