View source for SS Prince Rupert

{{Short description|Canadian steamship}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=SS Prince Rupert.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=The Grand Trunk Pacific steamship ''Prince Rupert''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=
|Ship flag=
|Ship name=''Prince Rupert''
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Swan Hunter]], [[Wallsend-on-Tyne]]
|Ship registry={{flagicon|CAN|1921}} [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia]]
|Ship owner=* Grand Trunk Pacific Steamship Company (1910–1925)
* Canadian National Steamship Company (1925–1956)
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched= 13 December 1909
|Ship completed=March 1910
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=4 June 1910
|Ship out of service=1955
|Ship renamed=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate= Scrapped 1956
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[Passenger ship]]
|Ship tonnage=* {{GRT|3380}}
* {{NRT|1626}}
|Ship length={{convert|307|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|pp.]]
|Ship beam={{convert|42|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|24|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[triple expansion steam engine]]s
* 2 [[Propeller|screw]]s, {{convert|6500|ihp|kW|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|18|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship capacity=1,756
|Ship crew=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The [[Grand Trunk Pacific Railway|Grand Trunk]] steamship '''''Prince Rupert''''' and her [[sister ship]] {{SS|Prince George}} served the [[British Columbia Coast|coast]] of [[British Columbia]] and [[Alaska]]. ''Prince Rupert'' had a 45-year career serving northern ports from [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, from 1910 to 1955. The ship was considered "unlucky" and suffered several incidents during her career, including two significant ones that left large portions of the vessel underwater. The ship was [[Ship breaking|broken up]] in 1956.

==Design and description==
''Prince Rupert'' was {{convert|307|ft|m|1}} [[Length between perpendiculars|long]] with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|42|ft|m|1}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|24|ft|m|1}}. The vessel had a tonnage of {{GRT|3380|disp=long}} and {{NRT|1626|disp=long}}. The ship was powered by steam provided by two double-ended and two single-ended boilers operating at {{convert|180|psi|lk=on|abbr=on}}. This powered two four-cylinder [[triple expansion engine]]s creating driving two [[propeller|screws]] creating {{convert|6500|ihp|kW|lk=in}}. This gave ''Prince Rupert'' a maximum speed of {{convert|18|kn|lk=in}}. The vessel burned [[coal]] for fuel initially, converting to oil in 1912. The passenger ship had large [[bilge keel]]s to reduce rolling in heavy seas. The ship had two [[Mast (sailing)|masts]] and three [[funnel (ship)|funnels]].{{sfn|Guay|2016|pp=100–101}}{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}}

The passenger ship had a passenger capacity of 1,756; 220 [[First class travel|First class]], 36 [[Travel class#Ocean liners|Second class]] and 1,500 excursionists on the [[Deck (ship)|promenade deck]].{{sfn|Guay|2016|pp=100–101}} In 1916, ''Prince Rupert'' was given limited staterooms for second-class travellers. Six four-berth and one two-berth staterooms were installed.{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=84}} ''Prince Rupert'' also had a refrigerated freight capacity of 350 tons.{{sfn|Guay|2016|pp=100–101}}{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}}

==Service history==
''Prince Rupert'' was ordered from [[Swan Hunter|Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson]] and was constructed at their shipyard at [[Wallsend-on-Tyne]]. The passenger ship was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 13 December 1909 and completed in March 1910.{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}}{{efn|name=launch date}} Upon arrival on the [[British Columbia Coast|West Coast of Canada]], ''Prince Rupert'' was used for express service between Vancouver, [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]], [[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]], [[Anyox]], the [[Queen Charlotte Islands]] and [[Seattle]].{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=75}} The ship arrived at her namesake town for the first time on 15 June 1910.{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=100}} In 1912, ''Prince Rupert'' underwent conversion from coal-burning to oil-burning fuel, which was performed by the B.C. Marine Railway Company at [[Esquimalt, British Columbia]].{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=80}}

Beginning in 1916, ''Prince Rupert'' began her career as an "unlucky ship". On 28 December 1916, the vessel was involved in a collision with the [[tugboat]] ''Cleeve'' in Vancouver Harbour. The following year on 23 March, the ship [[Ship grounding|ran aground]] on Genn Island while leaving Anyox during a [[gale]].{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=100}}{{sfn|Hacking|1995|p=28}} ''Prince Rupert'' was eventually lifted off the rocks and spent two months in [[dry dock]] at Prince Rupert undergoing repairs.{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=100}}

