The SS Charlotte Cords was a cargo vessel constructed in 1923 by Neptun AG in Rostock, Germany. She measured 266 feet 3 inches (81.15 meters) in length, with a beam of 40 feet 2 inches (12.24 meters) and a depth of 16 feet 9 inches (5.11 meters). The ship had a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 1,779 and a net register tonnage (NRT) of 1,049. Power was provided by a triple expansion steam engine, built by Neptun, featuring cylinders with diameters of 19+1/4 inches (49.1 cm), 31+1/2 inches (80 cm), and 51+3/16 inches (130 cm), all operating with a stroke of 35 inches (89 cm). Originally owned by Dampfschiff Gesellschaft August Cords GmbH, Rostock, the Charlotte Cords operated under the port of registry of Rostock, with the Code Letters MFLN, later changed to DMAE in 1934. Throughout her service, she was involved in maritime incidents, including a collision on 25 July 1934 with the British cargo ship Pear Branch off Grimsby, UK. In 1941, she was reported preparing to depart Rotterdam for Germany, but attempts by Allied ships HMS Snapper and HMS Sunfish to intercept her were unsuccessful. Seized by Allied forces in May 1945 at Travemünde, she was transferred to the UK Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Connah, with her registry moved to London. In 1946, she was allocated to the Soviet Government and renamed Nikolai Bauman. She was operated by the Northern Sea Shipping Company and later transferred to the Murmansk Shipping Company in 1961. Notably, she was involved in a collision on 5 November 1957 with the Dutch coaster Corale near Vlissingen, which resulted in the sinking of the Corale and a diplomatic standoff regarding liability. In 1964, the Nikolai Bauman was scuttled in Tsivolki Bay, Novaya Zemlya, carrying a cargo of nuclear waste, marking her final chapter in maritime history. Her service record reflects a vessel that navigated complex wartime and post-war maritime operations, with notable incidents and a significant, albeit controversial, end-of-service role.

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