The SS Tellus was a prominent steam cargo vessel constructed in 1911 by William Doxford & Sons in Pallion. Launched on 31 January 1911 with yard number 417, she was designed for extensive ore and cargo transportation. The vessel measured 445 feet in length between perpendiculars and had a beam of 60 feet, with a mean draft of 29 feet 2 inches. Her steel hull and triple-expansion steam engine, rated at 412 nhp, powered a single screw propeller, allowing her to reach speeds of up to 12 knots during sea trials held on 8 March 1911. Assessing 7,395 GRT, 4,131 NRT, and 12,925 DWT, Tellus was the largest ship in Scandinavia at the time of her launch. Her propulsion system comprised cylinders of 27.5 inches, 45.5 inches, and 76 inches in diameter, with a 51-inch stroke, driving her through a single screw. She was built for the Wabanas Dampskibskompani, a subsidiary of Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company, managed by Wilhelm Wilhelmsen, and named after the Earth goddess, Tellus. Initially, Tellus was used to transport iron ore from Narvik, departing on her maiden voyage on 18 March 1911 to Philadelphia, where she arrived on 6 April with 11,000 tons of Swedish ore. She subsequently served on the Wabana-Rotterdam route, carrying iron ore, grain, and various cargos through 1913. Her service was marked by several incidents, including ice damage in 1912, grounding at Hamburg in 1913, and a propeller damage in Trondheim that same year. In 1916, after being sold to Ole Wikborg and renamed Elizabeth IV, she was repurposed to transport sugar from Java to Europe. Her final voyage occurred in September 1916 when she was intercepted by the German submarine U-34 near Sardinia. The submarine ordered her to stop, and after the crew abandoned ship, Elizabeth IV was scuttled by her crew to prevent her from falling into enemy hands. Her sinking marked the end of her notable career, illustrating her role in early 20th-century maritime trade and wartime activity.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.