Hupeh II

Sister of the ship Hoihow II

Hupeh II
ID /IMO No. 5175525.
Type	Cargo/passenger.
Gross Registered Tonnage	2,801 grt. 1,628 nett.
Builder	Taikoo D.& E.Co. Yard No. 263.
Delivery date	1933
Hull	Steel, clincher construction.
Decks	2.
Length	308 ft. F'c'sle 39 ft. Bridge 83 ft. Poop 37 ft.
Width	44 ft.
Depth	23 ft.
Passengers	1st.class 4, 2nd.class 16, 3rd.class 46.
Engine Builder	Taikoo D.& E.Co.
Engine Type	Steam, triple expansion.
Engine cylinders	3:- 20 ins.dia. 30 ins.dia. 53 ins.dia.
Engine stroke	3.25 ft.
Engine Power	293 nhp. 1,350 ihp.
Propulsion mode	Single screw.
Speed	12.5 kts.
Rigged	Schooner.
Displacement	4,760 tons.
Deadweight	2,980 tons.
Bale capacity	173,120 cu.ft.
Block coefficient (Cb)	0.726
Power	Steam.
Condenser cooling surface	1,350 sq.ft.
Steam expansion ratio	10.5
ratio_of_air_pump_capacity_to_lp_cylinder_volume	15.6
Boiler	2, cylindrical (scotch) with N.E.M. superheaters.
Boiler pressure	220 psi.
Boiler dimensions (total)	14.5 ft dia. 11.25 ft long.
Heating Surface (total)	4,450 sq.ft.
Grate Area (total)	116 sq.ft.
Fuel	Oil.
Furnace	3 per boiler.
Furnace dimensions	3'5 13/16" dia.
Draught	Forced.
Generator	2, Bellis & Morcom and a Drysdale Thermal engine both steam recip.
Generator power	15 Kw.
Generator voltage	110 d.c.
Propeller	Right hand, 14.0 ft.dia. 13.75 ft.pitch.
Propeller blades	4
Propeller formation	Solid.
Propeller material	Bronze.
Built classification society	B.O.T.
Original owner	China Navigation Co.
Notes
2nd. generator situated in E.R. tweendeck. Emergency generator:- Gardner 4 cyl. petrol, situated at poop.

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".

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Images

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•