SS River Clarence - Official No.174699. 5,995t gross, 3,451t net, 8,705t deadweight.
Dimensions: 449ft 2ins x 56ft 8ins x 24ft 6ins.
Built at Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co.Pty.Ltd. Sydney, this vessel was one of the 1st 4 built to Plan No.H66. It was ordered 19/06/1941, keel laid 29/07/1941, launched 02/01/1943 and completed 31/05/1943.
It had a complete shelter deck with forecastle.
Accomodation for Captain, Officers, Engineers, Wireless Operator, Stewards, Pilot and 1 passenger was amidships.
Accomodation for Seamen, Firemen, Trimmers, Gunners was arranged aft.
The complement totalled 62 including 8 Gunners.
The deck machinery consisted of 10 - 5 ton derricks and 1 - 20 ton heavy derrick. Also 11 - 8x12 inch steam winches, including warping winch.
Propulsion machinery - built by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co.Pty.Ltd. - was the triple expansion steam type with an exhaust turbine fitted. This combination produced an average service speed of 12 knots.
The Adelaide Steamship Co. was appointed to operate the "River Clarence".
Refrigerated cargo space was arranged during 1945.
As a transport during 1946, this vessel sailed from Labuan, Borneo, to Sydney with troops and stores.
In Oct.1947 management was transferred to the Australian Shipping Board.
Around 1952 the refrigerated cargo machinery was removed.
In Feb.1957 the vessel was transferred to the Australian National Line.
During Jan.1960 the vessel was sold to World-Wide S.S. Co.Ltd (World-Wide Co.(Shipping Managers) Ltd., managers), Hong Kong, and renamed GOLDEN ALPHA.
The ownership of the vessel was transferred to the Corinthian Shipping Co. Ltd. (World-Wide (Shipping) Ltd. managers), Hong Kong in 1962.
In 1965 the vessel was transferred to the Pluto Shipping Co.Ltd., Hong Kong.
Ownership was again transferred in 1966 to the Lambda Shipping Co. Ltd. (World Wide (Shipping) Ltd., managers), Hong Kong.
The vessel was sold to Mitsui Suisan K.K. in 1968 and was subsequently demolished by Koshin Sangyo K.K. in Onomichi, Japan.