The SS Wacousta was a steam cargo ship constructed in 1908 by Archibald McMillan & Son at the shipyard in Dumbarton. She measured approximately 340 feet 4 inches in length between perpendiculars and 46 feet in beam, with a mean draft of 24 feet 8 inches. Her steel hull supported a triple-expansion steam engine producing 310 nhp, which drove a single screw propeller, allowing her to reach speeds of up to 11 knots. The vessel was assessed at 3,521 gross register tons (GRT), 1,998 net register tons (NRT), and had a deadweight tonnage of 5,660 DWT. Initially managed by Peter Anton Grøn of Sandefjord and later transferred to Christensen & Stenseth in 1915, Wacousta primarily served as a collier. Her early service included transportation of coal and iron ore, notably operating on Canadian routes along the St. Lawrence River, where she often carried cargo between North Sydney, Montreal, and Quebec City during the summer navigation seasons. She was capable of carrying substantial cargo, exemplified by her loading of 5,550 tons of iron ore and her record-setting roundtrip between North Sydney and Montreal in just over 6.5 days. Throughout her career, Wacousta experienced several notable events, including running aground twice—once on Goose Island in 1909 and another time on St. Paul’s Island in 1910—both incidents resulting in minor damages and requiring repairs. She also participated in relief efforts during the 1909 earthquake in Southern Italy. The vessel's service extended into 1915, during which she was engaged in transporting coal, iron ore, and construction materials, and was involved in international trade routes including Europe, North America, and South America. Her final voyage began on October 19, 1915, carrying railway equipment to Vladivostok via the Suez Canal. On November 8, 1915, she was intercepted and sunk by the German submarine U-35 in the Mediterranean after being deemed to carry contraband cargo. The sinking marked the end of her maritime service, with her crew safely reaching Gavdos Island and Suda Bay. The SS Wacousta remains a notable example of early 20th-century steam cargo vessels engaged in global trade and wartime operations.

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