SS Medic (eng)

Statistics

Gross Tonnage - 11,985 tons
Dimensions - 167.69 x 19.3m (550.2 x 63.3ft)
Number of funnels - 1
Number of masts - 4
Construction - Steel
Propulsion - Twin screw
Engines - Four-cylindered quadruple expansion engines Service speed - 13.5 knots
Builder - Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Launch date - 15 December 1898
Passenger accommodation - 320 3rd class

Details of Career

The Medic, and its sister ship the Afric, were built as refrigerated cargo ships. The Medic was launched on 15 December 1898 and was part of a five ship monthly Australian service. It made its maiden voyage from Liverpool to Sydney, via Cape Town, on 3 August 1899. On the return voyage it carried Australian troops and their horses to the Boer War, which began on 16 October.

After this the ship continued to operate on the commercial service until April 1917 when it was taken over by the Government under the Liner Requisition Scheme. It had avoided being requisitioned this long largely due to the fact that it was so valuable as a meat carrier. It was returned to White Star management on 26 March 1919. The following year its passenger accommodation was altered to house 260 Cabin class passengers.

In January 1928 it was sold to N. Bugge, Tonsberg and converted into a whale factory ship. In this role it was fitted with a stern ramp, for hauling whales onto the ship, and renamed the Hektoria. In 1932 it was transferred to the British flag under Hector Whaling, London. On 11 September 1942 it was torpedoed by U-608 and sank in the North Atlantic whilst serving as an oil tanker for the Government.