RMS Athenic

RMS Athenic -- White Star Line

Built: 1902, Harland & Wolff, Belfast.  Yard No:  Not Listed Funnels: 1   Masts: 4 Tonnage: 12,345 GRT Dimensions: 152.5 x 13.72 m / 500.3 x 45 ft. Engines: Quadruple Expansion by builders. Twin Screw;  641 NHP;  14 kn. Hull: Steel, 4 decks; Cargo: 7 Refrig. Holds. Passengers: 121-1st Class, 117-2nd Class, 450-3rd Class Crew: Not Listed

The Athenic was the first of three sisterships for the New Zealand White Star - SSA joint service.

The Athenic was launched on August 17, 1901 and made her maiden voyage on February 14, 1902 from London to Wellington. In 1912, during a docker's strike at Wellington, the farmers loaded their own produce, but the Athenic's crew refused to join the strike. During August 1914 she remained on commercial service for her meat capacity. On February 28, 1916 British prisoners from the German raider Mowe embarked at Santa Cruz, Teneriffe. They had arrived in the prize Westburn, which was later scuttled. Her route was now via the Panama Canal. Between 1917 and 1919 she operated under the Liner Requisition Scheme. She mainly sailed on the same inbound frozen meat route from either New Zealand or Australia but via the Panama Canal. After the USA entered the war she carried troops on many northbound voyages. On May 3, 1920 The Athenic rescued the 80 passengers plus the crew of the Munamar of the Munson Line, which was aground on Little San Salvador Island, Bahamas. She took them into Newport News. In October 1927 she made her last voyage to New Zealand. In May 1928 she was sold to Hvalfangerselokapet Pelagos, A/S Svend Foyn Brunn of Brunn & Von de Lippe, Tonsberg, Norway. She was converted by Smiths Dock Co, at South Bank on Tees into an oil burining whale factory ship. Her first class accommodation was undisturbed and was luxurious for a whaler. She was then renamed Pelagos. On January 15, 1941 she was captured by the German raider Pinguin (ex-Kandelfels, Hansa Line). This was the dismal occasion when two Norwegian whale factory ships, one depot ship and 11 whale catchers were captured in the Antarctic. Pelagos was sent to Bordeaux. She was then operated by the German whaling company Erste Deutsche Walfang Ges. She became a depot oiler to the 24th Submarine Flotilla based in Norway. On October 24, 1944 she was sunk at Kirkenes. In 1945 she was raised by the Norwegians and put back into service with a revised superstructure. Her tonnage was listed at 12,100 GRT. On June 25, 1962 she was sold to S. F. Brunn, Hamburg. She was then resold to Eckardt & Co., Hamburg and scrapped there. During demolition an oxy-acetylene fire caused damage amid ships.

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