SS Fort Abitibi was a North Sands-type Fort ship of 7,125 GRT measuring 440.5 feet (134.3 m) long with a beam of 57.2 feet (17.4 m).[2]

History
United Kingdom
NameSS Fort Abitibi
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
OperatorSmith Hogg & Co., West Hartlepool
BuilderCanadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal
CompletedMay 1942
FateBroken up 1958
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeNorth Sands-type Fort ship
Tonnage7,125 GRT
Length440 ft 6 in (134.26 m)
Beam57 ft 2 in (17.42 m)
Draught26 ft 11.5 in (8.217 m)
Propulsion
  • 3 cyl triple expansion steam
  • 2500 ihp
  • One shaft.
Speed11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h)
Range11,400 nmi (21,100 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement115
Armament
  • During the Second World War:
  • 1 × 4-inch (100 mm) gun
  • 8 × 20mm AA guns

Fort and Park ships were the Canadian equivalent of the American Liberty ships. All three shared a similar design by J.L. Thompson and Sons of Sunderland, England. Fort ships had a triple expansion steam engine and a single screw propeller.[3]

Fort Abitibi was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., of Montreal. It was given Registry No.168825, and was delivered in May 1942 to the U.S. War Shipping Administration. The vessel was operated by Smith Hogg & Co., West Hartlepool, and was part of the merchant navy fleet supplying Britain during World War II.[4] It was used by the U.S. Maritime Commission; in 1947 and was later transferred to Sir R Ropner & Co. Ltd., of West Hartlepool for the Ministry of War Transport. Fort Abitibi was broken up in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1958.[5]

It sailed to Australia on several occasions.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ DeRoy-Jones, Angela (2004). "Merchant Ships Built in Canada in World War Two". fortships.tripod.com. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  2. ^ Colton, Tim (2011). "Merchant Ships Built in Canada in World War Two". shipbuildinghistory.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  3. ^ The National Archives, Kew UK Reference:BT 389/13/17
  4. ^ Convoy HX 193 Cruising Order Departed Halifax on June 7-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 19th
  5. ^ Fort Ships of World War Two Angela DeRoy-Jones Last modified: February 15, 2005