SAINT SUNNIVA (II) G.B.

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

Built in 1930-’31 by Hall, Russel & Co., Aberdeen, #723, for North Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Co., Aberdeen.
Steel screw steamer, Gt:1368, L:76,87m. (252.2’) B:10,73m. (35.2’) D:4,72m. (15.5’)
Triple expansion steam engine:? hp. and 2 single ended boilers supplied by the builders.
3 decks, fitted with electricity and wireless.
Built with a clipper bow, bowsprit and figurehead of St. Sunniva with an
outstretched arm ( This arm was removed when at sea.)
She was painted white and looked every inch a luxury yacht.
She operated the summer service Leith-Aberdeen-Lerwick and as required in
winter.
1939. August . Requisitioned by the Admiralty as a "Guard Ship"
1940. September. "Accomodation Ship"
1942. September. Arrived Amos & Smith Ltd., Hull, for conversion to a "
Rescue Ship"
7th December. Arrived Clyde.
1943. 3rd January . Sailed Clyde with Convoy ON158 bound for Halifax, Nova
Scotia .
The crossing was uneventful in terms of enemy action . November to March
1942 was later accepted as the most severe period of weather in the North
Atlantic during WW2
21st January . Last reported sighting of the vessel.
No one knows for sure what the fate of ST. SUNNIVA was but it was most
probably a build up of ice which caused the vessel to capsize.
There were no survivors.
She operated under the management of General Steam Navigation Co., London ,
and under the control of PSTO ( Principal Sea Transport Officer ), Clyde &
Scottish Ports , 19 St. Vincent Place , Glasgow.
The "RV's" were mercantile crewed operating under the Blue Ensign as "Non
Commisioned Fleet Auxiliaries"
(Liberia 2000, $20, StG.?)
Internet.