SS Yelkenci explained

Yelkenci was a refrigerated cargo ship which was built in 1943 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Camp. She was sold in 1946 and renamed Valacia. In 1951, she was sold and renamed New York City. A further sale in 1955 saw her renamed Loch Morar. A final sale to Turkish owners saw her renamed Yelkenci. She served with them until scrapped in 1971.

Description

The ship was built by Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland. She was launched on 17 June 1943 and completed in November 1943.^[1]

A total of 260219ft3 of refrigerated cargo space was provided in three holds. Refrigeration was provided by two compressors and eight cooling machines made by L Sterne & Co Ltd. The cooling machines used ammonia as a coolant. Insulation was by direct expansion, air, cork and slag wool.^[2]

The ship was 431feet long, with a beam of 56feet and a depth of 35feet. Her GRT was 7,052 and she had a NRT of 4,760.^[3]

She was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of NaNinches, 39inches and 70inches diameter by 48inches stroke. The engine was built by North East Marine Engine Co (1938) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.^[3]

History

Empire Camp was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Blue Star Line Ltd.^[2] Her port of registry was Sunderland. The Code Letters BFKR were allocated. Her Official Number was 169124.^[3]

Empire Camp was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.

HX 306Convoy HX 306 departed New York on 31 August 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 17 September. Empire Camp joined the convoy at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 2 September. She was carrying general cargo and a cargo of fish, bound for Manchester.

MKS 75GConvoy MKS 75G departed Gibraltar on 1 December 1945 bound for Liverpool.^[4]

During 1945, management was transferred to Cunard White Star Line Co Ltd.^[3] In 1946, Empire Camp was sold to Cunard White Star Line and renamed Valacia.^[1] Her port of registry was changed to Liverpool.^[5] She was the second Cunard White Star Line ship to carry the name Valacia.^[6] In 1950, Valacia was sold the Bristol City Line of Steamships Ltd and renamed New York City,^[1] the fourth ship to bear that name for Bristol City Line.^[7] She was placed under the management of Charles Hill & Sons Ltd, Bristol. In 1955, she was sold to Glasgow United Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Loch Morar and placed under the management of Mackay & MacIntyre Ltd, Glasgow.^[1] In 1959, she was sold to Lütfi Yelkenci Evlatlari Donmata Iştiraki, Istanbul and renamed Yelkenci.^[8] She served until 1971, arriving at Istanbul on 20 February 1971 for scrapping.^[1]

External links

• Photo of Empire Camp
• Photograph of New York City
• Photo of Yelkenci
• Photo of Yelkenci

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, SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF VESSELS FITTED WITH REFRIGERATING APPLIANCES - Vessels having a capacity of 80,000 cubic feet and over, and including all vessels holding Lloyd's R.M.C. . Plimsoll Ship Data . 28 February 2010.
3. Web site: LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS . Plimsoll Ship Data . 28 February 2010.
4. Web site: MKS Convoys – Nov. 1942-1945, MKS 61 through MKS 103 . Warsailors . 28 February 2010.
5. Web site: LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS . Plimsoll Ship Data . 28 February 2010.
6. Web site: Cunard Line / The British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company / Cunard Steamship Company, Limited . The Ships List . 28 February 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091216020451/http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/cunard.html . 16 December 2009 . dmy-all .
7. Web site: Bristol City Line . The Ships List . 28 February 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604161947/http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bristolcity.html . 4 June 2011 . dmy-all .
8. Web site: EMPIRE - C . Mariners . 28 February 2010.