MV Empire Beacon

Empire Beacon was an 872 GRT coaster which was built in 1941. She was owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and managed by John Stewart & Co (Shipping) Ltd. Empire Beacon struck a mine and sank off St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire on 5 April 1942.

History
Class and type: Coaster
Name: Empire Beacon
Owner: Ministry of War Transport
Operator: John Stewart & Co (Shipping) Ltd
Port of registry: Glasgow
Builder: Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling
Launched: 24 September 1941
Completed: February 1942
Identification:
  • UK Official Number 168695
  • Code Letters BCSY
Fate: Struck a mine and sank, 5 April 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage: 872 GRT
Length: 203 ft (61.87 m)
Beam: 33 ft 2 in (10.11 m)
Depth: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
Propulsion: 6-cylinder SCSA Oil engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
Location of the sinking of Empire Beacon.

Career

Empire Beacon was built by Scott & Sons Ltd, Bowling, West Dunbartonshire.[1] She was yard number 358 and was launched on 24 September 1941 and completed in November that year.[2] Empire Beacon was built for the MoWT and placed under the management of John Stewart & Co (Shipping) Ltd. Her port of registry was Glasgow.[3]

Sinking

On 5 April 1942, Empire Beacon struck a mine and sank 6 nautical miles (11 km) off St. Ann's Head (51°41′N 5°10′W).[1][2]

Official Numbers and Code Letters

Official numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Beacon had the UK Official Number 168695 and used the Code Letters BCSY.[2][3]

Propulsion

Empire Beacon was powered a Single Cycle, Single Action oil engines,[3] driving a single screw.[2] The cylinders were 13​3⁄8 in (340mm) diameter by 22​7⁄16 in (570 mm) stroke. The engine developed 80 horsepower (60 kW).[3]

References
  1. Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  2. "1168695". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  3. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Retrieved 18 October 2009.
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