# SS Hopestar

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**SS *Hopestar*** was a [cargo ship](/source/Cargo_ship) that was built in 1936 by [Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd](/source/Swan_Hunter), [Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/Newcastle_upon_Tyne), [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland) for the Wallsend Shipping Co Ltd. She sank off the coast of [Newfoundland](/source/Newfoundland_(island)) in 1948 with the loss of all 40 crew.

## Description

*Hopestar* was 416.8 ft (127.0 m) long, with a beam of 57.4 ft (17.5 m). She had a depth of 27.0 ft (8.2 m) and a draught of 29 ft 6 in (9.0 m). Her [tonnages](/source/Tonnage) were , [1] and . She was powered by two [Parsons](/source/C._A._Parsons_and_Company) [steam turbines](/source/Steam_turbine),[2] double reduction geared and driving a single screw propeller.[1] The turbines were a high-pressure and a low-pressure unit, working in series.[2] Together, they were rated at 2,000 horsepower (1,500 kW).[3] This gave the ship a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[4] The ship's boilers were built by the North Eastern Marine Engineering Co Ltd.[2]

## History

### Early history

*Hopestar* was built as [yard number](/source/Yard_number) 1513 by [Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd](/source/Swan_Hunter), [Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/Newcastle_upon_Tyne), [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland) for the Wallsend Shipping Co Ltd. Launched on 22 January 1936, she was completed in February 1936. *Hopestar* was operated under the management of Arthur Stott & Co Ltd.[5] Her port of registry was Newcastle upon Tyne. The [Code Letters](/source/Code_Letters) GYRL and United Kingdom [Official Number](/source/Official_Number) 161532 were allocated.[1] Following completion of sea trials on 27 February 1936, her maiden voyage was on 29 February. It took her to Spain, [Durban](/source/Durban), [South Africa](/source/Union_of_South_Africa) and the [Netherlands East Indies](/source/Netherlands_East_Indies).[2] In 1938, her managers were changed to Stott, Mann & Fleming Ltd.[5]

### World War II

When the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II) broke out, *Hopestar* was at [Bunbury, Western Australia](/source/Bunbury,_Western_Australia). She sailed that day for London, which was reached on 28 November 1939 via [Fremantle](/source/Fremantle), Durban, [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), [Freetown](/source/Freetown) and [Belfast](/source/Belfast). During 1940, she crossed the [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean) three times in the first six months, mostly sailing independently but sometimes in [convoy](/source/Convoy).[6] On 9 January 1940, *Hopestar* came under attack in the [North Sea](/source/North_Sea) off [Cromer](/source/Cromer) from a [U-boat](/source/U-boat). Three [torpedoes](/source/Torpedo) were fired at her but they were evaded. Her captain was awarded an [OBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) for his seamanship. One of her gunners was awarded a [BEM](/source/British_Empire_Medal) for his part in driving off the submarine.[7] The second half of 1940 saw her sailing to [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires), returning to the United Kingdom in December 1940.[6]

*Hopestar* was then out of service for three months, departing from the [Belfast Lough](/source/Belfast_Lough) on 25 March 1941 for the [River Tyne](/source/River_Tyne), where she arrived on 1 April. She was then out of service until 2 August when she sailed from [Sunderland, County Durham](/source/Sunderland,_County_Durham) on a voyage that would take her to Freetown, Cape Town, Durban, [Aden](/source/Aden), [Suez](/source/Suez), [Port Said](/source/Port_Said), [Alexandria](/source/Alexandria), [Beirut](/source/Beirut) and [Haifa](/source/Haifa), which was reached on 20 December. *Hopestar* returned to the United Kingdom via Port Said, Suez, Aden, [Mauritius](/source/Mauritius), Durban and Freetown. She arrived at [Southend-on-Sea](/source/Southend-on-Sea) on 20 April 1942. She sailed a week later on a voyage that would take her to [New York](/source/New_York_City), [Key West](/source/Key_West), [Trinidad](/source/Trinidad), Cape Town, Durban and [Bombay](/source/Bombay), [India](/source/British_Raj), where she arrived on 28 October 1942.[6]

*Hopestar* departed from Bombay on 4 January 1943. She spent the next few months sailing the coast of Africa, arriving at [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar) on 20 July and sailing three days later for the River Tyne, which was reached on 8 August. She sailed on 28 September to make a round trip to [Montreal](/source/Montreal), returning to Southend-on-Sea on 21 December.[6]

*Hopestar* sailed on 13 January 1944, remaining in British waters and arriving at the Clyde on 13 February. She sailed on 2 May for various ports in the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Sea), always in convoy at this time. She arrived back at Southend-on-Sea on 15 August. *Hopestar* departed on 25 August for a return trip across the Atlantic Ocean to [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston,_Massachusetts), United States. She was in convoy throughout the voyage and returned to [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool) on 31 December.[6]

