SS Nancy Moller (1943)

History


Name:	Empire Dirk (1943-51) Nancy Moller (1951) Mount Austin (1951-52) Coolabah (1952-56) Troon Breeze (1956-64) Cachupin (1964-66) Kowloon No.1 (1966-67)
Owner:	Ministry of War Transport (1943-45) Ministry of Transport (1945-50) Moller Line (U.K.) Ltd (1950-52) Australian Shipping Board (1952-56) Cambay Prince Steamship Co Ltd (1956-64) San Fernando Steamship Co Ltd (1964-66) Shui Cheung Shipping & Trading Ltd (1966-67)
Operator:	C Strubin & Co Ltd (1943-461) Moller Line (U.K.) Ltd (1946-52) Australian Shipping Board (1952-56) J Manners & Co Ltd (1956-66) Shui Cheung Shipping & Trading Ltd (1966-67)
Port of registry:	Troon, United Kingdom (1943-51) London (1951-54) Melbourne, Australia (1954-56) Hong Kong (1956-64) Panama City, Panama (1964-66) Hong Kong (1966-67)
Builder:	Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd
Yard number:	447
Launched:	31 August 1943
Completed:	November 1943
Maiden voyage:	28 November 1943
Identification:	United Kingdom Official Number 167650 Code Letters BFKW
Fate:	Ran aground in September 1967, scrapped in June 1968
General characteristics
Class and type:	Cargo ship
Tonnage:	2,943 GRT (1943-52) 3,327 GRT (1952-68) 1,668 NRT (1943-52) 1,824 NRT (1952-68)
Length:	327 ft 10 in (99.92 m) overall 315 ft 4 in (96.11 m) (between perpendiculars)
Beam:	46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
Draught:	20 feet 9 ¹⁄₂ inches (6.337 m)
Depth:	20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
Installed power:	268 nhp
Propulsion:	Triple expansion steam engine
Crew:	40 (Troon Breeze)

Kowloon No.1 was a 2,942 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1943 as Empire Dirk by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon, Ayrshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Spending the war years in home waters, she was sold into merchant service in 1951 and renamed Nancy Moller, and then Mount Austin after a further sale later that year. In 1956, she was sold to the Australian Government and renamed Coolabah.

She was sold to Hong Kong in 1956 and renamed Troon Breeze. A sale in 1964 to Panama saw her renamed Cachupin before she was sold back to Hong Kong in 1966 and renamed Kowloon No.1. She served until 1967 when she ran aground off Hachinohe, Japan. Although refloated, she was declared a constructive total loss and was scrapped in 1968.

The ship was built in 1943 by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon. She was yard number 447.

The ship was 327 feet 10 inches (99.92 m) long, with a beam of 46 feet 6 inches (14.17 m). She had adepth of 20 feet 10 inches (6.35 m), and a draught of 20 feet 9 ¹⁄₂ inches (6.337 m). As built, she was assessed at 2,942 GRT, 1,668 NRT.

The ship was propelled by a 268 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 20 inches (51 cm), 31 inches (79 cm) and 55 inches (140 cm) diameter by 39 inches (99 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon.

Empire Dirk was built for the MoWT. She was launched on 31 August 1943, and completed in November. Her port of registry was Troon. The Official Number 167650 and Code Letters BFKW were allocated. She was placed under the management of C Strubin & Son.

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