African Reefer 1935

AFRICAN REEFER 1935

Lauritzen-Denmark

1,862 tons

318' x 42'

14 knots Motorship Single Screw

Built at Eltinore,launched as PACIFIC REEFER but delivered as YRSA.

Fruitcarrier 127,000 cu.ft. refrigerated space.

Four passengers.

In 1936 renamed AFRICAN REEFER.

One of new series of refrigerated ships, she was the first Lauritzen vessel to have "REEFER"[refrigerated ship] as part of her name.

She and her sisters sailed world-wide, carrying apples,pears and oranges from South America to Northern Europe,bananas from West Africa, apples and pears from the West Coast of North America.

In 1941 became ROAMER[U.S.MARITIME COMMISSION] as military supply ship.

In 1946 returned to Lauritzen as AFRICAN REEFER

In 1963 scrapped.

Sister[s]:

CANADIAN REEFER 1936-1940

BRAZILIAN REEFER 1936-1971[1941 RIO MENDOZA-Argentina]

CHILEAN REEFER 1936-1941

M/S African Reefer af København, 1862 B. R. T. Bygget 1935 af stål. På rejse fra Valparaiso til Rio de Janeiro med frugt og fisk. Grundstødt d. 4/5 48 i Magellanstrædet. Søforklaring i Rio de Janeiro d. 24/5 og 31/5 48. Kl. 2228, da A.R., der havde lods om bord, under en frisk VNV.-lig brise med skyet vejr passerede Inocentes Island, sås Porpoise fyr lidt om bb. Kl. 2317 havdes Guia fyr fri af Porpoise fyr. Der styredes derpå en kurs, således at disse fyr stadig var adskilte. Noget senere forsvandt af sigte begge fyrene i en sne- og regnbyge, og kl. 2334, da der styredes 122°, blev motoren, der gik fuld kraft frem, beordret langsomt frem for at afvente en klaring i vejret. Umiddelbart efter sås en mørk skygge forude, og motoren blev straks beordret fuld kraft bak, samtidig med at roret blev lagt hårdt bb., men umiddelbart efter — kl. 2335 — tog A.R. grunden på Porpoise Isl. og blev stående. D. 13/5 kl. 1550 kom skibet flot ved hjælp af en bjergningsdamper, efter at en del af ladningen var blevet kastet over bord.

Beskøjter er hårde kiks, der er langtidsholdbare.

Chatol er et skuffemøbel.

Frivagt betyder fritid.

Fyrbøder er en person, der er ansat i maskinen til at passe fyret og skovle kul på fyret under kedlerne. En fyrbøder er ikke faguddannet, ofte har han startet sin karriere som kullemper.

Hovmester er den øverste af kokkene om bord.

Lukaf er en kahyt ude i forenden af skibet under dæk.

Menig er et besætningsmedlem, der ikke er officerer.

Mønstre er, når man påbegynder ansættelsesforhold om bord.

Proviant er et udtryk for mad.

Ration er en afmålt portion mad eller drikkelse, eller vand til brug for vask.

M/S AFRICAN REEFER af Esbjerg, 1862 B. R. T. Bygget 1935 af stål. På rejse fra Porto Alegre til Montevideo. Grundstødt d. 21/10 56 ved Sydamerikas Ø.-kyst. Søforklaring i Montevideo d. 29/10 56. Kl. 0530 lettede A. R., der havde lods om bord, fra en ankerplads ved Feitoria bank under en stiv SØ.-lig kuling med regn og moderat sø, og fortsatte efter lodsens anvisninger gennem sejlløbet ved Feitoria øen, hvis anduvningsbøje blev passeret kl. 0533. Kl. 0602 blev maskinen beordret halv kraft frem under passagen af en muddermaskine. Da skibet herunder mistede styringen, blev maskinen kl. 0607 beordret fuld kraft frem, uden at det dog lykkedes at få rettet skibet op. Kl. 0608 blev maskinen beordret stoppet, samtidig med at man lod bb.s anker gå, men kl. 0610 tog A.R. grunden på løbets stb. side. D. 23/10 kl. 1840 kom skibet flot ved fremmed hjælp efter lægtring af en del af bunkerolien. Anm. Ministeriet må antage, at grundstødningen skyldes vejrforholdene.

