D/S Kari

Brev 28.12.1940 til Shipowners Agency, New York fra kapteinh Bjarne Roness

In receipt of your telegram dated 7th inst. I beg to give you the following information:

We left Eastham 9/4 in the morning, and arrivede Belfast next morning. Were at anchor there til 30/4 when we commeced discharging. Left Belfast 25/5 after having been timechartered to Societe Maritime Nationale, Paris. Loaded coal and coke in Partington for Casablanca, Maroc. Arrived Casablanca 12/6 and commenced discharging 28/6. Were discarged 2/7 but detained by the authorities. 10/9 the ship was shifted to Port-Lyautey where we now are guarded by the naval authorities.

In England I paid off the following members of the crew: Harald Nilsen, Anton Sakshaug, Bernhard Skorgen and Sverre Andersen. The following were signed on:

2. Mate Arne Jentoft, Bergen

Cook Louis Smith Tønnesen, Flekkefjord

A.B. Johan Kjeld Kopsland, Grimstad

O.S. Nils Reinhard Nilsen, Landvik pr. Grimstad

O.S. Niels K. V. Andrasen, Strandby, Denmark

O.S. Johannes Andersen, Vejby, Denmark

Youngman Arthur Ugland, Berge pr. Grimstad.

Cook Tønnesen was drowned here in Port-Lyautey 5/10 and burried 10/10. In his place I signed on cook Karl Rudolf Sjøberg, Bertsfors, Sweden.

Til a month ago we never had any difficulties in obtaining the necessary funds for provision, deck and engine store and cash to the crew. Now we are only allowed a certain amount for provision.

But for a few minor sicknesses officers and crew have been allright.

Hopeing that you will be able to forward this information, I remain, sir; Yours very truly ...

Utdrag av brev til Nortraship, London 3.10.1941

Ad: 3dje Maskinist Amund Torp, ex S/S "KARI" nu S/S "HELLEN"

Ovennevnte sjømann påmønstret S/S "KARI" av Oslo den 27. desember 1939.

I juni måned 1940 ble skipet internert i Casablanca, senere Porte-Lyatey.

Den 3. april 1941 rømte maskinist Torp sammen med endel av mannskapene fra S/S "ORIA" i en pram, kom fire dage senere til Gibraltgar, hvor prammen blev overlevert til det Norske konsulat. Umiddelbart etter ankomsten til Gibraltar mønstret Torp ombord i MT "ANDRA BRØVIG".

...

Utdrag av brev 13. juli 1943 fra Nortraship v. T. Kjeldaas:

Kaptein Nielsen opplyser at M/T "BATAVIA" ble senket av franskmennene den 9. november 1942 ved innløpet til Port Elyautey for om mulig å forhindre de Alliertes invasjon. Så snart de Allierte hadde overtatt stedet begynte man å forsøke å heve båten. Redningsforsøket ble imidlertid oppgitt den 28 mai 1943. Kaptein Nielsen opplyser at han hadde tilsynet med båten hele tiden. Han forlot Nord-Afrika over Casablanca den 30 mai 1943.

Brev 2. august 1944 fra V. F. Lindhard til Hysing-Olsen:

I have learned that the loss of a considerable number of our vessels which were in enemy hands in the Mediterranean has been definitely established. In respect of these vessels the question of obatining from M.O.W.T. the right to repurchase the ships if recovered does therefore not arise.

I give below the fresh information and for the sake of completeness include the losses already previously reported:

Vessels detained Italy June 1940:

mt "BRARERA" (total loss collected): Sunk by aircraft 22/7/41 off Lampedusa

ss "LIV" (tot. loss collected): Sunk by aircraft at Porto Torres 18/4/43

mt "THORSHEIMER" (tot. loss collected): Sunk by aircraft 21/2/43 off Marsala

Vessels detained French Ports June 1940:

ms "BATAVIA" ("Ste Madeleine") (tot. loss collected): Scuttled at Port Lyautey harbour entrance about 8/11/42. Salvage impossible.

ss "BROTT" (Ste Monique"): Scuttled at Bizerte Bay May 1943.

ss "FAVOR" ("Ste Rosaline"): Sunk by surface craft 18/1/43 off Sardinia.

ms "GRAN" ("Ste Odette"): Sunk by submarine 28/12/42, north west of Marittimo.

ss "KARI" ("Ste Colette"): Sunk by submarine 16/10/43 east of Naxos.

ss "ORIA" ("Ste Julienne") (tot. loss collected): Wrecked and sunk aftger submarine attach previous 24/3/44 in Aegean.

ss "PATRIA" ("St Christophe"): Sunk by aircraft 13/7/43 at Messina.

mt "PRES. HERRENSCHMIDT": Scuttled at Naples September 1943.

ss "RINGULV" ("Ste Marthe"): Sunk by submarine 14/6/43 in Straits of Messina.

ss "SKOTFOSS" ("Ste Lucille"): Sunk by aircraft 6/4/43 at Trapani.

ss "TANA" ("Ste Simone"): Sunk by aircraft 24 (or 25) /5/43 pm in port Olbia (Sardinia).

ss "VIGOR" ("Ste Marcelle") (tot. oss collected): Sunk by submarine 14/3/42.

This leaves only the following vessels detained at French ports to be accounted for:

ss "HADRIAN": Reported at Piraeus 11/9/43.

mt "JASPIS": Repairing Aker mek. Verkst. early Feb. 1944.

mt "JOHN KNUDSEN": Reported at Piraeus Mar. 1944 damaged by torpedo.

mt "LANGANGER": Reported vicinity Marseilles Spring 1944.

mt "REGINE": In port Genoa 15/12/42.

The above information has been obtained privately and should be treated as strictly confidential.