SS Belgian Crew

Belgian Crew

Company type	Cargo vessel
Industry	Shipping
Predecessor	Empire Claymore (original name)
Founded	November 19, 1942 (1942-11-19) Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Fate	Dismantled in 1969
Headquarters	Newcastle upon Tyne (builder) , United Kingdom
Products	Cargo shipping services

Belgian Crew was a cargo vessel with a gross register tonnage of 7,048, constructed in 1942 by Sir W G Armstrong, Whitworth & Co (Shipbuilders) Ltd located in Newcastle upon Tyne. Initially launched as Empire Claymore for the Ministry of War Transport, the ship was handed over to the Belgian Government in 1943 and subsequently renamed Belgian Crew. Following its sale in 1946 to Compagnie Maritime Belge, it received the name Capitaine Parlet. In 1960, after being sold to interests in Hong Kong, the vessel was renamed Ardenode. Later, in 1966, it changed ownership again to a Panamanian company and adopted the name Tynlee. The ship remained operational until it was dismantled in 1969.

Description

Constructed by Sir W G Armstrong, Whitworth & Co (Shipbuilders) Ltd in Newcastle upon Tyne, the vessel was launched on 19 November 1942 and reached completion in January 1943.

The ship measured 430 feet 9 inches in length, with a beam spanning 56 feet 2 inches and a depth of 35 feet 2 inches. It had a Gross Register Tonnage (GRT) of 7,031 and a Net Register Tonnage (NRT) of 4,916, along with a Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) of 10,300.

Powered by a triple expansion steam engine, the machinery featured cylinders measuring 24.5 inches, 39 inches, and 70 inches in diameter, each with a stroke length of 48 inches. This engine was manufactured by the Central Marine Engine Works located in West Hartlepool.

History

Originally constructed for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), the ship was managed by Lyle Shipping Co Ltd and registered in Newcastle upon Tyne. It was assigned the Code Letters BFDK and the United Kingdom Official Number 165852.

During the Second World War, the vessel participated in several convoy operations.

HX 240

Convoy HX 240 departed New York on 19 May 1943 and arrived in Liverpool on 4 June. The ship joined this convoy at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 21 May, transporting grain destined for London.

On 21 June 1943, ownership was transferred to the Belgian Government, and the ship was renamed Belgian Crew. Its port of registry changed to Antwerp, and it received new Code Letters ONVV without an Official Number. Management was taken over by Agence Maritime Internationale SA.

The Belgian Crew continued to participate in multiple convoys throughout the war.

HX 251

Departing New York on 7 August 1943 and arriving at Liverpool on 23 August, Convoy HX 251 included Belgian Crew carrying a cargo of steel and lumber bound for Immingham, Lincolnshire. The vessel had initially been scheduled to sail with Convoy HX 250.

HX 292

Convoy HX 292 left New York on 19 May 1944 and reached Liverpool on 2 June. Belgian Crew transported grain from Sydney, Cape Breton to Barry Docks in Glamorgan.

In 1946, the ship was sold to Compagnie Maritime Belge SA and renamed Capitaine Parlet. It remained in service until 1960 when it was acquired by Mullion & Co in Hong Kong and renamed Ardenode. In 1966, ownership passed to Tynlee Navigation Co of Panama, with the vessel being renamed Tynlee. The ship remained active until July 1969 when it arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for dismantling.