*Hopestar* sailed on 14 February 1945 for [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff) and [Milford Haven](/source/Milford_Haven), where she arrived on 3 March. She sailed the next day for Africa, in convoy for the last time. She was at [Accra](/source/Accra) when [the war in Europe ended](/source/Victory_in_Europe_Day). *Hopestar* returned to Liverpool on 12 June, sailing two weeks later for [Charleston, South Carolina](/source/Charleston,_South_Carolina), United States, which is where she was when [the war finally ended](/source/Victory_over_Japan_Day). She again sailed Mediterranean waters before arriving at [Middlesbrough](/source/Middlesbrough), [Yorkshire](/source/North_Riding_of_Yorkshire) on 14 November.[6]

### Post-war

In 1947, a third boiler was installed in *Hopestar*. It was later determined that this weakened the structure of the vessel and may have contributed to her loss.[3] In June 1948, *Hopestar* underwent a routine survey, which she passed. On 14 November 1948, *Hopestar* was reported to be 450 nautical miles (830 km) off [St John's, Newfoundland](/source/St_John's,_Newfoundland), Canada. She reported her position by radio at 01:00.[8] It was reported by the ship that she had been damaged by heavy weather,[9] with a [Force 9 gale](/source/Beaufort_Scale) blowing at the time. The last report from *Hopestar* was at 12:00 that day, when she was at [43°00′N 56°08′W](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=43_00_N_56_08_W).[3]

She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania), United States and was in ballast at the time.[9] She was to collect a cargo of grain to return to the United Kingdom with.[8] By 23 November, seven aircraft were involved in the search for *Hopestar*.[9] On 24 November, Captain [W. R. Richards](/source/W._R._Richards) of the [United States Coast Guard](/source/United_States_Coast_Guard) said "we feel that there is little possibility that any survivors are left alive."[10] On 25 November, *Hopestar* was declared to have foundered with the loss of all hands.[11][12] The search was abandoned on 26 November.[13] No wreckage from *Hopestar* was ever found.[3]

The [Board of Trade](/source/Board_of_Trade) held an enquiry into the loss of *Hopestar*. It was held in [London](/source/London) on 4-6, 9-13, 16-17 and 26–28 January 1950. It was concluded that *Hopestar* had probably broke in two and foundered with the loss of all 40 of her crew. The possibility that she struck a [mine](/source/Naval_mine) could not be discounted, but was thought unlikely.[3] [Stan Awbery](/source/Stan_Awbery) asked questions in the [House of Commons](/source/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom) on 20 March 1950 but they were never satisfactorily answered.[14]

## References

1. ["Steamers & Motorships"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0401.pdf). *Lloyd's Register of Shipping*. Vol. II. [Lloyd's Register](/source/Lloyd's_Register). 1937. Retrieved 7 April 2016. – via [Southampton City Council](/source/Southampton_City_Council)

1. "Turbine Units for Cargo Ships: Trials of the Hopestar". No. 47310. 28 February 1936. p. 13.

1. Board of Trade (9 March 1950). ["The Merchant Shipping Act 1894. Report of Court (No. 7964). S.S. "Hopestar" O.N. 161592"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160513053034/http://www.plimsoll.org/images/14210_tcm4-55912.pdf). Plimsoll.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.plimsoll.org/images/14210_tcm4-55912.pdf) on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

1. ["Hopestar"](http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/H-Ships/hopestar1936.html). Tynebuilt. Retrieved 7 April 2016.

1. ["HOPESTAR"](http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=JOLEE~armain). Convoyweb. Retrieved 7 April 2016.

1. No. 34786. 6 February 1940. pp. 713–715.

1. "Hopestar search goes on. Aircraft covering wide area". *Newcastle Evening Chronicle*. 24 November 1948. p. not cited.

1. "British Steamer Overdue". No. 51237. 24 November 1948. p. 4.

1. ["Ship Founders, All Crew Lost"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19481124&id=Pc9NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WIoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6584,5370559&hl=en). *The Free Lance-Star*. Associated Press. 24 November 1948. Retrieved 9 April 2016.

1. "5,000-ton ship feared lost". No. 51238. 25 November 2015. p. 3.

1. "U.S. Makes Final Sweep for Missing Ship. Hopestar - Last Day's Search". *[Evening Chronicle](/source/Evening_Chronicle)*. 25 November 1948. p. 5.

1. "Hopestar search abandoned". *Newcastle Evening Chronicle*. 27 November 1948. p. 5.

1. ["S.S. "Hopestar" (Loss)"](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1950/mar/20/ss-hopestar-loss#S5CV0472P0_19500320_HOC_191). 20 March 1950.

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