TSS Empire Byng
Encyclopedia
Empire Byng was a 7,832 GRT heavy lift ship
which was built in 1944 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1945, she was sold in 1951 and renamed Peter Dal II. Further sales saw her renamed Benwyvis, Southern Comet and Marites. In November 1970, she ran aground at Manila Bay
during Typhoon Patsy
. Marites was scrapped in 1972.
, Greenock
for the MoWT. She was yard number 458. Empire Byng was launched on 16 November 1944 and completed in May 1945.
The ship was 451 in 3 in (137.54 m) long, with a beam of 66 in 9 in (20.35 m) and a depth of 30 in 7 in (9.32 m). She was propelled by a steam turbine
which drove an electric motor and a single screw. The turbine was built by General Electric Co Ltd, Erith
. She had a GRT of 7,832, NRT of 4,418, and a DWT of 9,175.
. Her port of registry was Greenock.
Shortly after the end of the Second World War, Empire Byng was used to deliver a number of MoWT tugs
. TID 125, TID 126, TID 131, TID 132 and TID 133 were all delivered from Bromborough Dock
to Bombay, India
. Empire Byng departed on 22 May 1945 and arrived on 19 June.
In 1946, management of Empire Byng was transferred to Dalhousie Steam & Motorshipping Co Ltd, London
. In 1946, Empire Byng was sold to Dalhousie Steam & Motorshipping and was renamed Peter Dal II. She was operated under the management of Nomikos (London) Ltd. In 1954, Peter Dal II was sold to Novocastria Shipping Co Ltd, remaining under the management of Nomikos.
In 1955, Peter Dal II was sold to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Benwyvis. She served with the Ben Line
until 1963 when she was sold to Bacong Shipping SA, Panama
and was renamed Southern Comet. She was operated under the management of Southern Industrial Projects Inc, Manila
. In 1968, Southern Comet was sold to the People's Bank and Trust Company, Philippines
and renamed Marites. On 19 November 1970, Marites was driven aground in Manila Bay
during Typhoon Patsy
. She was refloated on 29 November, and laid up at South Harbour, Manila. In 1972, Marites was sold for scrap, arriving at Hong Kong
on 8 February 1972.
In 1984, Southern Comet was mentioned in an appeal
case relating to repairs done by the Pioneer Iron Works, Manila, who had not been paid for such work. The appeal was denied.
. Empire Byng, Peter Dal II and Benwyvis had the United Kingdom Official Number 1695921.
Empire Byng used the Code Letters
GFNY.
Heavy lift ship
A heavy lift ship is a vessel designed to move very large loads that cannot be handled by normally equipped ships. They are of two types: semi-submerging capable of lifting another ship out of the water and transporting it; and vessels that augment unloading facilities at inadequately equipped...
which was built in 1944 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in May 1945, she was sold in 1951 and renamed Peter Dal II. Further sales saw her renamed Benwyvis, Southern Comet and Marites. In November 1970, she ran aground at Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
during Typhoon Patsy
Typhoon Patsy (1970)
Super Typhoon Patsy was the twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth typhoon, and seventh super typhoon of the 1970 Pacific typhoon season....
. Marites was scrapped in 1972.
Description
Empire Bynng was built by Greenock Dockyard CoGreenock Dockyard Company
The Greenock Dockyard Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Greenock, on the River Clyde.-History:The company was established by J E Scott of Greenock, with the yard at Cartsdyke being taken over in 1879 by Russell and Company, of Greenock, which later became Lithgows...
, Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
for the MoWT. She was yard number 458. Empire Byng was launched on 16 November 1944 and completed in May 1945.
The ship was 451 in 3 in (137.54 m) long, with a beam of 66 in 9 in (20.35 m) and a depth of 30 in 7 in (9.32 m). She was propelled by a steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
which drove an electric motor and a single screw. The turbine was built by General Electric Co Ltd, Erith
Erith
Erith is a district of southeast London on the River Thames. Erith's town centre has undergone a series of modernisations since 1961.-Pre-medieval:...
. She had a GRT of 7,832, NRT of 4,418, and a DWT of 9,175.
Career
Empire Byng was initially operated under the management of P & O Steam Navigation Co LtdPeninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
. Her port of registry was Greenock.
Shortly after the end of the Second World War, Empire Byng was used to deliver a number of MoWT tugs
Tug, Inshore and Dock
TID was a standardized British design for a tugboat drawn up and built during the Second World War.One hundred and eighty two were built for the Ministry of War Transport....
. TID 125, TID 126, TID 131, TID 132 and TID 133 were all delivered from Bromborough Dock
Bromborough Dock
Bromborough Dock was situated on the River Mersey at Bromborough, on the Wirral Peninsula, England.Owned by the manufacturer Lever Brothers , it served the company's factory at Port Sunlight. The facility was once the largest private dock in the world.Consent for its construction was given by the...
to Bombay, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Empire Byng departed on 22 May 1945 and arrived on 19 June.
In 1946, management of Empire Byng was transferred to Dalhousie Steam & Motorshipping Co Ltd, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1946, Empire Byng was sold to Dalhousie Steam & Motorshipping and was renamed Peter Dal II. She was operated under the management of Nomikos (London) Ltd. In 1954, Peter Dal II was sold to Novocastria Shipping Co Ltd, remaining under the management of Nomikos.
In 1955, Peter Dal II was sold to Ben Line Steamers Ltd and renamed Benwyvis. She served with the Ben Line
Ben Line
The Ben Line or Ben Line Steamers, Limited was a Scottish shipping company based at Leith, Scotland which specialised in the fast carriage of cargo to and from the Far East...
until 1963 when she was sold to Bacong Shipping SA, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and was renamed Southern Comet. She was operated under the management of Southern Industrial Projects Inc, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. In 1968, Southern Comet was sold to the People's Bank and Trust Company, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and renamed Marites. On 19 November 1970, Marites was driven aground in Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
during Typhoon Patsy
Typhoon Patsy (1970)
Super Typhoon Patsy was the twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth typhoon, and seventh super typhoon of the 1970 Pacific typhoon season....
. She was refloated on 29 November, and laid up at South Harbour, Manila. In 1972, Marites was sold for scrap, arriving at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 8 February 1972.
In 1984, Southern Comet was mentioned in an appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
case relating to repairs done by the Pioneer Iron Works, Manila, who had not been paid for such work. The appeal was denied.
Official Numbers and Code Letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO NumbersIMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
. Empire Byng, Peter Dal II and Benwyvis had the United Kingdom Official Number 1695921.
Empire Byng used the Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
GFNY.