MINNETONKA
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:45 pm
The MINNETONKA was launched for the Atlantic Transport Line on 10 January 1924 and her maiden voyage from London to New York started on 3 May of the same year. In December of 1925, she left London for New York carrying a cargo that was to prove more precious than most, the thoroughbred stallion Sir Galahad.
MINNETONKA had accommodation for 369 first class passengers, but was primarily a cargo carrier, the largest afloat at 21,998 tons. She and her sister ship. SS MINNEWASKA i were the largest ships to use London Docks prior to the P & O “Strath” ships.
Formed in 1881 by Bernard Baker of the Baltimore Storage & Lighterage Co, he found it economical to operate his ships under the British flag. Initial voyages were between Barrow and New York and the following year, between Amsterdam and New York under charter to the Royal Netherlands SS Co. In 1883 regular London - Baltimore voyages commenced and a London - New York service started in 1890. Occasional voyages were also made to New York from Swansea and Belfast. In 1896 ATL took over the fleet and assets of National Line.
The Atlantic Transport Line was an American company, but was effectively British operated. The solution to this in America was to form the Atlantic Transport Company of West Virginia in 1898 to acquire the assets and ships of ATL and to build and own their own American flagged ships. For economical reasons, the current fleet continued under the British flag, but was American controlled. In 1904 the company, together with many others came under the control of the newly formed International Mercantile Marine Company. The depression of 1931 caused IMMC to commence selling ATL's passenger fleet and by 1936 their last ship, COLUMBIA was scrapped and both companies (American and British) ceased to exist.
In 1932 MINNETONKA was transferred to the Red Star Line.
Her last Atlantic crossing was in September 1933, and she was sold for scrap to Messrs Douglas & Ramsey, ship-breakers of Bo’ness, Scotland in 1934. MINNETONKA had been in service barely ten years, among the shortest careers of any major Atlantic liner.
Owner: Atlantic Transport Line
Route: London–New York
Ordered: 1922
Builder: Harland & Wolff yard No 614
Launched: 10 January 1924.
Completed 24 April 1924
Status: Sold in 1931
Owner: Red Star Line
Route: Antwerp–New York
In service: 1932
Out of service: 1933
Status: Scrapped in 1934
General characteristics
Tonnage: 21,998 gross tons
Length: 610 ft (190 m)
Beam: 80 ft (24 m)
Depth: 49 ft (15 m)
Propulsion: Two sets of Brown-Curtis type steam turbines, 15,000 shp, twin screw; 12 water tube boilers, oil fuel, consuming 165 tons per day
Speed: 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
369 first-class passengers
Guine Bissau 2011 MSsg?, scott? (She is the one funnel ship on the right margin of the stamp. The photo on the site is of her sister the SS MINNEWASKA.)
Sources: Great Passenger Ships of the World, Vol 2 1913-1923 by Arnold Kludas.
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines ... trans.html
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/SirGallahad.html
Peter Crichton
MINNETONKA had accommodation for 369 first class passengers, but was primarily a cargo carrier, the largest afloat at 21,998 tons. She and her sister ship. SS MINNEWASKA i were the largest ships to use London Docks prior to the P & O “Strath” ships.
Formed in 1881 by Bernard Baker of the Baltimore Storage & Lighterage Co, he found it economical to operate his ships under the British flag. Initial voyages were between Barrow and New York and the following year, between Amsterdam and New York under charter to the Royal Netherlands SS Co. In 1883 regular London - Baltimore voyages commenced and a London - New York service started in 1890. Occasional voyages were also made to New York from Swansea and Belfast. In 1896 ATL took over the fleet and assets of National Line.
The Atlantic Transport Line was an American company, but was effectively British operated. The solution to this in America was to form the Atlantic Transport Company of West Virginia in 1898 to acquire the assets and ships of ATL and to build and own their own American flagged ships. For economical reasons, the current fleet continued under the British flag, but was American controlled. In 1904 the company, together with many others came under the control of the newly formed International Mercantile Marine Company. The depression of 1931 caused IMMC to commence selling ATL's passenger fleet and by 1936 their last ship, COLUMBIA was scrapped and both companies (American and British) ceased to exist.
In 1932 MINNETONKA was transferred to the Red Star Line.
Her last Atlantic crossing was in September 1933, and she was sold for scrap to Messrs Douglas & Ramsey, ship-breakers of Bo’ness, Scotland in 1934. MINNETONKA had been in service barely ten years, among the shortest careers of any major Atlantic liner.
Owner: Atlantic Transport Line
Route: London–New York
Ordered: 1922
Builder: Harland & Wolff yard No 614
Launched: 10 January 1924.
Completed 24 April 1924
Status: Sold in 1931
Owner: Red Star Line
Route: Antwerp–New York
In service: 1932
Out of service: 1933
Status: Scrapped in 1934
General characteristics
Tonnage: 21,998 gross tons
Length: 610 ft (190 m)
Beam: 80 ft (24 m)
Depth: 49 ft (15 m)
Propulsion: Two sets of Brown-Curtis type steam turbines, 15,000 shp, twin screw; 12 water tube boilers, oil fuel, consuming 165 tons per day
Speed: 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
369 first-class passengers
Guine Bissau 2011 MSsg?, scott? (She is the one funnel ship on the right margin of the stamp. The photo on the site is of her sister the SS MINNEWASKA.)
Sources: Great Passenger Ships of the World, Vol 2 1913-1923 by Arnold Kludas.
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines ... trans.html
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/SirGallahad.html
Peter Crichton