ASCANIUS (1) was built in 1880
by Cochrane & Co. at Birkenhead with a tonnage of 107grt
a length of 74ft, a beam of 18ft 1in and a service speed of
9 knots. She was built as a tug for towing tobacco barges at
Singapore. One of her first duties was to tow the Sarah Nicholson
to her base at Deli. She was sold to Ah Hi of Saigon in 1890
and remained in service without a change of name until the first
world war.
ANDES was a sailing barque built
in 1859 by Williamson & Co. at Harrington with a tonnage
of 328grt, a length of 123 ft and a beam of 25ft 7in. She was
acquired by the company in 1880 for use as a tobacco and general
storage hulk at Penang.
FANTEE was built in 1879 by Alex.
Stephen & Sons at Linthouse with a tonnage of 167grt a length
of 120ft 2in, a beam of 18ft and a service speed of 9 knots.
She sailed to her base at Singapore under the command of Captain
Highton. In 1890 she became a water tank for a metal smelter
that had been built on a waterless islet in Singapore harbour.
A derelict dry dock already existed on the islet and the Fantee
was located there without engines or superstructure other then
on the quarterdeck and filled with water from a lighter to supply
the smelter. In 1894 she was sold to W. Kinsey of Singapore
for use as a store hulk and was eventually scrapped in 1899.
MERCURY was built in 1892 by
Bowdler, Chaffer & Co. at Liverpool with a tonnage of 303grt
a length of 138ft 7in, a beam of 21ft 8in and a service speed
of 9 knots. She was built for the Oceanic Steam Ship Company,
not be confused with the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company of
White Star Line fame, and acquired by Holt's in 1881 for use
as a tobacco fleet feeder ship in Singapore. In 1900 she was
sold to Tanjong Pagar Dock Co. of Singapore for use as a stores
ship.
MEMNON (1) was built in 1861
by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 1290grt a length
of 253ft 7in, a beam of 32ft 7in and a service speed of 9 knots.
She was built as Memnon for Lamport & Holt's Liverpool,
Brazil & River Plate Steam Navigation Co. and purchased
by the Ocean Steam Ship Company in 1883 for use as a Far East
feeder vessel. In 1893 she was transferred to Alfred Holt &
Company's East India Ocean Steam Ship Company and hulked at
Singapore in 1899.
HEBE was built in 1885 by Scott
& Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 545grt a length of 190ft,
a beam of 30ft 8in and a service speed of 9 knots. She was built
for the tobacco fleet and eventually sold to R. C. Willis &
Partners of Singapore in 1910 without a change of name. In 1912
she was acquired by the Straits Steam Ship Company of Singapore,
a company which was substantially owned by Holt's, a scrapped
in 1922.
CALYPSO was built in 1889 by
Scott & Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 544grt a length
of 190ft, a beam of 30ft 8in and a service speed of 9 knots.
Sister of the Hebe she was built for the tobacco fleet and acquired
by the Straits Steam Ship Company of Singapore in 1912 where
she remained until 1929 when she was broken up locally.
SAPPHO was built in 1887 by Scott
& Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 532grt a length of 190ft,
a beam of 30ft 8in and a service speed of 9 knots. She was built
for the tobacco fleet and was sold to the Straits Steamship
Company on its formation in 1890 becoming one of the original
five ships comprising the company's fleet. In 1899 she ran aground
on Palau Oudon close to the lighthouse and was refloated with
the help of a tug. The Mate was found to be negligent and had
his certificate suspended. She was sold to the Menam Pilot's
Association of Bangkok in 1923 for use as a floating pilot station
anchored on the bar of the River Menam and was broken up in
1928.
TELAMON
(1) was built in 1885 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2292grt a length of 320ft, a beam of 36ft 4in and
a service speed of 10 knots. Delivered in 1885 she was transferred
to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1897 and broken up in 1902 at Genoa.
(Photo: G J de Boer Collection)
TITAN
(1) was built in 1885 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2283grt a length of 320ft, a beam of 36ft 2in and
a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Telemon she was delivered
in 1885, transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1897 and broken
up in 1902 at Genoa.
(Photo: G J de Boer Collection)
HECUBA (1) was built in 1882
by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 918grt a length
of 233ft 5in, a beam of 32ft 7in and a service speed of 10 knots.
She was built for the Bangkok to Singapore route at a cost of
£22,000, initially for a joint venture in which the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. held 46/64, but was then transferred to the East
India Steam Ship Co. She was sold as part of the East India
fleet to Norddeutscher Lloyd of Bremen in 1899 and renamed Kudat.
In 1905 she was sold to Hokuriku Kise Kaisya of Osaka and renamed
Matsushima Maru. By 1916 she was no longer in use.
MEDUSA was built in 1885 by W.
