South Tyneside History
| Title | M.S Berengaria with Tugs Homer and Wearmouth |
|---|---|
| Reference Number | STH0001940 |
| Photographer | Unknown |
| Town or Village | South Shields |
| Date | c 1920 |
| Original Format | Black and White Photograph |
| Period | The 1920s |
| Copyright | South Tyneside Libraries |
| Further Information | R.M.S Berengaria with tugs Homer and Wearmouth. Built as "Imperator" for the Hamburg-Amerika Line, she was seized as part of war reparations and sold to the Cunard Line, where she became the company's flagship. She was converted from coal to oil burning engines and a complete overhaul was carried out by Armstrong Whitworth & Company on the Tyne. She was an unlucky ship and gained a reputation for catching fire, often due to faulty wiring. After a serious fire in New York Harbour during March 1938, affecting the first class lounge, she was sold for scrap. She was delivered to the Tyne at Jarrow. Her furniture and fittings were auctioned in January 1939. However, the outbreak of the Second World War meant that the men tasked with her demolition were required for other duties. The hulk languished on the Tyne until 1946 when eventually, her remains were towed to Rosyth for the final process of dismantling. |
