SS Keong Wai

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 21:10

SS 'Keong Wai'. 2 decked Steel screw steamer of 1777 tons Gross wt. built by Fairfield and Co of Glasgow. Owned by Scottish and Oriental SS Co from new in 1895 until 1899 when she was sold to Norddeutche Lloyd of Bremen and became a German registered ship. Richard Unsworth is shown as her Master from 1895 to 1901 and he could have remained as Master if he had taken German nationality, but he firmly declined and took a shore job in Hong Kong. She is the ship referred to in Mary Unsworth's article about Chow Sing; see the part about coolies to Singapore. On one voyage Richard's ship was attacked by pirates; they were beaten off and various weapons that were captured found their way into my possession. I'm unsure of the ship in question, but it may have been the Keong Wai.

Date picture taken
1890s
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