The SS Sagona was a steel steamship built in 1912 by the Dundee Shipbuilding Company in Scotland, designed primarily for passenger and freight ferry service along the northern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With a gross register tonnage of 808 tons, the vessel measured approximately 175 feet (53 meters) in length. Her construction featured a reinforced hull with double rows of pitch pine, enabling her to break through ice conditions typical of the region. The ship could accommodate 50 salon passengers and 40 steerage passengers, making her suitable for both passenger transport and freight duties. Initially owned by the Newfoundland Produce Company and managed by Crosbie & Company, the Sagona arrived in St. John’s on March 14, 1912, under Captain Marshall, and commenced her first seal hunting trip on March 15, 1912, under Captain S.R. Winsor. During the winter sealing seasons from 1912 to 1938, she was heavily involved in the sealing industry, bringing in a total of 165,599 seals under various captains including Job Knee, Jack Randell, Lewis Little, and Jacob Kean. Aside from her sealing activities, Sagona served as a passenger and freight ferry on coastal routes, notably between Bonne Bay and Battle Harbour, Labrador, especially during the summer months. In 1914, the vessel was acquired by the Reid Newfoundland Company, which managed coastal steamship routes serving the region and the Newfoundland Railway. She experienced a minor mishap when she ran aground at Halifax in January 1920 but sustained only minor damage. In 1923, she became part of the Newfoundland government fleet following the transfer of the railway company’s assets. Notably, in March 1933, Sagona participated in the rescue of survivors from the SS Viking disaster. Sagona’s service as a sealing vessel ended in 1938. She was sold in 1941 to the Colliford Clarke Company of London and later, in 1944, was acquired by the Zarati Steamship Company, with her registry transferred to Panama. Her maritime career concluded when she was lost on November 21, 1945, after striking a mine five miles southeast of Porquerolles Island while en route from Nice to Toulon.

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