SS Harald Torsvik

History
United States
Name
  • Henry B. Plant
  • Harald Torsvik
Namesake
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MC hull 2502
Awarded23 April 1943
BuilderSt. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida[2]
Cost$955,581[1]
Yard number66
Way number6
Laid down25 September 1944
Launched28 October 1944
Completed6 November 1944
FateTransferred to Norway under Lend-Lease, 6 November 1944
Norway
NameHarald Torsvik
OwnerNorway
FateSold, 1946
Norway
NameGrey County
OwnerKlaus Wiese Hansen
FateSold, 1951
Panama
NameAegean Sailor
OwnerCia Nav del Egero
OperatorLemos & Pateras
RefitConverted to M/V, 1960
FateSold, 1960
Greece
NameKyramorouko
OwnerMarafecto Cia Nav
FateSold, 1964
Greece
NameSpalmatori
OwnerSpalmatori Cia Nav
FateSold, 1966
Greece
NameAnastassios
OwnerAstro-Mareante Nav
FateSold, 1967
Greece
NameStymfalos
OwnerStymfalos SA
FateScrapped, 1968
General characteristics [3]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa)
  • 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity
  • 562,608 cubic feet (15,931 m3) (grain)
  • 499,573 cubic feet (14,146 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament

SS Harald Torsvik was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was first named after Henry B. Plant, an American businessman, entrepreneur, investor involved with many transportation interests and projects, mostly railroads, in the southeastern United States. She was transferred to Norway after launching and renamed Harald Torsvik after Harald Torsvik, a Norwegian lawyer that aided refugees fleeing to England during World War II, he was captured by the Nazis and executed.

Construction[edit]

Henry B. Plant was laid down on 25 September 1944, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2502, by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida; and was launched on 28 October 1944.[2][1]

History[edit]

She was transferred to Norway, under the Lend-Lease program, on 6 November 1944, and renamed Harald Torsvik. She was sold for commercial use, 10 October 1946, to Klaus Wiese Hansen, for $574,830.27, and renamed Grey County.[4]

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • "St. John's River Shipbuilding, Jacksonville FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  • Maritime Administration. "Harald Torsvik". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  • "SS Henry B. Plant". Retrieved 31 January 2020.