Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Lloyd's Register at Penarth Dock . . .

s.s. 'Valetta'

Sufferings of the Crew of a Penarth-Laden Vessel - 'Information has just reached Liverpool of the sinking of the steamer Valetta after collision with an iceberg. The crew had a narrow escape with their lives, and were all frost-bitten. The Valetta left Penarth on the 5th of April with a cargo of coal for the St. Lawrence. When off the Canadian coast she got into the ice, and was held there for five days. While in this condition an immense iceberg struck her, crushing in her side and causing her to fill rapidly. The vessel, having a heavy cargo, sank quickly, and the crew—29 all told-were left little time to save their lives. They got out their boats. They had only time to save what clothes they stood in. The Valetta went down, and the crew in their small boats had a most trying experience for 38 hours. The weather was terribly cold, and all of the men were more or less frost-bitten. At the end of this time the Norwegian barque Liberta rescued them. The rescue was very timely. The men were on board the Liberta about twelve days before she could reach a port, as the ice had formed a thick belt around the coast. The Valetta was an iron screw steamer of 1,382 tons. and was the property of Mr W. Gray, of West Hartlepool. The shipwrecked men were landed in Canada on the 4th instant.' - The South Wales Star [159] [361] 1st June 1894.

Sailings - Penarth Dock , April 5 - Valetta s.s., St John's, Newfoundland. - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 6th April 1894.

The s.s. 'Valetta' was built at the yard of William Gray & Company Limited at West Hartlepool on the River Tees and was launched during March 1875. She was a iron-hulled, single screw, general cargo steamer of 1,365 gross and 874 net register tons being 247.6 ft. long x 32.5 ft. breath x 18.5 ft. depth. [801]

s.s. 'Valetta' - Sir William Gray built W. Gray & Company - 1,382 gross register tons being 247.6 ft. long x 32.5 ft. breath x 18.5 ft. depth. . The British cargo ship 'Valleta' foundered after being damaged by ice 50 miles from St, John's, N.F.L., on April 18th, 1894. She was on a voyage from Penarth to St. John's carrying a cargo of coal. [799]