 Launch of SS Ashby Park at the Pictou Shipyard in 1944
| |
| General characteristics Park Ship | |
|---|---|
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 440 ft 0 in (134.11 m) |
| Beam | 57 ft 0 in (17.37 m) |
| Depth | 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion | Screw propeller |
| Crew | 34, plus 4 DEMS gunners |
| Armament |
|
Park ships were merchant steamships constructed for Canada’s Merchant Navy during the Second World War. Park ships and Fort ships (built in Canada for operation by the British) were the Canadian equivalent of the American Liberty ships. All three shared a similar design by J.L. Thompson and Sons of Sunderland, England. Fort ships had a triple expansion steam engine and a single screw propeller. Fort ships were ships transferred to the British government and the Park ships were those employed by the Canadian government, both had the similar design. Park ships were named after local and National Parks of Canada. A few Park ships were launched as "Camp ships", named after Canada military camps, but were quickly renamed after Parks. Jasper Park was the first Park ship lost to enemy attack, in the Indian Ocean after a torpedo attack from U-177 in the Indian Ocean, South of Durban, South Africa.[2][3] [4][5]