SS Esperance Bay
From Our Contribution
 Australian National Maritime Museum 00041535 | |
 As SS Arawa - State Library of Victoria | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | SS Esperance Bay |
| Owner | Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line |
| Builder | William Beardmore & Co, Dalmuir |
| Yard number | 617 |
| Launched | 15 Dec 1921 |
| Completed | July 1922 |
| In service | 1922 |
| Out of service | 1955 |
| Fate | Broken up 1955 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger/cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 14,176 tons |
| Length | 530.9 ft (161.82m) |
| Beam | 68.3 ft (20.82m) |
| Depth | 39.3 ft (11.98m) |
| Propulsion | twin screw, 4 steam turbines |
| Speed | 14.5 knots |
Remarks
Built for the Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers, Fremantle, in 1928 she was transferred to the White Star Line Ltd. In 1933 she was bought by the Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line, and then in 1936 the Shaw Savill & Albion Line took over ownership and renamed her SS Arawa.
In August 1939 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as an Armed Merchant Cruiser, but seems to have used the name SS Esperance Bay during her military service.
Usual employment was as a cargo/passenger ship between the UK and Australia via the Suez Canal. On 21 May 1955 she was broken up in Newport for scrap.