The Athenic was built in 1901 by Harland & Wolff Ltd. in Belfast. She was 12,234 tons gross, 11,395 under deck and 7,833 net. She had one funnel, four masts, 4 decks, and twin screws. She was fitted with quadruple expansion engines with 8 cylinders of 22, 31 1/2, 46 &
68 inches diameter each pair and stroke 48 inches. The engine was built by Harland & Wolff and delivered 641 nominal horsepower, giving the ship a speed of 14 knots. There
was accommodation for 121-1st, 17-2nd and 450-3rd class passengers. She was
equipped with refrigerated holds for the carriage of frozen meat. She was launched for Shaw Savill & Albion - White Star joint service on 17th Aug.1901. On 13th Feb.1902 she sailed
from London on her maiden voyage to Cape Town and Wellington. She continued
on this service until 1917 when she was taken over under the liner
requisition scheme and ran to NZ via Panama. On 10th Jan.1920 she returned
to commercial service on the London (later Liverpool) - Panama - New Zealand
route and on 3rd May 1920 rescued the crew and 80 passengers from the Munson
liner MUNAMAR which was aground near San Salvador and carried them to
Newport News. In Apr.1927 she made a single round voyage to Sydney and
Brisbane and her last Liverpool - Wellington voyage started 18th Oct.1927.
Sold in May 1928 to Brunn & von der Lippe, Tonsberg and converted into a
whale factory ship. Renamed PELAGOS she came under the ownership of
Hvalfangerselskapet Pelagos A/S. Captured by the German armed raider PINGUIN
on 15th Jan.1941, together with another factory ship, one depot and 11 whale
catchers, she was sent to Bordeaux. She was then attached to the German 24th
submarine flotilla based in Norway. On 24th Oct.1944 she was sunk at
Kirkenes, raised by the Norwegians in 1945 and put back into service and
eventually scrapped at Hamburg in 1962. Call sign: TDNC. Official registration #: 115239
[1908-09 Lloyd's Registry of shipping] [North Star to Southern Cross by John
M. Maber] [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.10, Shaw, Savill & Albion]
[Shaw, Savill & Albion by Richard de Kerbrech](Submitted by Ted Finch and Gilbert Provost)
Chronological History
| Year |
Event |
| 1902 |
Maiden voyage London - New Zealand |
| 1917 |
War service |
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