LOSS OF SHIP “SAMKEY” IS COMMEMORATED IN N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1948, Page 2

LOSS OF SHIP “SAMKEY” IS COMMEMORATED IN N.Z.

P.A. WELLINGTON,, April 16, Flags on Wellington Shipping Coy. offices were half-masted in. connneD’oration. of the crew of the missing Liberty ship “Samkey”, for whom a memorial service was held in London to-day. „ . . n New Zealand Shipping . Company vessels in port—tile Ruahine, Oran, and Paparoa—also carried their ensigns at half-mast. The General manager, of the New Zealand Shipping Company (agents for .Hie vessel) Mr F. W. Spite, said that the company’s officers- and vesseis nt all New Zealand ports can led their flags at half-mast. The Samkey left oLndon.on January 24 for Cuba, with 4,500 tons of solid ballast fuel and water aboard, he stated. On January, 31 she spoke the Horta radio station in. the Azores, giving a weather report and her position. The weather at the time was very bad. Since then nothing has been heard of her. The Samkey, which had a complement of 43, was commanded by Captain C. A. Cremin. The only NevZealander in her crew, as far as' tne company was aware was G. Mccaiiaii a junior ordinary seaman. Ships in the vicinity were warned to keep a constant look-out, and on February 16, the company instituted a wireless search. The British Mmihtrv of Transport, charterers of the vessel, arranged with the Portuguese Government for an air search. Ims was done, but without result. Tin Cornwall, Rakaia, Papanui, and Northumberland on different courses from Panama, were also diverted to carry out a search. On March 24, the vessel was posted as missing, at Lloyds.