Flying Enterprise
1951
(Risawoleska RI-29c)
- Type: C1-B breakbulk general cargo
- Displacement: 6,711 tons
- Dimensions: 396'5" x 60'1" x 25'8"
- Machinery: Steam turbines, single screw 4,000 shp = 14 knots
- Passengers: 10
- Crew: 48
- Builder: Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, California, 1944
- Service: Type C1-B cargo vessel built as Cape Kumukaki for the US Maritime Commission for use by the US War Shipping Administration. Sold in 1947 to the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company and renamed Flying Enterprise. Served on scheduled service in the North Atlantic. On 21 Dec 1951 she departed Hamburg, Germany bound for the US under the command of Henrik Kurt Carlsen. Four days later she encountered a storm in the Western Approaches to the English Channel and suffered structural damage; her cargo shifted and an SOS was issued on 28 Dec as she was listing 45 degrees to port. Passengers and crew were evacuated by responding ships (one male passenger lost) while Carlsen stayed on board in hopes of salvage. The ship was taken in tow on 5 Jan 1952, 300 nm from Falmouth, Cornwall. However she eventually foundered on 10 Jan 1952 while 31 nm south of The Lizard. Carlsen was given a ticker-tape parade in New York o. 17 Jan in recognition of his efforts to save the ship. Some of the cargo was salvaged in 1960 and later dives were made for a documentary film and TV episode in 2002 and 2005.
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