MV Merkur
From Our Contribution
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | MV Merkur |
| Owner | Flensburg Steamship Company (1924-1933) |
| Builder | Frederick Krupp AG, Kiel |
| Launched | 1924 |
| Completed | 1924 |
| Fate | Sold to shipbreakers in 1954. |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 5,952 tons |
| Length | 393.1 ft (119.8 m) |
| Beam | 51.9 ft (15.8 m) |
| Depth | Draught 25.3 ft (7.7 m) |
Remarks
Oriinally built as the MV Rio Bravo for Flensburg Steamship Company, she worked the South American passenger / cargo market until her owners went into bankruptcy at which time she was sold to North-German Lloyd (1933-1935) who changed her name to MV Mekur. In 1935 she was sold to Burns Philp & Company.
Merkur was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy on 12 Dec 1942 as a victualling stores and supply vessel and she operated in North Queensland and New Guinea waters with her civilian crew. Mekur carried cargo and personnel to Japan in 1948 efoe being returned to her owners in 1949.