Ship Details

Samson V

Vessel image

Photo Credit: John Henderson

 
 
Registry #1 170681 (Canada) Registry #2 Registry #3
IMO# MMSI# VRN#
 
Name 1 1937 Samson V Name 6
Name 2 Name 7
Name 3 Name 8
Name 4 Name 9
Name 5 Name 10
 
Year Built 1937 Place New Westminster Area BC Country Canada
 
Designer (nk) Measurement (imp) 115.0' x 31.0' x 6.6'
Builder Star Shipyards (Mercers) Ltd. Measurement (metric) 35.05m x 9.45m x 2.01m
Hull Wood Displacement
Gross Tonnage 421 Type 1 Snag Boat
Registered Tonnage 250 Type 2
Engine 13hp high pressure steam engines (1905) Engine Manufacture Victoria Machinery Depot Ltd., Victoria BC
Repower Propulsion Sternwheeler
Rebuilds In c1940 her coal grates were converted to oil burners. In 1960 her superstructure was rebuilt, fire tube boiler from Vancouver Iron Works installed and returned to service at New Westminster BC by Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. Call Sign
Pendant  # Masters
 
Owner(s)
In 1937 she was owned by the Minister of the Department of Public Works. In 1954 she was gutted by fire. In 1955 her Certificate of Registration was cancelled. In 1960 she was re-registered. In 1980 she was retired by the Canada Department of Public Works. In 1980 she was turned over to The Corporation of the City of New Westminster and the Hyack Festival Association.
 
Fate Registry closed Date 1983-00-00
 
Named Features
Significance of Name
 
Anecdotes
'One gun-barrel' boiler built in 1905 at Victoria Machinery Depot all from the Samson IV. In 1937 this vessel was built for $48,850 Hull and Frames - pre-framed creosoted timber, sheathed for icebreaking. In 1937 this vessel was christened by Margaret Reid, daughter of Tom Reid M.P. This vessel burned and sank at her berth in New Westminster. Mark MacKenzie (British Columbia Nautical History Facebook Group 21/02/2017) stated "The way i heard it the night watchman was drinking below by the light of a kerosene lantern which broke setting the creosote hull timbers on fire. You can still see charred parts to her hull when you are down inside. All the decking to the engine room and the top chord of the keelsons were replaced in the rebuild." In 1983 this vessel was opened to the public as a floating maritime museum. In 2014 this vessel was berthed in the Fraser River and open to the public on weekends.
 
References
Affleck, Edward L. (2000); Canada List of Shipping
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