H. Potter & Sons at Liverpool with a tonnage of 967grt a
length of 237ft 5in, a beam of 34ft 2in and a service speed
of 9 knots. She was built in Queen's Dock, Baffin St, Liverpool
at a cost of £15,000 to replace the Calypso on the tobacco
trade. Initially owned by a joint venture in which Ocean Steam
Ship Company held 33/64 she was transferred to the East India
Steam Ship Company in the same year. Sold to A. D. Meyer's Norddeutscher
Lloyd of Bremen in 1899, she was renamed Kelantan for use on
similar services into Singapore. In 1903 she was sold to Y.
Kaji of Kobe, renamed Jingi Maru No. 3 and was scrapped in 1921.
HECATE was built in 1885 by W.
H. Potter & Sons at Liverpool with a tonnage of 968grt a
length of 237ft 5in, a beam of 34ft 2in and a service speed
of 9 knots. Sister of the Medusa she was similarly built for
the Bangkok to Singapore tobacco and coastal service at a cost
of £15,750. Initially owned by the same partnership she
was later transferred to the East India Steam Ship Company.
In 1899 she was purchased by Norddeutscher Lloyd along with
her sisters and renamed Patani. She was sold to Japanese owners
in 1904 and was renamed Ikuta Maru No.2. In 1908 she was acquired
by Hokuyo Kisen K. K. of Nana-O, renamed Hokuyo Maru ,and was
broken up in 1924.
HYDRA was built in 1889 by W.
H. Potter & Sons at Liverpool with a tonnage of 990grt a
length of 237ft 4in, a beam of 34ft 2in and a service speed
of 9 knots. Sister of the Medusa she was built for the Swatow
- Bangkok - Singapore service at a cost of £18,123. Initially
owned by the same partnership she was later transferred to the
East India Steam Ship Company. In 1899 she was purchased by
Norddeutscher Lloyd along with her sisters and renamed Kedah.
She was acquired by Y. Fujiyama of Nishinomiya in 1905, renamed
Sekkai Maru and broken up in 1918.
WILL O' THE WISP was built in
1883 by Norfolk & Co. at Hull with a tonnage of 283grt a
length of 120ft 5in, a beam of 22ft 2in and a service speed
of 8 knots. She was built in 1883 for W. S. Davison of Yokohama
with Hull as her port of registry and in 1886 was sold to Walter
Mansfield & Co. of Singapore but with ownership registered
to one of the company's directors, A. P. Adams. Sold to Alfred
& Holt & Co. in 1887 she was transferred to the Straits
Steam Ship Co. on its formation in 1890. In 1896 she was sold
to Tan Poh Tong of Singapore and thereafter had a succession
of owners namely, Lim Kee Joo of Singapore in 1899, Ng Nguan
Teng of Singapore in 1900, Sug Toon Ghee of Singapore in 1906,
K. A. Somasuntheran Chitty of Singapore in 1908, Wee Brothers
Steam Ship Co. of Singapore in 1909, Wong Poh Keung and H. A.
Lamont both of Hong Kong in 1917, Wee Seng Bee Steam Ship Co.
and A. L. Alves in 1918, Wee Teow Beng of Singapore in 1923,
and Teo Hu Lai in 1924. Her final acquisition was by Heap Eng
Moh Steam Ship Co. in 1935 who broke her up in Singapore after
52 years service without a change of name.
FLINTSHIRE was built in 1872
by London & Glasgow Co. at Glasgow with a tonnage of 1565grt
a length of 270ft 8in, a beam of 32ft 10in and a service speed
of 9 knots. She was built for Jenkin's Shire Line of Cardiff
with whom she remained until 1888 when she was sold to Lim Tiang
Hee of Singapore without a change of name. She was acquired
by the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1889 for their services out of
Singapore and was transferred to the East India Steam Ship Co.
in 1891 for use as a local feeder service. In 1892 she was transferred
to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' but reverted to the East India Steam Ship
Co. in 1895. She was sold to Okazaki Tokichi of Kobe in 1896
and renamed Yayeyama Maru. On 12th December 1898 she was lost
after being in a collision at Nagasaki.
SALADIN
(2) was built in 1890 by Thomas B Royden & Co. at Liverpool
with a tonnage of 1874grt a length of 254ft 7in, a beam of 38ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. Owned by Alfred Holt &
Co. she was operated under an agreement with the West Australia
Steam Navigation Co. for the Singapore - Batavia - Fremantle
service and was registered at Fremantle. In 1905 she was sold
to Kawasaki Yoshitaro of Kobe, renamed Kotohira Maru No.3 and
then later sold to Kentaro Kawachi of Kobe. She was eventually
scrapped in Japan during 1926. (Photo: Peter Newall Collection)
MYRMIDON
(1) was built in 1890 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2868grt a length of 336ft 1in, a beam of 38ft 6in
and a service speed of 10 knots. She was the first of a class
of four built to carry 200 'tween deck passengers and 500 deck
pilgrims at a cost of £52,320. Due to lack of bulwarks
they were wet ships and had higher than normal coamings to keep
the accommodation dry. In the tropics passengers were kept cool
by the use of hand operated punkahs. She was transferred to
N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1899 and sold to Tatsuma Shokwi K.K. of
Naruo in 1904 who renamed her Tatsu Maru. In 1911 she was acquired
by Tatsuma Kisen K. K. of Nishinomaya and renamed Tencho Maru.
