SS Nautilus
Encyclopedia
SS Nautilus, a 300 ton vessel, was built in the 1913 in Hamburg, Germany and originally named Activo.
Activo fell into British hands, probably as a captured German ship, who re-registered it under the name SS Nautilus and they in turn sold it to the Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) government which was then part of the British Empire
, for the deep sea fishing.
The Ceylon government could not use the ship effectively in deep sea fishing and auctioned the ship off in 1939 to C.S Krishnaswamy Naidu an industrialist from India. The ship was purchased to support deep sea fishing for Malabar Fisheries, a sardine canning company in Chaliyam, Calicut. However, the ship needed repairs before it could be put to use and was brought to Palluruthy
(Kerala, India) and docked on the land for repairs.
Due to the start of World War II
, the British naval authorities in Cochin demanded that the ship be handed over to them for defence purposes. A new steam boiler was installed and guns mounted on the deck. She was then used on patrol in the Arabian Sea
guarding the west coast of India. This continued till the end of war in 1942.
After the war, the ship was only returned to her owner after numerous delays. By that time she required extensive repairs and was instead sold as scrap in 1948.
Activo fell into British hands, probably as a captured German ship, who re-registered it under the name SS Nautilus and they in turn sold it to the Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) government which was then part of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, for the deep sea fishing.
The Ceylon government could not use the ship effectively in deep sea fishing and auctioned the ship off in 1939 to C.S Krishnaswamy Naidu an industrialist from India. The ship was purchased to support deep sea fishing for Malabar Fisheries, a sardine canning company in Chaliyam, Calicut. However, the ship needed repairs before it could be put to use and was brought to Palluruthy
Palluruthy
Palluruthy is a region in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Palluruthy is part of the water bound West Kochi, lying westward to the Kochi mainland. Palluruthy comprises the regions Thoppumpady, Perumpadappu, Edakochi, Kumbalanghi and Mundamveli...
(Kerala, India) and docked on the land for repairs.
Due to the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the British naval authorities in Cochin demanded that the ship be handed over to them for defence purposes. A new steam boiler was installed and guns mounted on the deck. She was then used on patrol in the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
guarding the west coast of India. This continued till the end of war in 1942.
After the war, the ship was only returned to her owner after numerous delays. By that time she required extensive repairs and was instead sold as scrap in 1948.