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POONA (1905)

Service dates: 1905-1924

Official number: 121202

Shipping lines: P&O STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY

Ship type:


Passenger/Cargo Ship.


Career

24.12.1904
Launched.
30.01.1905
Registered as Poona for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company at a cost of £103,943.
10.02.1905
Left her builders and loaded for her maiden voyage to China and Japan.
1906
Refrigerating machinery fitted, and in the same year inaugurated a new Australian cargo service.
1910
Refused entry to the Mersey with a cargo of Chinese pork and poultry, owing to a dock strike, and was forced to unload on the Continent.
08.1912
Deadweight 10,711 tons. Draught 8.366m (27ft 5½in).
16.12.1913
In Sydney sent her fire crew to help put out a fire aboard the British India steamer Janus.
03.12.1916
Sailed from London bound for Calcutta.
06.12.1916
Struck a mine in the English Channel 15km (9 miles) south of Beachy Head. Her forward hold quickly flooded and because of transverse cracks there was a likelihood she might break amidships, so her crew took to the boats. Later reboarded by some officers and six seamen, she was towed stern-first for 40 hours by the destroyer HMS Exe and two tugs to Spithead in worsening sea conditions. Despite having to wait 24 hours for a berth she was dry-docked in time, repaired and returned to service.
1921
Had a fire on board when in the London Docks.
08.10.1924
Sold for £18,000 to F Pittaluga fu G, Italy, for demolition.
15.10.1924
Handed over and renamed Po. She loaded a cargo of coal at Barry for Genoa.
10.11.1924
Arrived in Genoa for discharge and breaking up.


Ship technical details (PDF)