On 1 May 1918, the ship's screws were stripped and ''Prince Rupert'' was forced to dock at Victoria for repairs. On 14 January 1919 she was struck by lightning in Vancouver Harbour. In October that year, the ship suffered a fire in her cargo hold, and underwent $25,000 in repairs. On 20 September 1920, the vessel struck a [[reef]] in Swanson Bay and tore a {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} hole in the bottom of the [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]]. ''Prince Rupert'' was beached and the passengers and crew landed. However, at high tide, the ship became completely submerged except for sections of the [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] and upper deck.{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=100}}{{sfn|Hacking|1995|p=28}}

The ship was [[Marine salvage|salvaged]] by the Pacific Salvage Company of Vancouver. ''Prince Rupert''{{'}}s stern lay under {{convert|72|ft|m}} of water and {{convert|20|ft|m}}, which took the salvage vessel ''Algerine'' and two 1,400-ton [[barge]]s to even out. A [[cofferdam]] was then constructed on the ship until the structure was {{convert|75|ft|m}} high, {{convert|175|ft|m}} long and {{convert|42|ft|m}} across. The entire cofferdam took {{convert|125,000|ft|m}} of lumber which was bolted to the sides of the ship with the crevices with heavy canvas. The structure added a further 200 tons to the vessel.{{sfn|Hacking|1995|p=28}} ''Prince Rupert'' was then raised to the surface and towed to Victoria where the ship underwent repairs at [[Yarrow Shipbuilders#Yarrows in Canada|Yarrows]], remaining out of service until May 1921.{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=100}}{{sfn|Hacking|1995|p=28}} From 1925, ownership of both ''Prince Rupert'' and ''Prince George'' was transferred along with the [[Grand Trunk Pacific Railway]] system to the [[Government of Canada]] to be operated as part of the [[Canadian National Railway]].

On 22 August 1927, ''Prince Rupert'' went aground on [[Ripple Rock]]. [[Captain (nautical)|Captain]] Andy Johnson of the competing [[Union Steamship Company of British Columbia]] manoeuvred his ship {{SS|Cardena||2}} alongside and pulled ''Prince Rupert'' off the [[reef]], saving the vessel from almost certain disaster. ''Cardena'' towed ''Prince Rupert'' into Deep Cove where ''Cardena'' and ''Princess Beatrice'' removed passengers, baggage and cargo. ''Prince Rupert'' was then towed by two tugboats to Vancouver, where the ship was repaired by [[Burrard Dry Dock]].{{sfn|Hacking|1995|p=29}}{{efn|name=destination}} 

On 6 March 1931, the ship was alongside at Yarrows in Victoria undergoing a yearly refit when water, leaking into the hold, caused the vessel to keel over at a 45° angle and sank in {{convert|26|ft|m}} of water. To prevent further rolling, the ship was fastened to the dock by its masts. ''Prince Rupert'' was raised once again and following a month-long refit, was ready for service again.{{sfn|Hacking|1995|p=29}} 

On 4 September 1935, she overtook and rammed the American 28-gross register ton [[halibut]]-[[fishing vessel]] ''Anna J'' near Maud Island (from where [[Ripple Rock]] was blasted in [[Seymour Narrows]]) on the British Columbia coast; ''Anna J'' beached herself in [[Plumper Bay]] after the collision and became a [[total loss]].<ref name=alaskashipwrecksa>[https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-a/ alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (A)]{{dubious|date=June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.alaska.gov/hist/hist_docs/docs/ms010/ms10_marine_general_information_H.pdf |title=Bayers, Lloyd H. 1911–1968 Captain Lloyd H. "Kinky" Bayers Collection, 1898–1967 MS 10 |publisher=Alaska State Library Historical Collections |work=Marine General Information Files |access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref>

