Page 1 of 1

CARAQUET

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:50 pm
by shipstamps

Built in 1894 under yard no 284 by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast for the Union SS Co. Ltd., Southampton.
Launched under the name GUELPH.
Tonnage 4.917 gross 3.112 net, dim. 122.07 x 14.38 x 8.13m.
Powered by two 3 cyl triple expansion steam engines, manufactured by builder, 2.200 ihp, speed12.5 knots, twin screws.
Passenger accommodation for 52 first, 66 second and 60 third class.

06 Oct. 1894, sailed for her maiden voyage from Southampton in the intermediate service via Tenerife to Capetown and Durban.
08 March 1900, transferred to the Union-Castle Line after a merger between the two companies.
After the merger first used as a Boer-War troopship.
27 July 1909, whilst sailing in heavy seas, she sighted the lights of an other large vessel off Hood’s Point, South Africa, out of the communication between the two vessels by Aldis lamp, the GUELP could only pick up two letters being AH. Most probably she was the WARATAH which was lost without a trace in that time on the South African coast.
13 Sept. 1910 used in the London-Suez-East Africa service as competition for the Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie.
Dec. 1913 sold to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., Southampton, renamed CARAQUET.
1914 Placed on the new-formed Canada-West India –British Guiana service of the Royal Mail Line.
25 June 1923, grounded on Northern Barrier Reef, loaded with flour and general cargo on a voyage from St John and Halifax N.S. to the West Indies.
Crew and mail landed safely, most of the cargo later salvaged, but the vessel was lost.

Bermuda 1986 $5 sg 522A, scott 497a

Source: The ships of the Union Castle Line by Duncan Haws. Royal mail Line by Duncan Haws.
http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/UNION8.htm Register of Merchant Ships Completed in 1894.