Hamilton's launched Santa Rosalia for Lang & Fulton of Greenock, and ownership was to be shared between the Hamilton's and Lang & Fulton. But before she was completed, they sold her to the Isthmian Steamship Company,[1] which was a British company founded in 1910 by the United States Steel Products Corporation.
When the First World War started in 1914, all of the Isthmian Steamship Co's ships were transferred to the direct ownership of its parent company in the then-neutral USA, and re-registered there. Santa Rosalia was re-registered in New York. Her US official number was 212569 and her code letters were LDPN.[4] By 1918 her wireless telegraph call sign was KLO.[5]
On 26 August 1918 Santa Rosalia left Baltimore for New York for repairs. Early in October 1918 she left Norfolk, Virginia in convoy. She reached Brest on 28 October, and continued to Saint-Nazaire. She was in St-Nazaire on 11 November when the Armistice was signed. She feft on 14 November, and reached Baltimore on 5 December.
After transferring from a US Army to a US Shipping Board account,[clarification needed] she went to New York to load a cargo of general supplies. She left on 19 January 1919, and reached Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on 25 January. She left on 27 January, and reached Montevideo, Uruguay on 18 February. She unloaded and loaded cargo, and then returned to New York.
From New York, Santa Rosalia made a second trip to Montevideo, returning on 6 June 1919. She was still in New York on 26 June when she was decommissioned, returned to her owners, and resumed civilian merchant trade.
Stefanos Costomenis
In 1929 two Greek shipowners, Elias G Culucundis & Stephen C Costomeni, bought the ship, renamed her Stefanos Costomenis and registered her in Syra. Her Greek code letters were JHGP.[7] By 1934 her four-letter call sign was SVMP.[8]
In February 1936 Stefanos Costomenis left Tampa for Rotterdam with a cargo of phosphate. She ran into a heavy sea, and on the evening of 17 February her wireless telegraph operator sent a distress signal stating that she was about 180 nautical miles (330 km) east of the Nantucket Light ship, leaking, and needing assistance.[9] The Baltimore Mail Steamship Co's ship City of Newport News changed course to assist, but Stefanos Costomenis did not heave-to to await assistance. The Greek steamship was about 500 nautical miles (930 km) east of Cape Henry when City of Newport News caught up with her on 18 February. Stefanos Costomenis was abandoned at position 37°43′N66°03′W / 37.717°N 66.050°W / 37.717; -66.050 and all 33 of her crew were safely transferred to City of Newport News, which then set course for Norfolk, Virginia.[10]
Stefanos Costomenis was left unmanned but afloat, which made her a shipping hazard. The United States Coast Guard sent USCGC Champlain to the Greek ship's last known position, ready to sink her if necessary.[10] But Champlain did not find her, and it is presumed Stefanos Costomenis had foundered.[1]
Lloyd's Register of Shipping(PDF). Vol. II–Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1934 – via Southampton City Council.
The Marconi Press Agency Ltd (1918). The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony. London: The Wireless Press, Ltd.