U.S, Maritime Commission Appeal to Danish Seamen to Remain Aboard their Requisitioned Vessels

PR 995

U.S Maritime Commission Washington, DC

IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 1941

An appeal to Danish officers and seamen "to serve the cause of democracy" by continuing to man their vessels taken over by the United States, was made today by the Maritime Commission in a letter sent to captains of the 39 Danish ships acquired under the Ship Requisition Act, enclosing a statement of the Commission's policy with respect to these seamen.

In urging the Danes to continue working aboard their vessels now assigned by the Commission to routes essential to national defense and aiding the democracies, the Commission made provision for wage scales, war bonuses, overtime, insurance for injuries and loss of life, payment of allotments in accordance with the wishes of the seamen, and accrued wages.

The statement contained an announcement of policy which the Danes could expect to be followed by this Government in respect to consular protection in foreign ports and eligibility for United States citizenship. Provisions are made also in respect to the seamen who were serving on board Danish vessels when taken ever and who do not wish to continue to serve on such vessels.

The letter, signed by Chairman E. S. Land, pointed out that the Danish vessels will have all the former marks of identification, such as name, nationality and home port, removed. New names have been assigned to the ships.

The Danish seamen, who have been idle on their ships in United States ports since their country was invaded by the Nazis in April 1940, have been subject to United States immigration regulations and restrictions, and reports indicate they have been put under pressure by the Nazi-controlled Government of Denmark. They have, in effect, been men without a country.

In view of this, the letter said:

"Appreciating fully the difficulties of your position, the Maritime Commission has prepared the attached statement of policy and conditions under which you, and your officers and seamen will be employed. The statement also sets forth what privileges this Government can and will extend to all Danish officers and seamen who continue their services aboard these vessels.

"The Commission desires to retain the services of all qualified Danish officers and seamen who wish to remain with their vessels or serve on other vessels under the control of the Commission, and we shall consider such service as a friendly act toward the Government of the United States."

The Government's offer included special wage scales, subsistence allowance, wages and transportation back to New York in the event of the loss of vessel, and compensation for war damage to personal effects.

Seamen refusing to sign articles will leave their ships under the provision for displaced seamen and will be paid wages at the basic Danish wage scale, subsistence and lodging for a period of 30 days.

However, none of these benefits will be granted to any Danish seamen who is ordered detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in deportation proceedings, or who has engaged in subversive activities while on board or employed on a vessel lying idle in United States waters or who was employed on any vessel which has been damaged or sabotaged by members of the crew.

Those wishing to depart from the United States and presenting satisfactory evidence of their ability to do so, will be furnished with transportation to the country to which they intend to proceed at the Government's expense, provided their departure occurs within 60 days from the date they leave ship.

Foreign Ships Taken Over by U.S Home

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The second ship to be named Roamer by the Navy, AF-19 was built in 1935 as MV Roamer by the Maskinbygger Machine & Iron Works, Elsinore, Denmark; was taken over by the United States after the fall of Denmark; operated by the War Shipping Administration in the Caribbean and South Pacific; acquired by the Navy from the WSA under bareboat charter 22 July 1942; and commissioned at Auckland, New Zealand, 30 August 1942, Comdr. Maximillian B. De Leshe in command.

The storeship arrived at New Caledonia on 15 September, returned to Auckland, New Zealand, 8 October, and reached Espiritu Santo 27 December. She continued runs from Auckland to the New Hebrides, and to Guadalcanal, until April 1944. She then stopped at Pago Pago, Tongatapu, Funafuti, Wallis, Tutuila, and Efate.

Returning to Nouméa on 2 May, she touched at Suva, Funafuti, Tutuila, and Tongatapu before returning to Auckland. She then proceeded north again to Tutuila, Tongatapu, and Guadalcanal. Returning to Auckland on 2 November, she continued to make runs north from New Zealand for the rest of the war. On 5 September 1945, she departed Auckland for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco.

Returning to the South Pacific in February 1946, Roamer touched at Tutuila, Nouméa, Guadalcanal, and Guam, then proceeded on to Tokyo arriving 16 April. Departing Japan 6 days later, Roamer arrived at San Francisco, California, on 7 May 1946, decommissioned and was redelivered to WSA on 14 June 1946 and was struck from the Navy List on 3 July 1946. Her final fate is unknown.