Hupeh II

Sister of the ship Hoihow II

History
Dec 1961. Sold to Robin & Co., Hong Kong.

1962. Sold to Sin Hong Co., Hong Kong. Renamed "Josefina"

1964, Sold to the Steering Line Co. S.A., Panama. Renamed "Ambon Steer"

1965 Sold to Mokson Shipping Co, Ltd. S.A., Panama. Renamed "Cason".

Early 1969. Reported broken up in Cambodia.

Service
Built for the China coast/South East Asia trade.

Events / Stories
'''October 25th. 1951. The "Hupeh II" under the command of Captain Richard Edgar Selwyn-Jones''', during a voyage from Tientsin to Hong Kong, was overhauled by a fast, engine powered junk off the Chusan Islands, Yangtse river estuary. The vessel being boarded by some thirty heavily armed pirates, who seized control of the bridge and ship. The pirate leader apologised to the Captain, for any inconvenience he was causing, saying that he had a special mission to carry out. He promised that if there was no resistance, there would be no violence or looting. The vessel then set a course for Bias Bay, a known pirate stronghold. The "Hupeh II" in the meantime had managed to send a radio distress signal to Naval Command in Hong Kong, who in turn relayed the message to the New Zealand frigate HMNZS "Rotoiti" F625 ( ex HMS "Loch Katrine" ) which was en route from Kure to Hong Kong. During the night the HMNZS "Rotoiti" overtook the "Hupeh" and fired several warning shots across the bow of the "Hupeh II". When the frigate ranged alongside the "Hupeh II", the pirate leader warned Captain Selwyn-Jones, that all persons on board the "Hupeh II" were then hostages. Negotiations took place whereby the ship would be released with all persons unharmed in return for a guaranteed safe conduct ashore for all the pirates. This took place without any problems. On arrival in Hong Kong Captain R.E.Selwyn-Jones was reported as saying that the pirates "were the politest men he had ever encountered".