The Monrovia
Location: N44° 59.020’ W82° 55.380’
Depth: 140 Feet
Wreck Length: 448 Feet Beam: 56 Feet
Gross Tonnage: 7076 Cargo: Steel
Built: 1943 by Rankin and Blackmore at Port Glasgow, Scotland
Wrecked: June 25, 1959
Description: Despite improved charts, navigational aids, designated shipping lanes, radio telephones, and even radar, big ships still go down in the Great Lakes. Such was the case when the Liberian registered ocean freighter Monrovia was rammed by the freighter Royalton during a heavy fog just outside Thunder Bay. Monrovia went to the bottom in deep water. The wreck sits upright on the lake bottom and is largely intact except for the collision damage.
Depth: 140 Feet
Wreck Length: 448 Feet Beam: 56 Feet
Gross Tonnage: 7076 Cargo: Steel
Built: 1943 by Rankin and Blackmore at Port Glasgow, Scotland
Wrecked: June 25, 1959
Description: Despite improved charts, navigational aids, designated shipping lanes, radio telephones, and even radar, big ships still go down in the Great Lakes. Such was the case when the Liberian registered ocean freighter Monrovia was rammed by the freighter Royalton during a heavy fog just outside Thunder Bay. Monrovia went to the bottom in deep water. The wreck sits upright on the lake bottom and is largely intact except for the collision damage.
Monrovia was a 7,067 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1943 by Lithgows Ltd, Glasgow, United Kingdom as Empire Falstaff for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1945, she was transferred to the French Government and renamed Commandant Mantelet. She was sold into merchant service in 1950 and renamed Commandant le Bilboul. In 1954, she was sold to a Liberian company and renamed Monrovia, serving until 1959 when she was in collision with another ship in Lake Huron, United States and sank.
In 1954, Commandant le Bilboul was sold to the Eastern Shipping Corporation, Monrovia, Liberia and renamed Monrovia. The Code Letters ELOF were allocated.[ On 26 May 1959,[1] she was rammed by Royalston in Lake Huron 11 nautical miles (20 km) north of Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, United States (44°35′25″N 82°33′12″W Coordinates) during foggy weather and sank.[36] She was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Chicago, Illinois, United States. Her crew survived.] The wreck lies upright in 140 feet (43 m) deep water.]
In 1954, Commandant le Bilboul was sold to the Eastern Shipping Corporation, Monrovia, Liberia and renamed Monrovia. The Code Letters ELOF were allocated.[ On 26 May 1959,[1] she was rammed by Royalston in Lake Huron 11 nautical miles (20 km) north of Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, United States (44°35′25″N 82°33′12″W Coordinates) during foggy weather and sank.[36] She was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Chicago, Illinois, United States. Her crew survived.] The wreck lies upright in 140 feet (43 m) deep water.]
Description
The ship was built in 1943 by Lithgows Ltd, Glasgow. She was yard number 981.
The ship was 432 feet 7 inches (131.85 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 2 inches (17.12 m). She had a depth of 34 feet 2 inches (10.41 m) and a draught of 26 feet 3 inches (8.00 m). She was assessed at 7,067 GRT, 4,808 NRT.[3] 9,950 DWT.
The ship was built in 1943 by Lithgows Ltd, Glasgow. She was yard number 981.
The ship was 432 feet 7 inches (131.85 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 2 inches (17.12 m). She had a depth of 34 feet 2 inches (10.41 m) and a draught of 26 feet 3 inches (8.00 m). She was assessed at 7,067 GRT, 4,808 NRT.[3] 9,950 DWT.
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 25½ inches (65 cm), 37½ inches (95 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Glasgow and drove a single screw propeller.]
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The Monrovia was built during WWII and spent the early years of her life doing "convey" duty. Most of this was through the entire Mediterranean sea. She did do at least one trip to New York, Boston, Cuba, etc. before back to the Mediterranean.
Post WWII she was eventually bought/sold several time for use as a cargo freighter. In 1945 she was sold to the French Government and renamed Commandant Mantelet. In 1954, she was sold to Société Navale Delmas Vieljeux, La Rochelle and renamed Commandant le Bilboul.
In 1954, Commandant le Bilboul was sold to the Eastern Shipping Corporation, Monrovia, Liberia and renamed Monrovia. The Code Letters ELOF were allocated. On 26 May 1959, she was rammed by Royalston in Lake Huron 11 nautical miles (20 km) north of Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, United States (44°35′25″N 82°33′12″W during foggy weather and sank.] She was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Chicago, Illinois, United States. Her crew survived. The wreck lies upright in 140 feet (43 m) deep water.
There appears to be no information (or images) on the SS Royalston other than she was a freighter.
Post WWII she was eventually bought/sold several time for use as a cargo freighter. In 1945 she was sold to the French Government and renamed Commandant Mantelet. In 1954, she was sold to Société Navale Delmas Vieljeux, La Rochelle and renamed Commandant le Bilboul.
In 1954, Commandant le Bilboul was sold to the Eastern Shipping Corporation, Monrovia, Liberia and renamed Monrovia. The Code Letters ELOF were allocated. On 26 May 1959, she was rammed by Royalston in Lake Huron 11 nautical miles (20 km) north of Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, United States (44°35′25″N 82°33′12″W during foggy weather and sank.] She was on a voyage from Antwerp, Belgium to Chicago, Illinois, United States. Her crew survived. The wreck lies upright in 140 feet (43 m) deep water.
There appears to be no information (or images) on the SS Royalston other than she was a freighter.