SS Canadian Mariner explained

SS Canadian Mariner was a freighter built by Halifax Shipyards Ltd in 1920. She was the first steel ship built in Halifax and was used as a general cargo ship until she was sunk in the Pacific in 1942.

Early life

The Canadian government commissioned the building of 63 ships in 1918 in an effort to start a crown funded shipping company, Canadian Government Merchant Marine Ltd. Canadian Mariner was built as the result of the two contracts awarded to Halifax Shipyards Ltd by the Canadian Government. The other contract was for her sister ship, .^[1]

Transfer history

In 1928 management of Canadian Mariner was transferred from the failed Canadian Government Merchant Marine Ltd to Canadian National Steamship Company, which she steamed under until 1933 when she was eventually sold to Dairen Kisen KK of Japan^[2] to be used as a general cargo and supply vessel for the Japanese occupied Pacific Islands under the name Choyo Maru.

Fate

On December 28, 1942, Choyo Maru was sunk by off the northwest coast of Formosa, at position 24.7667°N 160°W.^[3]

Partial list of voyages

• December 8, 1920 : Halifax to Genoa
• June 16, 1921 : Montreal to Liverpool
• July 23, 1921 : Montreal to Australia^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Mackay, Mac. The Ships of the Halifax Shipyard. December 15, 2011.
2. Web site: Canadian National Steamship Company . S. . Swiggum . theshipslist.com . 2014 . August 3, 2014.
3. Book: Cressman, Robert J. . The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II (1942) . Naval Institute Press . 2000 . 1-55750-149-1 . August 3, 2014 . registration .
4. Book: Canadian Railway and Marine World . Southam Business Publications . Toronto . 1921 . August 3, 2014.