SS Walnut
HMS Walnut, T103 in WW2 Royal Navy configuration | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Walnut |
| Builder | Smiths Dock Company, South Bank, Middlesbrough |
| Yard number | 755 |
| Laid down | June 15, 1939 |
| Launched | August 12, 1939 |
| Completed | December 31, 1939 |
| Identification | Pennant number T103 |
| Fate | Sold to Stem Olson Company Limited 1948 |
| Notes | Source: Miramar Ship Information Database, Record No. 5185985 |
| Name | SS Walnut |
| Owner | Stem Olson Company Limited |
| Port of registry | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Acquired | 1948 |
| Fate | Sold to Compania Maritima Walnut S/A in 1948 |
| Name | SS Walnut |
| Owner | Compania Maritima Walnut S/A |
| Port of registry | Panama City, Panama |
| Acquired | 1948 |
| Fate | Court Auction in 1949, Salvaged, Sold to Borromee Verreault Company 1951 |
| Notes | Source: "Ship Statistics", SS Walnut 1948 – Voyaged to Freedom |
| Name | Keta |
| Owner | Borromee Verreault Company |
| Port of registry | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Fate | Broken up Les Méchins, Quebec, December 1976 by Nittolo Metal Company |
| Notes | Source: Miramar Ship Information Database, Record No. 5185985 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Tree-class trawler |
| Displacement | 545 tons |
| Length | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (mean) |
| Propulsion | One triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 850 ihp (630 kW) |
| Speed | 12.25 knots (22.69 km/h; 14.10 mph) |
| Complement | 40 (as naval ship) |
| Crew | 18 (as civilian ship) |
| Armament |
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SS Walnut was a refugee ship converted from a British minesweeping Tree-class trawler which carried Baltic refugees from Sweden to Canada in 1948. The refugees' arrival at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia led to a controversy which played an important role in shaping Canada's postwar refugee policies.
Initially entering service during the Second World War as HMS Walnut, the trawler was sold for commercial purposes following the war. Converted for use as a cargo ship, the vessel retained the name Walnut until 1959 when sold and renamed Keta. The ship was broken up in 1976.