Ryazan (Russian: Рязань) was a Hansa A Type cargo ship which was built as Licentia in 1944 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany for J Jost, Flensburg. She was seized as a prize of war in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Gabon. Allocated to the Soviet Union in 1946, she served until 1979 when she was sold to West Germany and renamed Rudi. She was scrapped at Santander, Spain that year.

History
Name
  • Licentia (1944–45)
  • Empire Gabon (1945–46)
  • Ryazan (1946–79)
  • Rudi (1979)
Owner
  • J Jost (1944–45)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945–46)
  • Soviet Government (1946–79)
  • Eckhardt & Co (1979)
Operator
  • J Jost (1944–45)
  • Ellerman Wilson's Line Ltd (1945–46)
  • Soviet Government (1946–79)
  • Eckhardt & Co (1979)
Port of registry
BuilderFlensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft
Yard number467
Launched19 August 1944
In service28 November 1944
Identification
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeHansa A type Cargo ship
Tonnage1,925 GRT, 936 NRT, 3,118 DWT
Length85.19 m (279 ft 6 in)
Beam13.49 m (44 ft 3 in)
Depth4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Installed powerCompound steam engine, 1,200IHP
Speed10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)

Description

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The ship was 85.19 m (279 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 13.49 m (44 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in). She was assessed as 1,925 GRT, 936 NRT,[1] 3,118 DWT.[2]

The ship was propelled by a compound steam engine, which had two cylinders of 42 cm (16916 inches) and two cylinders of 90 cm (35716 inches) diameter by 90 cm (35716 inches) stroke. The engine was built by Flensberger Schiffsbau-Geschellschaft.[1] Rated at 1,200IHP, it could propel the ship at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).[3]

History

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Licentia was a Hansa A Type cargo ship built in 1944 as yard number 467 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany for J Jost, Flensburg.[2][3] She was launched on 19 August 1944 and completed on 14 November.[3]

Licentia was seized as a prize of war at Flensburg in May 1945,[3][4] and was passed to the Ministry of War Transport. She was renamed Empire Gabon.[5] The Code Letters GNFX and United Kingdom Official Number 180675 were allocated. Her port of registry was London and she was operated under the management of Ellerman's Wilson Line Ltd,[6] Hull, Yorkshire.[3]

In 1946, Empire Gabon was allocated to the Soviet Union. She was renamed Ryazan.[5] Her port of registry was Riga and the Code Letters UKED were allocated.[7] On 12 November 1956, dockers at Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom refused to work on Ryazan, which had arrived from Riga and was to load a cargo of rubber. They were angry at the situation in Hungary.[8][9] The dockers refused to load her cargo on to a Danish ship, saying "we won't handle any cargo for Russia".[10] Ryazan sailed for Riga on 19 November.[11] With their introduction in the 1960s, Ryazan was allocated the IMO Number 5294113.[2] She served until 1979, when she was sold to Echkardt & Co., Hamburg, West Germany and was renamed Rudi.[3] She was scrapped in 1979 at Santander, Spain.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships" (PDF). Lloyd's List. Lloyd's of London. 1945. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "RYAZAN - IMO 5294113". Shipspotting. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Licentia (Ty.)" (in Danish). J Marcussen. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Prize Courts". The Times. No. 50245. London. 12 September 1945. col D, p. 1.
  5. ^ a b Mitchell, W H, and 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships" (PDF). Lloyd's List. Lloyd's of London. 1945. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Рязань" (in Russian). Fleetphoto. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Dockers' Refusal to Work Russian Ship". The Times. No. 53687. London. 13 November 1956. col A, p. 5.
  9. ^ "Russian Ship to Sail Without Cargo". The Times. No. 53688. London. 14 November 1956. col B, p. 6.
  10. ^ "Dockers Ban Russian Cargo Again". The Times. No. 53689. London. 15 November 1956. col A, p. 6.
  11. ^ "Russian Cargo Ship Sails". The Times. No. 53693. London. 20 November 1956. col C, p. 6.
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