''Prince Rupert'' went aground on Prolewy Rocks just north of [[Wrangell Narrows]] on 1 October 1943.  She tore two holes in her starboard side, but was able to reach [[Petersburg, Alaska|Petersburg]] and moor.  Her list reached 20 degrees, but the 116 passengers and two-thirds of her crew were safely disembarked.  [[USCGC Hemlock|USCGC ''Hemlock'']] was dispatched to the scene.  She provided pumps, manpower, towing, and fire fighting which eventually allowed ''Prince Rupert'' to proceed to permanent repairs.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Coast_Guard_at_War/VNhBO9KukI0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=hemlock |title=The Coast Guard At War |date=30 October 1944 |volume=XIV |pages=48}}</ref>

On 20 August 1951, ''Prince Rupert'' rammed the [[cruise liner]] ''Princess Kathleen'' north of Prince Rupert. ''Prince Rupert'' cut a {{convert|28|ft|m|adj=on}} v-shaped hole in the port [[Bow (ship)|bow]] of ''Princess Kathleen'', cutting halfway through the main deck. ''Princess Kathleen'' suffered $250,000 in damage and ''Prince Rupert'', $100,000. Both ships were deemed at fault by the Admiralty.{{sfn|Guay|2016|p=100}}{{sfn|Hacking|1995|pp=30, 32}} ''Prince Rupert'' was taken out of service in April 1955. The ship was sold for scrap in 1956. Purchased by Rinko Iron Works, a Japanese salvage company, the ship was renamed SS ''Prince Maru''. The vessel was then taken to [[Osaka]], Japan and [[Ship breaking|broken up]] in August 1956.{{sfn|Miramar Ship Index}}

==See also==
*[[List of ships in British Columbia]]

==Notes==
{{notes
|notes=
{{efn
|name=launch date
|Guay states the ship's launch date as 19 December 1909.{{sfn|Guay|2016|pp=100–101}}
}}
{{efn
|name=destination
|Guay states the ship was towed to Prince Rupert.
}}
}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Guay |first=David R. P. |date=2016 |title=Passenger and Merchant Ships of the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-4597-3555-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Hacking |first=Norman |date=1995 |title=Prince Ships of Northern BC: Ships of the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways |publisher=Heritage House Publishing Company |location= Surrey, British Columbia |isbn=1-895811-28-7}}
* {{csr|register=MSI|id=1129743|shipname=Prince Rupert|access-date=30 April 2017|ref={{sfnref|Miramar Ship Index}}}}

==External links==
*{{cite web
  | last =Canada Science and Technology Museum (CSTM)
  | title = Observation room of the SS Prince Rupert
  | url =http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/marine/index_choice.cfm?id=114&photoid=88784637
  }}
*{{cite web
  | last =CSTM
  | title = Ferry SS Prince Rupert
  | url =http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/marine/index_choice.cfm?id=114&photoid=80807180
  }}
*{{cite web
  | last =CSTM
  | title = Dining room of the SS Prince Rupert
  | url =http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/marine/index_choice.cfm?id=114&photoid=9267655
  }}
*{{cite web
  | last =CSTM
  | title = The S.S. Prince Rupert sailing in Alaskan waters
  | url =http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/marine/index_choice.cfm?id=114&photoid=1018617032
  }}
*{{cite web
  | last =CSTM
  | title = S.S. Prince Rupert on a cruise near Taku Glacier, Alaska
  | url =http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/marine/index_choice.cfm?id=114&photoid=-1827549042
  }}
*{{cite web
  | last =CSTM
  | title = S.S. Prince George mooring at the Grand Trunk Pacific Coast Steamship Company harbour facilities
  | url =http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/marine/index_choice.cfm?id=114&photoid=-1154130158
  }}
{{Steamboats British Columbia|state=collapsed}}
{{December 1916 shipwrecks}}
{{March 1917 shipwrecks}}
{{May 1918 shipwrecks}}
{{1919 shipwrecks}}
{{1920 shipwrecks}}
{{1927 shipwrecks}}
{{1931 shipwrecks}}
{{1935 shipwrecks}}
{{1951 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prince Rupert, SS}}
[[Category:1909 ships]]
[[Category:History of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Ships built by Swan Hunter]]
[[Category:Steamboats of Alaska]]
[[Category:Water transport in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Hospital ships of Canada]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1916]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1917]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1918]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1919]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1920]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1927]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1931]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1935]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1951]]