D/S Marosa
Updated Febr. 10-2012

To Marosa on the "Ships starting with M" page.

Notes:

From Page 1 of the archive documents, we learn that she was in Colombo when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940, having arrived there that same day from Sabang. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document and continue on Page 2.

2nd Mate on this ship when the war started was Bernt Anker Olsen, who is mentioned on my Merchant Marine Prisoners of War page. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Hong Kong on Dec. 8-1941; at that time he served as 2nd mate on the British Kiangsu. But he was also held by the Japanese for a few days while still on board Marosa in May* of 1941. Marosa's officers were Norwegian and the crew was Chinese. She had just departed Hong Kong when a Japanese warship signalled for her to stop and give her name. The name was given but Bernt A. Olsen, who was on duty did not stop the ship, which resulted in her being shelled by the warship, at which point the captain and 1st mate came running to the bridge, and the ship was stopped. Under threat of being sunk if they did not comply, they were now ordered to follow the warship to Bias Bay (north of Hong Kong), where they were told to drop anchor and wait for further orders. 3 days later they were allowed to proceed to Singapore. No explanation for this treatment was ever given to them. (B. A. Olsen had also served on Falkefjell, as able seaman, probably pre war).

* I wonder if this took place in June(?). When going to Page 2 of the archive documents we see that she was indeed in Hong Kong in May-1941, but left on June 17, returning to port on the 20th. According to this document she left again for Singapore that same day (perhaps she had been at anchor off Hong Kong for 3 days prior to this?).

It'll be noticed, when going to Page 3, that she appears to have spent quite a long time in Bombay in 1942 - she had arrived there from Tuticorin on Apr. 29 and departure is given as July 8, when she proceeded to Fremantle, where she also stayed for over a month, before continuing to Melbourne, with arrival Sept. 26. She left Melbourne again on Oct. 4, bound for Newcastle N.S.W., and it now looks like she ran ashore (date looks like Oct. 8). She returned to Melbourne, and after this, there's another long gap in her voyages; she did not leave Melbourne again until May 18-1943, arriving Sydney May 22. As can be seen in the Voyage Record above, A. Hague has included her, together with Tiradentes, in Convoy OC 94 for this voyage (it's possible the inclusion of Tiradentes is an error, follow the link for info).

Some Norwegians on board as per 1943 were Ole Kristian Abrahamsen (captain?), Tollef Nilsen, Thorolf Harald Ottersen, Odd Einar Hansen, Ole Martin Olsen, Gottfred Lindstrøm.

Her 1944 voyages start on Page 4, while the rest are shown on Page 5, which also has some 1945 voyages. See also Page 6.

POST WAR:

According to this external page, she was sold in 1953 to Newland SS Co., Hong Kong and renamed Eastern Fortune. Sold in 1963 to Pan Norse SS Co. SA, Panama. Sold again that same year to Chiat Lee Nav. & Trading Co. Inc., Panama, renamed Argo. Arrested in Manila in Dec.-1969 - probably broken up in 1970. Disappeared from Lloyd's in 1986.

Related external links:
The Fall of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong

Not the slightest chance - The defence of Hong Kong. Includes a listing of each individual defender.

Back to Marosa on the "Ships starting with M" page.