SS Empire Asquith
| Company type | Cargo ship |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Headquarters | Newcastle upon Tyne , United Kingdom |
| Products | Cargo transport |
Empire Asquith was a cargo vessel with a gross register tonnage of 7,082 tons, constructed in 1944. After being sold in 1947, she was renamed Brockley Hill. Subsequent renamings included Starcrest in 1951, Argosy in 1957, and finally Nezihi Ipar in 1960. The ship was dismantled in 1970.
World War II Service
Constructed by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd in Newcastle upon Tyne, Empire Asquith bore the yard number 9. The ship was launched on 4 September 1944 and reached completion by November of the same year. Built for the Ministry of War Transport, her management was initially under R Chapman & Son.
During the Second World War, Empire Asquith participated in several convoys.
- SC167
Among these was Convoy SC 167, which set sail from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in mid-February 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 2 March. On this voyage, she transported lumber destined for the River Tyne.
Postwar
In 1946, the management of Empire Asquith was transferred to Counties Ship Management (CSM). The following year, ownership passed to Brockley Hill Steamship Co Ltd, with CSM continuing to oversee her operations. At this time, she was renamed to take the place of the earlier SS Brockley Hill, which had been lost in 1941. By 1950, she had been acquired by Vandar Shipping Co Ltd and placed under the supervision of Ivanovich & Co Ltd. A year later, Crest Shipping Co became her owner and renamed her Starcrest, while Ivanovich & Co Ltd remained responsible for her management. In 1957, ownership shifted to Compagnia Navigazione Phoenix of Panama, and she was rechristened Argosy. The subsequent year saw her sold to Codemar Compagnia de Empresas Maritimas, also based in Panama. In 1960, Ipar Transport Co from Istanbul took possession and renamed the vessel Nezihi Ipar. She was laid up in Istanbul in 1962 and ultimately dismantled at Haliç in September 1970.
Official number and code letters
Before the introduction of IMO Numbers, ships were assigned Official Numbers.
The vessel Empire Asquith carried the UK Official Number 169187 and was identified by the Code Letters GFJN.