PORT CHALMERS 1933-1965

Built Swan Hunter, Wallsend in 1933. Length 155 metres. Twin screw diesel. Speed 15 knots. This ship one of a number built by the Port Line, New Zealand Shipping Co and Shaw Savill & Albion and became known as the Empire Food Ships as a consequence of the Ottawa Conference and the doctrine of Imperial Preferences for members of the British Empire. PORT CHALMERS participated in two Malta convoys, including Operation Pedestal in August 1942. Although this convoy of 14 merchant ships had an escort of over 30 warships, including two battleships and four aircraft carriers, only five merchant vessels got through to the Island. Of the five survivors, three had been torpedoed during the passage. OHIO, the sole tanker in the convoy, was torpedoed twice as well as receiving direct hits by bombs and several near misses. Of the warships, losses included one aircraft carrier, two cruisers and a further carrier and two more cruisers were damaged. PORT CHALMERS however, was unscathed.