Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships

Ship:	IMPERIAL PRINCE
Arrived:	10 September 1930
Departed:	9 June 1935
Career:	Built 1922 as the FELICIANA in May 1922. Transferred to Gulf Line Ltd as the LONDON MARINER and in 1928 to Prince as IMPERIAL PRINCE. 1930 laid up in River Blackwater off Tollesbury where she remained for 4 years. May 1935 sold to Thos. & Jas. Harrison renamed CRAFTSMAN. 9th April 1941 captured by the German auxiliary cruiser KORMORAN and sunk by gunfire 300 miles east of St. Pauls Rocks in the South Atlantic with loss of 5 lives. 41 crew members were taken prisoner. [ from www.red-duster.co.uk ] Arrival date September 1930 from document DF 106/1/10/12 T&MNOFC Record of Ships Moored on Fishery 1930-33 at Essex Record Office. 8 June 1935 Unmoor owner/agent T. & J. Harrison Arrived 10 Sep 1930 departed 9 Jun 1935 [George Swieszkowski - Lloyds List] Liverpool Journal of Commerce 10 Sep 1930 sailed Gravesend for Tollesbury [11 Sep 1930] 13 Jun 1935 IMPERIAL PRINCE is at Birkenhead West Float (sailed Tollesbury 9 Jun 1935) 13 Jun 1935 CRAFTSMAN (formerly IMPERIAL PRINCE) undergoing survey repairs at Cammell Laird. She had previously been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER. "Haven of Rest" by Douglas Gurton lists the vessel as LONDON MARINER and IMPERIAL PRINCE but has no further info. See DJG_SHP
Tonnage:	7,896 gross
Built:	1922
Type:	Cargo ship
Official No:	146553
ID	1146553

IMPERIAL PRINCE laid up in River Blackwater. She was in the river from 1930 to 7 June 1935, and had also been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER Date: c1931.

Above: IMPERIAL PRINCE laid up in River Blackwater. She was in the river from 1930 to 7 June 1935, and had also been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER Date: c1931.
Source: John Leather Collection

IMPERIAL PRINCE laid up in the River Blackwater. Tollesbury Pier in the background. She had previously been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER

Above: IMPERIAL PRINCE laid up in the River Blackwater. Tollesbury Pier in the background. She had previously been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER
Source: Mersea Museum

IMPERIAL PRINCE, thought to be whilst laid up in the River Blackwater in the early 1930s. Official No. 146553. She had previously been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER. Date: c1932.

Above: IMPERIAL PRINCE, thought to be whilst laid up in the River Blackwater in the early 1930s. Official No. 146553. She had previously been laid up in the River in 1926 as LONDON MARINER. Date: c1932.
Source: Mersea Museum / Ian Clarke Collection