SS Clan Mackinnon (1945)

History
Name	Empire Dunnet (1945–46); Clan Mackinnon (1946–61); Ardross (1961–63); Labuan Bay (1963–67);
Owner	Ministry of War Transport (1945); Ministry of Transport (1945–46); Clan Line Steamers Ltd (1946–55); Houston Line (1955–61); Mullion & Co Ltd (1961–63); Kinabatangan Shipping SA (1963–67);
Operator	Common Bros Ltd (1945–46); Clan Line Steamers Ltd (1946–55); Houston Line (1955–61); Mullion & Co Ltd (1961–63); United China Shipping Co Ltd (1963–67);
Port of registry	United Kingdom (1946–61); Hong Kong (1961–63); Panama City, Panama (1963–67);
Builder	William Gray & Co Ltd
Yard number	1177
Launched	10 July 1945
Completed	September 1945
Out of service	20 March 1967
Identification	United Kingdom Official Number 180086 (1945–61); IMO number: 1180086 ( –1967);
Fate	Wrecked
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	7,373 GRT; 4,611 NRT; 10,100 DWT;
Length	431 ft (131 m)
Beam	56 ft (17 m)
Propulsion	Triple expansion steam engine

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Location where Labuan Bay was wrecked off the coast of Malaysia.

The Clan Mackinnon was a 7,373 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1945 as Empire Dunnet by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, Co Durham United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed Clan Mackinnon. In 1961 she was sold to a Hong Kong company and renamed Ardross. A sale to a Panamanian owner in 1963 saw her renamed Labuan Bay. She served until 1967, when she was wrecked off Borneo.^[1]

Description

The ship was built in 1945 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, Co Durham.^[1] She was yard number 1177.^[2]

The ship was 431 feet (131 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet (17 m).^[3] She was assessed at 7,373 GRT,^[1] 4,611 NRT. Her DWT was 10,100.^[2]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine.^[1]

History

Empire Dunnet was launched on 10 July 1945 and completed in September.^[1] The United Kingdom Official Number 180086 was allocated.^[4] She was placed under the management of Common Bros Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.^[3]

In 1946, Empire Dunnet was sold to Clan Line Steamers Ltd and was renamed Clan Mackinnon,^[1] the third Clan Line ship to bear this name. In 1955, Clan Line was transferred to the Houston Line.^[5] In 1961, Clan Mackinnon was sold to Mullion & Co Ltd, Hong Kong, and was renamed Ardross. In 1963, she was sold to Kinabatangan Shipping SA, of Panama, and was renamed Labuan Bay.^[1]

On 20 March 1967, Labuan Bay ran aground at Bancoran Island, Borneo (7°58′N 118°04′E / 7.967°N 118.067°E / 7.967; 118.067) and caught fire. She was refloated four days later and towed to Manila, Philippines. On 11 July, a further fire occurred. Labuan Bay was scrapped in November 1967 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
^ ^a ^b "Clan Line: Clan Macbean to Clan Maclay". Brian Watson. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
^ ^a ^b "EMPIRE - D - E". Mariners. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
^ "ON180000". Mariners. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
^ "C.W. Cayzer & Company / Cayzer, Irvine & Company / Clan Line of Steamers Limited / Clan Line". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2011.