D/S Ciss
Updated June 9-2011

To Ciss on the "Ships starting with C" page.

A picture is available at Lillesand Sjømannsforening's website (external links - click in the photo to make it larger).

Final Fate - 1941:

Ciss had departed St. John's, N.F. in ballast for Louisburg C.B. in the morning of Febr. 4-1941. The next day a storm was encountered, and she lost her steering and started to drift towards the south coast of New Foundland, but by filling water in the after hold they managed to get better control of the ship. The storm lasted until the following evening and they continued their voyage, having removed the water from the hold. Sydney and Canso radio stations were contacted to obtain information on the ice situation, and they were told there were no reports of same. However, on Febr. 8, when about 15 n. miles southeast of Louisburg they encountered pack ice, so they steered a more southerly course along the edge of the ice, while contacting the pilot station for information about the ice situation near Louisburg. They were again told there was no ice in the harbour, nor off the entrance, only a strip of slob ice south of Scatari Island, N.S.

That day another storm was brewing, and when the steering again started to cause problems the aft hold was filled with water again. They had to keep changing their course because ice was encountered several times, until they at around 13:00, when about 13 n. miles south of Louisburg Light, decided to attempt to get into port. However, at 14:20 pack ice was again encountered 3 n. miles south of Louisburg Light. At that time fog had set in. Assuming it was just a narrow strip of ice as reported by the pilot station they kept going at slow speed, but as the winds increased the ice packed itself tighter and tighter together until she at 15:00 was surrounded by it, when about 1.5-2 n. miles south/southeast of Louisburg Light.

The pilot station was contacted for assistance, and her engine was stopped so as not to destroy her propellers. When no reply was received from the pilot station, the harbour master in Louisburg was contacted with a request for an ice breaker. The ice continued to carry her helplessly eastwards along the coast. At 23:00 Pontnova Island could be seen, and fearing that they would run aground a telegram was sent to Sydney (C.B.) saying they were in a critical situation. At the same time they finally received replies to the previously sent telegrams that ice breakers would be sent out the following morning.

By Febr. 9 she had drifted very close to Pontnova Island and at 13:30 all men were called up on deck. She avoided the island but about half an hour later she ran into Little Shag Rock. Her afterpart was thrown up on the rock, then the masses of ice pulled her off and she continued drifting. The lifeboats were now made ready and SOS sent out several times. Her after hold was flooding; by 21:00 the water had risen to 1' below the main deck, so the boats were lowered onto the ice. Due to the ice, they had a tough job getting them clear of the ship, but eventually managed to get clear behind her, by which time the after deck was in the water line. The ice was packed so tightly that it was impossible for them to use their oars, so they drifted along with the ship towards Scatari Island. When they were between the island and the mainland it looked like the ship came to a rest, with her entire after deck and the poop under water, while the lifeboats kept drifting north to about half a n. mile off West Scatari Island Light. They used their whistles and torches in an attempt to attract attention, but received no reply, and the pack ice now started to take them towards the ocean.

At 7 o'clock in the morning of Febr. 10 it appeared as though the ice was breaking up a bit so sails were set on both boats, whith 2-3 men helping to push the ice away, heading towards Flint Island, having seen open water in that direction. By 10 o'clock they were close to land but continued north, as they could not find a suitable landing place. The wind increased to a gale force and with the water continuously splashing over those in the boat, they were wet and extremely cold. At 10:30 they spotted some houses on shore and headed in that direction. The port boat landed at Long Beach at 11:45 and the starboard boat at 13:30.

Back to Ciss on the "Ships starting with C" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume I - The Norwegian Maritime Museum, and misc. - (ref. My sources).