Apapa
Ship Number
695
Vessel Type
Passenger Ship
Built
Belfast
Yard
East Yard
Slip Number
15
Launch Date
August 26, 1926
Delivered
January 28, 1927
Owner
Elder Dempster & Co.
Weight
9350 grt
BP Length
450 feet
Breadth
62 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
Propulsion
Official No.
149611
Registered
Liverpool
Fate
Sank
Apapa

She entered service for the British & African SN Co. and operated on their UK – West Africa route from January 1927. She was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines Ltd. in 1933.
 
On 15th November 1940 she was in convoy from Freetown to Liverpool, carrying a general cargo and 261 passengers and crew. At around 10.00 hours the sound of aircraft engines was heard and an aircraft was seen about 150 feet above the ship. It crossed the ship diagonally from aft port to forward starboard and dropped two bombs. One missed to starboard amidships but the other penetrated No.3 hatch and exploded within, blowing out some port hull plating and destroying the engines. The cargo of palm oil in No.3 hold caught fire and as the ship was threatened with destruction the order to abandon was given. She eventually broke in two and sank. Out of the 261 on board, 24 lives were lost. Survivors were picked up by Mary Kingsley, New Columbia, Boulderpool, HMS Broke and a corvette.