She became the Hai Tien under the Chinese flag in 1920 and the
Ho Ping under the ownership of Tsieging Chin of Chefoo in 1927.
She was finally broken up at Hong Kong in 1929. (Photo: G.J.
de Boer Collection)
TEUCER
(2) was built in 1890 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2846grt a length of 336ft 1in, a beam of 38ft 6in
and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Myrmidon she
was completed at a cost of £48,500. Transferred to N.
S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1890 she returned to Ocean Steam Ship Co.
in 1903. In 1906 she was sold to K. Matsugata of Kobe and renamed
Chusa Maru, the Japanese equivalent of Teucer. On 9th August
1907 she was wrecked near Toto on the coast of Japan. (Photo:
G.J. de Boer Collection)
PRIAM
(2) was built in 1890 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2868grt a length of 336ft 1in, a beam of 38ft 6in
and a service speed of 10 knots. Built at a cost of £48,668
she was transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1899 where she stayed
until 1903 when she was sold to K. Kishimoto of Hamadera and
renamed Shingu Maru. In 1914 she was owned by Nippon Kosen Gyogyo
K. K. of Foetsyo and in 1938 she became Singu Maru under the
revised system of spelling, within the ownership of Nippon Suisan
K. K. She was sold to Sansin Kisen K. K. of Hutyo in 1942 and
on 3rd May 1944 was bombed, set on fire and sunk by US aircraft
south west of Formosa. (Photo: Ian J. Farquhar Collection)
TELAMON
(1) was built in 1885 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2292grt a length of 320ft, a beam of 36ft 4in and
a service speed of 10 knots. Delivered in 1885 she was transferred
to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1897 and broken up in 1902 at Genoa.
TITAN
(1) was built in 1885 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2283grt a length of 320ft, a beam of 36ft 2in and
a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Telemon she was delivered
in 1885, transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1897 and broken
up in 1902 at Genoa. 
SALADIN
(2) was built in 1890 by Thomas B Royden & Co. at Liverpool
with a tonnage of 1874grt a length of 254ft 7in, a beam of 38ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. Owned by Alfred Holt &
Co. she was operated under an agreement with the West Australia
Steam Navigation Co. for the Singapore - Batavia - Fremantle
service and was registered at Fremantle. In 1905 she was sold
to Kawasaki Yoshitaro of Kobe, renamed Kotohira Maru No.3 and
then later sold to Kentaro Kawachi of Kobe. She was eventually
scrapped in Japan during 1926. (Photo: Peter Newall Collection)
MYRMIDON
(1) was built in 1890 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2868grt a length of 336ft 1in, a beam of 38ft 6in
and a service speed of 10 knots. She was the first of a class
of four built to carry 200 'tween deck passengers and 500 deck
pilgrims at a cost of £52,320. Due to lack of bulwarks
they were wet ships and had higher than normal coamings to keep
the accommodation dry. In the tropics passengers were kept cool
by the use of hand operated punkahs. She was transferred to
N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1899 and sold to Tatsuma Shokwi K.K. of
Naruo in 1904 who renamed her Tatsu Maru. In 1911 she was acquired
by Tatsuma Kisen K. K. of Nishinomaya and renamed Tencho Maru.
She became the Hai Tien under the Chinese flag in 1920 and the
Ho Ping under the ownership of Tsieging Chin of Chefoo in 1927.
She was finally broken up at Hong Kong in 1929. (Photo: G.J.
de Boer Collection) 
TEUCER
(2) was built in 1890 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2846grt a length of 336ft 1in, a beam of 38ft 6in
and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Myrmidon she
was completed at a cost of £48,500. Transferred to N.
S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1890 she returned to Ocean Steam Ship Co.
in 1903. In 1906 she was sold to K. Matsugata of Kobe and renamed
Chusa Maru, the Japanese equivalent of Teucer. On 9th August
1907 she was wrecked near Toto on the coast of Japan. (Photo:
G.J. de Boer Collection) 
PRIAM
(2) was built in 1890 by Scott & Co. at Greenock with a
tonnage of 2868grt a length of 336ft 1in, a beam of 38ft 6in
and a service speed of 10 knots. Built at a cost of £48,668
she was transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1899 where she stayed
until 1903 when she was sold to K. Kishimoto of Hamadera and
renamed Shingu Maru. In 1914 she was owned by Nippon Kosen Gyogyo
K. K. of Foetsyo and in 1938 she became Singu Maru under the
revised system of spelling, within the ownership of Nippon Suisan
K. K. She was sold to Sansin Kisen K. K. of Hutyo in 1942 and
on 3rd May 1944 was bombed, set on fire and sunk by US aircraft
south west of Formosa. (Photo: Ian J. Farquhar Collection) 
