MV Asiatic Prince

MV Asiatic Prince was a motor cargo liner that was built in Germany in 1926, operated by a British shipping line, and disappeared without trace in the Pacific Ocean in 1928. When she was lost she was carrying silver bullion worth £263,000.

History
United Kingdom
Name: Asiatic Prince
Operator: Rio Cape Line
Port of registry: London
Builder: Deutsche Werft
Yard number: 93
Launched: 27 January 1926
Completed: 1926
Identification: UK official number 148744
Fate: lost without trace, March 1928
General characteristics
Tonnage: 6,743 GRT
Length: 441.6 ft (134.6 m)
Beam: 60.3 ft (18.4 m)
Draught: 27 ft 6 1⁄4 in (8.39 m)
Depth: 29.2 ft (8.9 m)
Installed power: 1,313 NHP
Propulsion: AEG Diesel engines, twin screws
Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h)
Crew: 48
Notes: sister ships: Chinese Prince, Javanese Prince, Malayan Prince

Building

In 1926 Deutsche Werft built four sister ships for Rio Cape Line, which was a subsidiary Furness, Withy. At about 6,700 GRT each and capable of 15 knots (28 km/h) they were large and fast for their era. Each had 1,313 NHP AEG Diesel engines driving twin screws.[1][2][3] They were primarily cargo ships, but they had some passenger berths.[4]

Rio Cape Line ships were managed by another Furness, Withy subsidiary, Prince Line, so the four ships were named Asiatic Prince, Chinese Prince, Javanese Prince and Malayan Prince.[5][4]

Final voyage and loss

On 16 March 1928 Asiatic Prince left San Pedro, Los Angeles bound for Yokohama. Her cargo included goods worth £180,000 as well as silver bullion worth £263,000.[6] She had a complement of British and Chinese seafarers. She carried no passengers on this voyage.[7]

On 22 March Asiatic Prince reported by wireless that she was 1,900 miles west of Los Angeles and had reduced speed due to adverse weather. On 24 March Ellerman Lines' City of Eastbourne received a faint wireless SOS message. City of Eastbourne did not get the name of the ship in distress, but the message gave a position about 200 miles northwest of Hawaii.[6]

At the beginning of April 1928 Asiatic Prince was reported a week overdue at Yokohama. United States Navy ships then spent several days searching the ocean northwest of Honolulu but found nothing. A week later three US Navy cruisers searched the ocean around the Hawaiian Islands but also found nothing.[8]

References
  1. "CHI". Lloyd's Register, Steamers and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. "JAV–JEB". Lloyd's Register, Steamers and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  3. "MAL". Lloyd's Register, Steamers and Motorships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. Talbot-Booth 1936, p. 522.
  5. Harnack 1938, p. 485.
  6. Allen, Tony; Lettens, Jan. "MV Asiatic Prince (III) (+1928)". WreckSite. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  7. Wilson 1956, p. 227.
  8. Wilson 1956, p. 228.

Bibliography
  • Harnack, Edwin P (1938) [1903]. All About Ships & Shipping (7th ed.). London: Faber and Faber. p. 485.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Talbot-Booth, EC (1936). Ships and the Sea (Third ed.). London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd. p. 522.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Wilson, RM (1956). The Big Ships. London: Cassell & Co. pp. 227, 228.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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