Marialaura was a 7,318 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1945 as Empire Eddystone by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Winston Churchill. A sale to an Italian owner in 1952 saw her renamed Marialaura, serving until she was scrapped in 1966.

History
Name
  • Empire Eddystone (1945–47)
  • Winston Churchill (1947–52)
  • Marialaura (1952–66)
Owner
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945–47)
  • Aegean Shipping Co Ltd (1947–52)
  • Fratelli D'Amico (1952–66)
Operator
  • Evan T.Radcliffe & Co (1945–47)
  • S G Embiricos Ltd (1947–52)
  • Fratelli D'Amico (1952–66)
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom West Hartlepool, UK (1945–47)
  • United Kingdom Cardiff (1947–52)
  • Italy Rome, Italy (1952–66)
BuilderWilliam Gray & Co Ltd
Yard number1176
Launched11 May 1945
CompletedJuly 1945
Out of serviceMay 1966
Identification
  • -United Kingdom Official Number 0084 (1945–52)
  • Code Letters GKMC (1945–52)
FateScrapped
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage7,318 GRT
Length431 ft (131 m)
Beam56 ft (17 m)
PropulsionSteam engine

Description

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The ship was built in 1945 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool.[1] She was yard number 1176.[2]

The ship was 431 feet (131 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet (17 m).[3] She was assessed at 7,318 GRT.[1]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.[1]

History

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Empire Eddystone was launched on 8 December 1943 and completed in May 1944.[1] She was placed under the management of E T Radcliff & Co Ltd, Cardiff, Glamorgan.[3] She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 180084,[4] and Code Letters GKMC. Her port of registry was West Hartlepool.[5]

In 1947, Empire Eddystone was sold to Aegean Shipping Co Ltd and renamed Winston Churchill. She was placed under the management of S G Embiricos Ltd, London.[1]

In 1952, Winston Churchill was sold to Fratelli D'Amico, Rome, Italy and renamed Marialaura. She served until May 1966, when she was scrapped at Trieste.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  2. ^ "Marialaura Originally known as: Empire Eddystone". Portcities Hartlepool. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b "EMPIRE – D – E". Mariners. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  4. ^ "ON180000". Mariners. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Signal Letters Database". Convoyweb. Retrieved 5 August 2011. (Enter GKMC or Empire Eddystone in relevant search box)