SOUSA

1924 Built as whale catcher SOUSA by Smith's Dock Co. Ltd., Middlesbrough, UK (673) for The South Georgia Co. Ltd (Chr. Salvesen & Co), Leith. Launched on 22/04-1924. Delivered in October as the second of three sisters built at the same time in early 1924. The sisters were SEMLA, SOUSA and SAIMA. Six whale catchers were built for Salvesen at Smith's Dock this year. SOUSA was the fifth. This was the second series of 1924 since they delivered SUBRA to Salvesen in October 1916.
Started catching for Fl/k SEVILLA the season of 1924/25 and until end of 1927/28 season.
1929 During summer sold together with the factory ship SEVILLA and three other catchers to I/S Sevilla (Gustav B. Bull), Sandefjord for £105.000. Gustav B. Bull left the management to Mr. Anders Jahre and he himself went to the whaling ground as whaling manager for Mr. Lars Christensen. The I/S Sevilla was sold further to Waalman & Bugge, Tønsberg during the month of December. Registered with Sandefjord as homeport.
Her call sign was changed to KQSC.
1930 In January company Waalman & Bugge of Tønsberg established the A/S Sevilla. Again the fleet was sold. This time to the newly established company Hvalfangerselskapet Polhavet (Granøe & Fuhr A/S), Tønsberg.
This company established a new company, the Polar Whaling Co. Ltd. (A/S Polhavet) of London in May. The whole fleet hired out to this company. The reason that the A/S Sevilla found the factory SEVILLA too old to compete with the new and more modern factories.
1933 The company Polar Whaling Co. Ld taken over by Chr. Salvesen, Leith in October. The vessel registered under British flag with Port Stanley, Falkland Islands as home port. Name unchanged. No documentation of whaling history, but probably laid up in the Tønsberg area.
1940 Captured by German Navy whilst laid up in Tønsberg in April together with POLAR 1 (ex NORRØNA), POLAR 3 (ex. SOUTHERN PRINCESS) and the Salvesen vessel SAIMA (alle british registered.). Taken to the navy yard in Horten and converted to patrol vessel. Renamed and put under German command on 25/07-1940 as HERMANN (NT-11)(NT = Norwegen Trondheim). Transferred to the German base at Hysnes, Trondheim, Norway.
1941 Register number changed to ND-11 (Trondheim became Drontheim) as the NT was transferred to the district of Tromsø.
1943 Wrecked (probably grounding) and sunk on 02/12-1943. Later refloated and temporary repaired.
1944 Registered as vorpostenboot V-6405, but likely in permanent lay up at the base of Hysnes until the end of the war.
1945 Returned to the Salvesen company in May. Renamed SOUSA. Probably taken to Kaldnes mek. Verksted for renovation.
1946 Sold to Valdemar Skogland A/S, Haugesund, Norway in April. Further sold to Ole Abrahamsen, Vedavågen for total conversion to fishing vessel.
1949 Completed as a combined fishing vessel and freighter. Renamed SAAØY (R-74-A) and new call sign as LLZS. Steam machinery replaced by an oil engine, 2-stroke/single acting, 4-cylinder, cyl.dim.: 320 x 320 mm, 250 BHP. Made by M. Haldorsen & Sønner, Rubbestadneset. New tonnage: 229 grt. Service speed as 8,0 knots. Used as fishing vessel on winter herring and fishing round Iceland. Used as freighter outside fishing seasons.
1965 After merging the municipal borders on Karmøy her fishing registry number was changed to R-715-K.
1968 Replaced the engine with a new engine. A type Alpha M5 engine, 5-cylinder, 350 BHP by Alpha-Diesel A/S, Frederikshavn, Denmark installed.
1972 Lengthened 27 feet, tonnages now 298 grt, 172 nrt. New length: 137 ft.
1979 Sold in April to A/S Saaøy (Audun Herland), Farsund, Norway. Name unchanged.
1983 Transferred to P/R Saaøy (Audun Herland), Farsund, Norway. Name unchanged.
1984 Sold to Ardiano Antonio Imn, Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde. Renamed BUBISTA. Unknown use.
Still in service in 2007