SS Suffolk (1899)

Suffolk was a refrigerated steam cargo ship built in 1899 by the Sunderland Shipbuilding Co. of Sunderland for Federal Steam Navigation Company of London to transport meat and other produce from Australia and South America to United Kingdom.

SS Suffolk at the Chillagoe Railway Wharf, Cairns, March 1900.
History
United Kingdom
Name: Suffolk
Namesake: Suffolk
Owner: Birt, Trinder & Bethell
Operator: Federal Steam Navigation Co.
Builder: Sunderland Shipbuilding Co., Sunderland
Yard number: 201
Launched: 25 July 1899
Completed: 1 November 1899
Commissioned: 20 November 1899
Homeport: London
Identification:
Fate: Sank, 24 September 1900
General characteristics
Type: Passenger Cargo Ship
Tonnage:
Length: 420 ft 7 in (128.19 m)
Beam: 54 ft 1 in (16.48 m)
Depth: 29 ft 1 in (8.86 m)
Installed power: 505 Nhp[1]
Propulsion: North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. 3-cylinder triple expansion
Speed: 11.0 knots (12.7 mph; 20.4 km/h)[2]

Design and Construction

In mid-1890s, following continuous expansion of the frozen meat and produce trade with Australia and South America, Federal Steam Navigation Co. placed an order for eight refrigerated cargo vessels of approximate 9,000 deadweight to increase the capacity of their fleet. Suffolk was the fifth ship of the series, and was laid down at Sunderland Shipbuilding Company's South Dock shipyard in Sunderland and launched on 25 July 1899 (yard number 201).[2][3]

After successful completion of sea trials on November 20, 1899, during which the ship could easily maintain her contractual speed with a large load of railway iron and coal, she was transferred to her owners and immediately left for London.[4] The vessel was constructed on the deep frame principle, and had a cellular water ballast both aft and fore. She had all the modern machinery fitted for quick loading and unloading of the cargo, including ten powerful steam winches and a large number of derricks. The steamer had a large shelter-deck built to carry large quantities of cattle or light cargo. In addition, the ship was fitted with refrigerating machinery of carbonic anhydride design, and chambers, insulated with silicate cotton, to carry chilled meat on her homeward journeys. Suffolk had also accommodations built allowing her to carry a large number of first and second class passengers.[3]

As built, the ship was 420 feet 7 inches (128.19 m) long (between perpendiculars) and 54 feet 1 inch (16.48 m) abeam, a mean draft of 29 feet 1 inch (8.86 m).[1] Suffolk was assessed at 5,364 GRT and 3,442 NRT and had deadweight of approximately 8,750.[1] The vessel had a steel hull, and a single 505 nhp triple-expansion steam engine, with cylinders of 30-inch (76 cm), 48-inch (120 cm) and 78-inch (200 cm) diameter with a 54-inch (140 cm) stroke, that drove a single screw propeller, and moved the ship at up to 11.0 knots (12.7 mph; 20.4 km/h).[1]

Operational history

Upon delivery Suffolk departed Sunderland for London in ballast on November 20, 1899. While at London, she loaded a large general cargo consisting among other things of large quantities of frozen pheasant and deer, steel plates and rails and telephone cable and left for her maiden voyage on December 23 for Australian ports, reaching Fremantle after an uneventful journey on February 6, 1900. The ship proceeded to Sydney and then to Cairns where she unloaded 3,200 tons of steel rails. The ship was subsequently chartered by the Imperial Government to transport horses and provisions for the British army in South Africa.

In the Imperial Government Service

After finishing unloading, Suffolk proceeded from Cairns to the Queensland ports of Gladstone, Rockhampton and Brisbane to load frozen meet and other produce for delivery to South Africa and London. Next she sailed to Newcastle where she took on board the horses for the British army. The steamer left Newcastle on April 19 with a veterinary officer C. McIvor in charge of remounts on board. He, however, suffered a broken leg on a short trip to Albany and had to be disembarked there and confined to a hospital.[5] Suffolk arrived at Durban on May 28, and departed for London from Cape Town on June 25, reaching her destination on July 27, concluding her maiden journey.

Remounts carried by Suffolk to South Africa in 1900[6]
Date of departure Port of departure Date of arrival Port of arrival No. of remounts embarked Other cargo
19 April 1900 Newcastle 28 May 1900 Durban 749 horses 1,000 tons fodder, 7,078 quarters beef, 13,779 carcases mutton, 2,090 boxes butter, 1,220 cases tinned meat, 10,224 bars bullion[7]
24 August 1900 Fiume 22 September 1900 Durban 930 horses fodder

Sinking

Suffolk left London for her final voyage on August 10, 1900 for Cape Town.[8] She arrived at Fiume on August 22 to load 1,000 horses for the 10th Hussars of the British army fighting in South Africa, but was only able to take on 930. The steamer left the port on August 24, coaled at Tenerife on September 3 and arrived at Cape Town on September 22 after largely an uneventful trip. She sailed out on the same day for Port Elizabeth, one of two main ports used to discharge cargo in South Africa. Suffolk was under command of captain John Cuthbert and had a crew of 63, including the captain. The vessel also carried 66 cattlemen, responsible for caring for the animals on board, and a veterinary surgeon. At 04:40 on September 23 the ship passed Cape Agulhas at a distance of about 11 miles, and the captain altered the course, and then did so again at 10:40 to a more easterly one.[9] The weather was nice, and the seas were calm. Suffolk continued on this course until 03:20 on September 24, when the second mate, Charles Stokes, who was in charge of the ship at the time, heard the breakers and put the helm to hard-a-port but it was too late. Suffolk struck the rocks off Tzitzikamma Point, just past Cape St. Francis with her No. 3 hold and damaged her No.4, No. 5 holds and the stokehole in the process. The engine room and stokehole got quickly flooded and the fires became extinguished. Fortunately, another steamer, SS Lake Erie was passing through the area, about 4 or 5 miles further out to sea, and she came by to inquire. As Lake Erie was way too small to tow a ship of Suffolk's size, captain Cuthbert decided to abandon ship at 12:30. The whole crew was transferred to Lake Erie who landed them safely in Port Elizabeth in the evening of the same day. Suffolk eventually foundered at 15:50 in an approximate position 34°12′0″S 24°30′30″E, taking all 903 horses on board at the time down with her.[9]

An inquiry into the wrecking was held in October 1900 at Port Elizabeth, which found both the captain and the second mate to be at fault and negligent in their conduct. Captain Cuthbert had his license suspended for six month, and the second mate lost his master's certificate altogether.[9]

Notes
  1. Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships. London: Lloyd's Register. 1899–1900.
  2. "Suffolk (1112617)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  3. "Launches and Trial Trips". The Marine Engineer & Naval Architect. XXI. 1 September 1899. p. 281.
  4. "Launches and Trial Trips". The Marine Engineer & Naval Architect. XXI. 1 December 1899. p. 410.
  5. "Shipping Items". The Albany Advertiser. 3 May 1900. p. 3.
  6. "Minutes of Evidence Taken Before the Court of Enquiry on the Administration of the Army Remount Department". Westminster, UK: Eyre and Spottiswood. 1902. pp. 301–347. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. "Exports from Sydney". Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. 10 (2658). New South Wales, Australia. 5 May 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 8 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Mercantile Shipping News". London Standard. 11 August 1900. p. 9.
  9. "Finding of the Court in the loss of British Steamship "Suffolk"" (PDF). 1900. Retrieved 2018-09-07.

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