Built as a cable vessel under yard No 255 by the Act. Ges. “Vulcan”, Stettin, Germany for the Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke A.G., Nordenham, Germany.
29 December 1902 launched as the STEPHAN.
Tonnage 4.630 gross, 2.467 net, 2.040 dwt., dim. 119.4 x 14.7 x 7.5m.
Powered by three expansion steam engines, 2.400 ihp., twin screws, speed 14 knots.
Crew 114
She was fitted out with four cabletanks with a coiling capacity of 98.000 cubic feet.
01 March 1903 completed.
Used for cable laying after completed:
1903/04 Emden, Germany via the Azores to New York.
1904 Manado, Dutch East Indies to Yap, Guam and Shanghai.
1906 From Cuxhaven, Germany to Arendal in Norway.
1907 From Moen, Denmark to Liepaja and St Petersburg, Russia.
1908 From Trieste, Italy to Pola and Sebenike, Yugoslavia.
1910 From Trieste to Pola and Split.
1910/11 French Guinea to Liberia and Ivory Coast.
1913 Mundesley, U.K. to Nordeney, Germany, and Balboa to San Elena.
1913 Balikpapan-Surabaya to Kema and Ternate, Dutch East Indies.
From August 1914 laid up in Vigo, Spain.
10 June 1919 handed over as war reparations to the Shipping Controller, U.K. and managed by Eastern Telegraph Co. Ltd., London.
1919 Laid the cable from Porthcurno, U.K. to Gibraltar.
1920 Sold to Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Co. Ltd., London.
1920 From USA to Barbados and Maranham, Brazil. Aden to Bombay and Malta to Alexandria.
1921 Laid three separate cables between the USA and Cuba.
1922 Between Malta and Alexandria, and from Aden to the Seychelles, and Aden to Suez.
1923 From Suva, Fiji Islands to Auckland, New Zealand, and from Sydney to Southport both in Australia, and from UK to Ireland.
She was broken up 3rd quarter of 1926.
Ivory Coast 1986 125f sg 899.
Source: http://atlantic-cable/Cableships/Stephan/index.htm Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1902. (World Ship Society). Navicula.