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HMS SEALARK A converted composite ship of 200 tons which was commissioned at Portsmouth in September 1904 by Commander H.B.T. Somerville for surveying in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.
In 1904 she surveyed Gibraltar Bay and the Red Sea, in 1905 Port Sudan and Colombo Harbour, and a six month scientific cruise with Prof. J.S. Gardiner F.R.S., and Cooper to study Coral Reef Islands including Diego Garcia, Farquahar Islands, Chagos Archipelago and the Seychelles.
This was Sealark's only visit to the Seychelles.
The next eight years were spent surveying in Sri Lanka, Malaya, the South Pacific and Australia.
Cmdr. Somerville returned to England in 1907 and after the war, when he had returned to general duties, was placed on the retired list with the rank of Rear Admiral and the award of C.M.G. for his war services. Later promoted to Vice‑Admiral after publication of various scientific papers on Hydrography.
In 1936, at the age of 72, he was murdered by the IRA in his home of Castletownsend near Cork in Eire.

Information from Admiral Day's Book 'Hydrographic
Surveying 1795 ‑ 1919'

Log Book January 1987.
Zil Elwannyen Sesel SG126 (I do not have the stamp)

Built in 1878 by Robert Steele & Co., Greenock, #180 as Yacht WANDERER for Charles Joseph Lambert, London.
Composite Screw Steamer, 3 Masted Schooner, Gt:508, Nt:345, Dw:708, Displacement:900 tons. L:56.51m. (185.4') B:8.90m. (29.2') D:4.91m. (16.1') Loftus Perkins patent high pressure (500 psi.) triple expansion engine, built by Robert Steele & Co.:200 nhp. 12 kn. 1880 re-engined 2 cyl. Day, Summers & Co., Northam:100 nhp. (1919:104 nhp.)
Other names
1888 VAGUS -1900 CONSUELO - 1903 INVESTIGATOR - 1904 SEALARK - 1920 SEALARK III - 1922 NORWEST
Subsequent owner and registration history
1888 Principe di Torlonia, Duca di Ceri - reg Italy
1896 Albert E Marvin, Cowes - reg Cowes
1899 Richard H W Bulkeley, Beaumaris
1902 The Earl of Crawford, London
1903 Admiralty, London
1919 James H Patrick, Sydney NSW
1920 The Patrick Steamship Co Ltd, Sydney - reg Sydney (ON 136460)
1924 William Waugh Ltd., Balmain, Sydney
Vessel history
The initial high-pressure engines were unsuccesful and had to be replaced before WANDERER fully entered service in 1880.

1903 RN survey vessel HMS INVESTIGATOR; after 1904 refit became HMS SEALARK. On China, and later Australia Station
1914 paid off from RN
1919/20 converted to cargo ship: 590grt 237nrt, 179.5 x 29.0 x 16.2ft. Given new ON in error
1924 seized by bank when The Patrick Steamship Co Ltd failed
Remarks
iron & wood hull. "The most luxurious steam yacht ever built."
1880 560grt 339nrt

Reported 1900 as owned by William Kissam Vanderbilt, New York, but no evidence yet found for this, or that she ever left the UK register. Fate / Status 1925 Hulked.
(Zil Elwannnyen Sesel 1985, 2 R. StG.126)
Internet.

ON: 1080262. 560 gross tons. Yacht built by R Steele, Cartsburn as the WANDERER for C J Lambert, Cowes.
Launched 12 December 1878 completed 1879. Of composite construction, iron and wood complete with a compound engine, single screw, rated knots unknown. Lb: 56.5 x 8.9 metres.
Registered with the Royal Yacht Squadron she was known as RYS WANDERER and based at Cowes, Isle of Wight.

As arguably the most luxurious private yacht purpose built in that era, to wit designed for the lavish comfort of one family and supplimented with a crew of fifty, she completed several world voyages. 1889 sold to Prince de Torlonia and renamed VAGUS. 1900 renamed CONSUELO when purchased by the American millionaire William Kissam Vanderbilt.
1903, she was purchased by the Royal Navy and initially commissioned as HMS INVESTIGATOR.
1904 after refitting as a survey vessel, at a cost of £20,000 she was renamed HMS SEA LARK and sailed from Portsmouth in September 1904 to serve with the China Station. In 1910, she sailed from Penang for the Australia Station. She undertook various hydrographic survey work around Australia and the South Pacific between 1910 and 1914. As known between 1910 -14 undertook survey work in the Torres Strait and Solomon Islands. At the outbreak of World War I, and the threat of German Empire expansion in the South Pacific, she sailed to Suva, Fiji with a cargo of coastal guns, for a gun emplacement on a hill in Suva. Upon her return to Sydney from Fiji via New Zealand, she was paid off in 1914
1919-20 purchased by Captain J. H. Patrick for £2500 and converted into a merchant ship at a cost of £15,000 and either continued with name as renamed as SEALARK III. Worked the Sydney - Brisbane trade. 1921 under the agency of Nixon-Smith & Bellgrove worked the Townsville trade. By loading up with Blair Athol coal at Broad Sound, Mackay, she was able to make a shorter economical run closer to the coast and enabled her (and Owners) to undercut the 'Railway Business' cargo that was held by the more established firm of AUSN Co. When Nixon-Smith & Bellgrove chartered the purpose built collier BEULAH that had twice the cargo capacity of the SEALARK III, she then went back to the Sydney - Brisbane trade. 1923 renamed by J Patrick as NORWEST.
1924 she was seized by the English, Scottish and Australian Bank to repay debts owed. After James Patrick Steamships Ltd failed, she was sold by that bank to William Waugh Ltd., Balmain, Sydney for about £500 where she was dismantled and converted into a hulk. Deleted from Register 1926

Zil El Wannyen Sesel 1985 2r sg 126, scott112
https://www.flotilla-australia.com/jpat ... rwest-jpat