The SS Afonwen was a cargo steamer with a long and varied history of ownership. It was launched on 11 August 1897, having been constructed at Yard No: 326 of John Readhead & Sons Ltd in South Shields , England.
8-410: The ship had a gross register tonnage of 3,324 and dimensions of 99.4 by 14.4 metres (326 ft × 47 ft). Its power was one 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine, single shaft and one screw. The vessel had a cargo capacity of 5,500 long tons (5,600 t). The ship played an important role in rescuing survivors of the 1908 Messina Earthquake . The SS Afonwen, captained by William Owen,
16-472: Is a ship's total internal volume expressed in "register tons", each of which is equal to 100 cubic feet (2.83 m ). Replaced by Gross Tonnage (GT), gross register tonnage uses the total permanently enclosed capacity of the vessel as its basis for volume. Typically this is used for dockage fees, canal transit fees, and similar purposes where it is appropriate to charge based on the size of the entire vessel. Internationally, GRT may be abbreviated as BRT for
24-711: The Moorsom Commission in 1849. Gross and net register tonnages were replaced by gross tonnage and net tonnage , respectively, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships on 23 June 1969. The new tonnage regulations entered into force for all new ships on 18 July 1982, but existing vessels were given a migration period of 12 years to ensure that ships were given reasonable economic safeguards, since port and other dues are charged according to ship's tonnage. Since 18 July 1994
32-462: The German " Bruttoregistertonne ". Net register tonnage subtracts the volume of spaces not available for carrying cargo, such as engine rooms, fuel tanks and crew quarters, from gross register tonnage. Gross register tonnage is not a measure of the ship's weight or displacement and should not be confused with terms such as deadweight tonnage or displacement . Gross register tonnage was defined by
40-554: The fact that the ship was anchored in 45 fathoms (270 ft; 82 m) of water before the quake, but there were only 30 fathoms (180 ft; 55 m) when she sailed, loaded with refugees, to Naples. The ship, carrying a load of pulpwood, caught fire at Silverdale Green Bay, Newfoundland on 9 September 1924. She was later broken up at Genoa in September 1925. Gross register tonnage Gross register tonnage ( GRT , grt , g.r.t. , gt ), or gross registered tonnage ,
48-467: The first effects had passed the crew headed ashore to rescue survivors. Having seen some children trapped on the fifth floor of a crumbling building, a team went in to fetch them out, rescuing 12 children and woman. Able Seaman Henry Smith and Second Mate James Vivian Reed were awarded the Albert Medal by King Edward VII in 1909. The effect of the quake and tsunami on the harbour floor is evidenced by
56-429: The ship bodily tearing adrift all moorings… unknown steamer which was adrift collided with our starboard bow damaging same… the water now receded and ship grounded… At 7 a.m. sky cleared when we found out the quay had collapsed and town destroyed… One member of the crew, Ali Hassan, was reported as being ashore at the time and the entry against his name in the crew list gives him as "…supposed killed in earthquake". After
64-493: Was in Messina harbour during the earthquake on a voyage carrying coal. This event was accompanied by a very significant tsunami. The master’s entry (official number 105191) for December 1908 records the event: At 5.15 all hands disturbed by heavy earthquake shock causing great confusion on board, rushing on deck but being pitched dark and the air full of dust was unable to see anything; same time tidal wave came over quay which raised
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