Casgliadau Arlein

¾ Port Stern view of S.S. POLAR MAID, 08 June 1947.

ss. POLAR MAID (5289gt) : Laid down 1914 by Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany as OLEX (“Olex” were a German oil firm with Roumanian connections, and eventually became part of the BP Group ), but was launched in 1917 as the auxiliary cruiser EMIL GEORG VON STRAUSS, named after a major German industrialist (later became chairman of Deutche Bank). She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Bremer Vulkan of Vegasack. 1918 – Siezed as war reparations by the British government, but retained her name. She was managed for the Shipping Controller by British Tankers Ltd., London 1922 – Sold to Soc. Anon. Steaua Romana (The Romanian Oil Co.), Constantza, Roumania, rebuilt as a “cargo” ship, and renamed STEAUA ROMANA. 1940 – Requisitioned by the British government (Ministry of War Transport) while docked at Mombasa, and again managed by British Tankers Ltd., London. MoWT assumed ownership of the vessel as a “war prize” when Roumania declared war on Britain in 1941. She was attacked and damaged by a Japanese submarine in June 1942, but was salvaged and later repaired. She retained her Roumanian name throughout this conflict. 1947 – Sold to Christen Salvesen & Co., Leith, and renamed POLAR MAID. Managed by Polar Whaling Co., as a tanker/supply vessel serving South Georgia and Antarctica, and also the Hawke Harbour whaling station at Labrador. She was broken up by Shipbreaking Industries Ltd., Rosyth, in 1957. Source: Graeme Somner 1984 via http://www.lardex.net/TONSBERG/salvesen/skipstekst/1947polarmaid (also ref:- John H.Marsh, South Africa)