WesWorld

MARINKURIREN 06.07.1921: NORDMARK SEEKS PURCHASE OF NEW SHIPS
No doubt as a result from the enromous demand on the Nordmark merchant-fleet as a result from the current crisis, the Royal Nordmark Ministry of Shipping and Trade has made a request to the US Shipping Board to purchase, or otherwise lease, a number of vessels, the most noteworthy of which include the US Navy Transports Huron (10,531 grt), Mercury (10,769 grt), Nansemond (12,891 grt), Philippines (10,237 grt), Von Steuben (14,908 grt), Agamemnon (19,361 grt), Mount Vernon (19,360 grt).

Likewise the American Line has been approached concerning the possible sale of either SS St. Louis or SS St Paul (both 11,629 grt), two ageing liners in that company's service.

A similar request has been made to the British Shipping Controller, for the formerly German steamers Pretoria (12,800 grt), Graf Waldersee (12,830 grt), Patricia (13,023 grt)

Also, the Ministry has approached the Hamburg-Amerikanische Paketfahrt Aktien-Gesellschaft (HAPAG) concerning the purchase of the ailing 16,500 grt liner SS Victoria Louise, once the pride of the HAPAG fleet.

OOC Note: The ships mentioned above are historical ships, mostly formerly German ships which were seized in USA when that nation entered the war (see list below of original and present 1921 names), which historically were existing and inactive in 1921, and which would be scrapped by 1925 or earlier, with two notable exceptions: Agamemnon (later renamed ) and Mount Vernon were laid up in USA until scrapped in 1940 - at that time, Britain had declined to take them over as trooptransports, as they were in too poor condition - but AFAIK both were completely inactive since around 1920.

Upon request, Nordmark will guarantuee that the ships are sought not to further the war-effort against Argentina, but to restore some semblance of functionality to the nation's sealanes during the war. Nordmark may agree to time-limited leases instead of outright purchase.