Ship Details

Topaz (I)

Vessel image

Photo Credit: Unknown

 
 
Registry #1 122162 (Canada) Registry #2 Registry #3
IMO# MMSI# VRN#
 
Name 1 1903 Topaz (I) Name 6
Name 2 Name 7
Name 3 Name 8
Name 4 Name 9
Name 5 Name 10
 
Year Built 1903 Place Victoria Area BC Country Canada
 
Designer (nk) Measurement (imp) 49.6' x 13.0' x 5.8'
Builder Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd. Measurement (metric) ?m x ?m x ?m
Hull Steel Displacement
Gross Tonnage 34 Type 1 Submarine Mine Vessel
Registered Tonnage 23 Type 2 Tug
Engine 2-12nhp compound condensing steam engines (1903); Engine Manufacture J.S. White, Cox, Isle of Wight, UK
Repower Propulsion Twin Screw
Rebuilds Call Sign
Pendant  # Masters
 
Owner(s)
In 1903-1905 she was owned by the for the 48th Submarine Mining Company of the Royal Engineers for use as a Submarine Mining Vessel. In 1906-1908 she was owned by BC General Contractors Co. Ltd., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1908 she was owned by C.W. Peck et al., Port Simpson BC Canada. In 1909-1910 she was owned by North Coast Towing Co., Ltd., Prince Rupert BC Canada. In 1919 she was owned by Mrs. Don W. Peck and Earle A. Murchison, Vancouver BC Canada. In 1920-1924 she was owned by Gulf of Georgia Towing Co., Vancouver BC Canada. In 1925-1931 she was owned by Robert P. Butchart, Tod Inlet BC Canada. In 1932-1940 she was owned by Canadian Holdings, Victoria BC Canada. In 1934-1944 she was owned by Francis (Fred) A. MacFarlane, Victoria BC Canada. In 1944-1945 she was owned by William A. Husband & Theodore Hasse, Vancouver BC Canada. In 1946-1978 she was owned by Theodore Hasse (MO), Vancouver BC Canada.
 
Fate Registry closed Date 1978-01-24
 
Named Features
Significance of Name
 
Anecdotes
Bryon Taylor states, "this vessel was built for use by the 48th Submarine Mining Company of the Royal Engineers." Bryon Taylor states that "122162 Topaz and 140929 Beryl are sister ships. They were built by the Victoria Machinery Depot for the Imperial War Office. They were built for use by the 48th Submarine Mining Company of the Royal Engineers then stationed at Esquimalt. They were built from the standard War Office plans for the “Emerald Class” submarine mine vessel. Esquimalt Harbour was defended by a controlled minefield. The field consisted of 500 lb ground mines and 100 lb floating electric contact mines. The minefield was controlled from shore; the contact mines could be turned on/off and the individual ground mines could be fired using a sight connected to the minefield electric circuit. Topaz and Beryl were used to lay and recover the mines. They were designed for maneuverability because the mines had to be laid in precise locations. In 1905, the defence of Esquimalt was transferred to Canada. The Submarine Mining Establishment was closed and Topaz and Beryl were transferred to the Canadian Department of Militia and Defence. Topaz was sold in 1905. Beryl was used by the Canadian Army at Esquimalt until 01 Dec 1918 when this vessel was leased to Messrs. Jones and Rant, Victoria BC for use as a tug on the West Coast Vancouver Island." On April 08, 1965 this vesselhit a log and sank near Somerville Island (Portland Inlet) BC. Crewman Charlie Sankey, who survived the sinking because he was wearing a lifejacket swam to an island about one mile away. Once ashore he bushwacked eleven miles to an abandoned logging camp. Here he fashioned a crude raft on which he floated 11 miles to Somerville Island where he found a rowboat. He rowed 14 miles of open water to Port Simpson. Two other crewmen (Patrick Green and Harvey Ryan) perished in the wreck.
 
References
Canada List of Shipping; Email (Bryon Taylor - Nauticapedia 09/02/2016); Rogers, A.C. (Jr.) Shipwreck Chart No. 3; http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t11866/1784?r=0&s=5 ; The Province (Vancouver BC) Saturday April 10, 1965 page 2;
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