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SS Marella

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SS Marella
SS Marella.jpg
22 Apr 1940 SS Marella as part of Convoy MS3 - AWM photo 303589
SS Marella 2.jpg
History
Name SS Marella
Owner Burns Philip & Co
Builder Reiherstiegwerft, Hamburg
Launched 6 Jun 1914
Completed November 1916
In service 1919
Out of service 1954
Fate broken up
General characteristics
Type passenger
Tonnage 7,475 tons
Length 426 feet (129.8 m)
Beam 55 ft 8 in (17 m)
Depth 35 ft 2 in
Propulsion Twin screw
Speed 14 knots (26 kmh)



Remarks

Launched as the SS Hilda Woermann for the Woermann Line, she was renamed Wahehe in 1917 and used as an accommodation vessel during WW1. Surrendered to Britain in 1919 as part of war reparations, she made voyages to Australia and New Zealand before being handed to Australia as part compensation for war losses. In 1920 sold to Burns Philip & Co, she was renamed Marella and used on a passenger run between Australia and Singapore.


Used as a troopship during WW 2, she resumed normal duties between Australia and Singapore in 1949, before being sold later that year to a Panamanian registered company and renamed Captain Marco. In 1950 she was renamed Liguria and was being used by the International Refugee Agency to transport 950 passengers when she broke down and required a tow to Fremantle. Renamed Corsica she was laid up at Casablanca until sold to Belgium ship breakers in October 1954.

Soldiers carried

Darwin to Port Moresby 30 Dec 1941 - 3 Jan 1942

Fremantle to Tanjong Priok, Java 30 Jan 1942 - ?? Feb 1942

Fremantle to Sydney, April 1943

Fremantle to Port Melbourne 15 - 26 Dec 1943

Lae PNG to Sydney 4 - 14 February 1946