HMCS Marvita

MV Marvita also known as HMCS Marvita (Z44) was a former rum runner, Royal Canadian Navy auxiliary vessel, and customs vessel that operated from 1930 until it ran aground and sank on 15 July 1954.

History
NameMarvita
Owner
Operator
BuilderJ. Ernest & Sons Ltd., Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Completed1930
Acquired1941
In service1930
Out of service15 July 1954
Identification
  • Official Number 156691
  • Code Letters VOCB
  • [1]
FateFoundered 15 July 1954
General characteristics
Tonnage122 GRT
Length105 ft (32 m)
Beam20 ft (6.1 m)
Depth8.4 ft (2.6 m)
Decks2
Installed power2 x 6 cyl, Fairbanks Morse opposed piston engines, output: 232 nhp
Propulsion2 screws
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) max.
Crew9

History

Early career

Marvita started her career as a cargo vessel and rum runner, running liquor between St-Pierre and Miquelon, Newfoundland and Canada. She had two 23,000 gallon copper-lined tanks that would be filled with illegal whiskey. She made a total of 23 trips as a rum runner, totalling 1,058,000 gallons of whiskey. In all trips, she was never caught and never had to drop her load. She was sold to the Government of Newfoundland in 1935.[2]

Royal Canadian Navy

During the Second World War in 1941, Marvita was acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy to serve as an auxiliary examination vessel. She was paid off and returned to the Government of Newfoundland in 1945.

Department of Revenue

In 1949, Marvita was transferred to the Canadian Department of Revenue to serve as customs boat along the coast of Newfoundland. In mid 1952, Marvita, along with MV Western Explorer, took part in a federal-provincial survey of the coastal outport communities of Newfoundland.[3]

Sinking

On 15 July 1954, Marvita was en route from Argentia to St. John's, carrying 9 crew and 1 passenger. Near Cape Ballard, Cappahayden, the vessel entered thick fog which resulted in zero visibility. The magnetic compass onboard become defective and the vessel steered too close into the coast. The vessel ran aground on a sunker. The ship's captain, Mike MacDonald, ordered all aboard on deck and they successfully escaped to shore; no lives were lost. After a few moments, the swells swallowed the Marvita and she was lost.[4]

Additional information

Marvita had one sister ship, MV Shulamite, also built in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia in 1930, and acquired by the RCN in 1941. She was later renamed Norsya and foundered on 19 September 1953.[5]

References
  1. "MV Marvita (+1954)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. "HMCS Marvita Z44". forposterityssake.ca. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. "Hon F. G. Bradley Makes Second Visit to Nipper's Hr". The Western Star. 15 August 1952. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2022 – via Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives.
  4. "Customs Boat Runs Ashore". St. John's Daily News. 17 July 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2022 – via Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives.
  5. "HMCS Shulamite Z39". forposterityssake.ca. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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