# MV Bessel

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***Bessel*** was a [cargo ship](/source/Cargo_ship) that was built in 1925 as ***Sorrento*** by [AG Weser](/source/AG_Weser), [Bremen](/source/Bremen) for [German](/source/Germany) owners. She was sold in 1926 and renamed *Bessel*. She was seized by the Allies in [Vigo](/source/Vigo), [Spain](/source/Spain), in May 1945, passed to the [Ministry of War Transport](/source/Ministry_of_War_Transport) (MoWT) and renamed ***Empire Coniston***. In 1946, she was lent to the Danish Government and was allocated to them in 1947. She was sold into [Danish](/source/Denmark) merchant service and renamed ***Birgitte Skou***. In 1959, she was sold to [Italy](/source/Italy) and renamed ***N Martini***. She was renamed ***Nicolo Martini*** in 1961, serving until 1972 when she ran aground at [Portoscuso](/source/Portoscuso), [Sardinia](/source/Sardinia). Although refloated she was declared a total loss and was scrapped in 1973.

## Description

The ship was built in 1925 as yard number 395 by [AG Weser](/source/AG_Weser), [Bremen](/source/Bremen).[1][2]

The ship was 283 feet 7 inches (86.44 m) long, with a beam of 41 feet 7 inches (12.67 m). She had a depth of 16 feet 5 inches (5.00 m). The ship had a GRT of 1,878 and a NRT of 915.[3]

The ship was propelled by two 4-stroke Single Cycle Single Acting [diesel engines](/source/Diesel_engine), which had 6 cylinders of 22+1⁄16 inches (56.0 cm) diameter by 39+3⁄8 inches (100 cm) stroke. The engines were built by AG Weser.[3]

## History

*Sorrento* was built for Robert M Sloman Jr, [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg).[2] In October 1926, she was sold to Otwi Werke [GmbH](/source/GmbH), [Bremen](/source/Bremen) and renamed *Bessel*. In December 1928,[2] she was sold to Dampschiffs Gesellschaft Neptun, Bremen.[1] The [Code Letters](/source/Code_Letters) RFLM were allocated.[3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DOIE.[4]

In 1940, *Bessel* was requisitioned by the [Kriegsmarine](/source/Kriegsmarine).[5] She put into [Vigo](/source/Vigo), [Spain](/source/Spain), during 1940 where she remained for the duration of the war.[1] *Bessel* was used to refuel [U-boats](/source/U-boat) eight times during the war. Although supposedly a merchant ship, she was camouflaged.[6] In May 1945, she was surrendered to the United Kingdom, and sailed from Vigo to the UK in August 1945.[1]

Ownership passed to the MoWT and she was placed under the management of Stone & Rolfe Ltd. Her port of registry was changed to [London](/source/London) and the Code letters GTFY and United Kingdom [Official Number](/source/Official_Number) 180717 were allocated.[7] In 1946, *Empire Coniston* was lent to the Danish Government. She was passed to them in 1947 and sold to Ove Skou Rederiaktieselskab in 1947, when she was renamed *Birgitte Skou*.[1] Her port of registry was changed to [København](/source/K%C3%B8benhavn) and the Code Letters OXZI were allocated. On 6 November 1951, a fire on board the ship while docked at [Valencia](/source/Valencia,_Spain), Spain affected the crew accommodation area. *Birgitte Skou* was repaired and returned to service. On 21 January 1952, there was an industrial dispute while the ship was moored at [Helsingør](/source/Helsing%C3%B8r), Denmark. In April 1958, she was laid up in Kobenhavn. In September 1959, *Birgitte Skou* was sold to Armamento Agenzia Marittima Framar, [Genoa](/source/Genoa), [Italy](/source/Italy).[2] She was operated under the management of M Martini, Italy and was renamed *N Martini*. She was renamed *Nicolo Martini* in 1961.[1] With the introduction of [IMO Numbers](/source/IMO_Number) in the 1960s, *Nicolo Martini* was allocated the IMO Number 5251496.[2]

On 24 April 1972, *Nicolo Martini* struck a submerged object at [Portoscuso](/source/Portoscuso), [Sardinia](/source/Sardinia) while on a voyage from [Caloforte](/source/Caloforte) to Genoa. She developed a leak and was beached to prevent her sinking.[2] Although refloated, she was declared a total loss. In December 1972, she was sold for scrap. *Nicolo Martini* was scrapped in October 1973 at [Vado Ligure](/source/Vado_Ligure), Italy.[1]

## References

1. Mitchell, W.H. & Sawyer, L.A. (1995). *The Empire Ships*. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.

1. ["Birgitte Skou"](http://leokragh.dk/Skou/BirgitteSkou1925/birgitte_skou_1925.htm) (in Danish, en). Leo Kragh. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110719125634/http://leokragh.dk/Skou/BirgitteSkou1925/birgitte_skou_1925.htm) 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

1. ["LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0148.pdf). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

1. ["LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0111.pdf). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

1. ["Neptun Line / Dampfschifffahrts Gesellschaft Neptun"](http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/neptun.htm). The Ships List. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100828044216/http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/neptun.htm) 28 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

1. Salgado, Juan Carlos. ["Los U-Boote en Galicia en la Segunda Guerra Mundial"](http://www.u-historia.com/uhistoria/historia/articulos/galicia/galicia.htm) (in Spanish). Uhistoria. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

1. ["LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/45/45a1200.pdf). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 June 2010.

## External links

- [Photo of *Bessel* during the Second World War](http://www.u-historia.com/uhistoria/historia/articulos/galicia/img/galicia-05.jpg)
- [Photo of *Birgitte Skou*](http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20Ba/slides/Birgitte%20Skou-01.html)[dead link]

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MV Bessel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Bessel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Bessel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.