Franz Klasen - (1935 -1950)

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Motor tanker "Franz Klasen" maintained steady war service delivering fuel and planes.

In 1927 the canal was made sea level and a new vertical lift bridge spanned the waterway linking the end of George Street

to the North side of Chesapeake City. On July 28, 1942 a tanker the "Franz Klasen" struck the lift bridge, completely

destroying it (picture). The current suspension arch bridge was completed in 1949.

The crew members at that time where Danish sailors.

The News Frederick Maryland 1942-07-28 reports ;

STRUCTURE COLLAPSES INTO C. AND D. CANAL AT CHESAPEAKE CITY.

Chesapeake City, July 28 (AP) -- An oil tanker smashed into the highway drawbridge over the

Chesapeake and Delaware canal just before noon today, plunging the huge structure into the canal.

First reports said no one was on the bridge, and that no one was injured.

The tanker, southbound into Chesapeake Bay, struck the south concrete abutment, and part of the bridge fell upon the

bow of the ship, witnesses said.

A hole was smashed through the port bow of the vessel, JOHN M. REED, JR., Chesapeake City merchant said.

The north end of the long bridge plunged into the canal, REED said.

The wreckage fell athwart the intracoastal canal, which accommodates ocean-going vessels, and carries a huge volume

of commerce between Chesapeake Bay and Delaware river.

A few years ago a freighter crashed into the canal bridge at St. Georges, Del., killing three men. A new overhead bridge

spanning the canal was recently opened there.

REED said no one aboard the tanker, being towed through the waterway by a tug, was reported injured. The drawbridge

control house is on the shore, and he said apparently no one was hurt in the collision.

"Franz Klasen" was build in 1932 and reflagged in 1935 to Panama.

"Franz Klasen" inbound, during the war, January 1st, 1943.

(Photo US Coast Guard)

"Franz Klasen" oubound, during the war, June 16th, 1943.

(Photo US Coast Guard)

Motor tanker "Franz Klasen".

"Maggy", ex. "Franz Klasen".

The Miramar Ship Index for "FRANZ KLASEN"

Tons:	12425	Link:	-
DWT:	18070	Yard No:	148
Length overall:	165.23	Ship Design:
LPP:	158.9	Country of build:	DEU
Beam:	21.4	Builder:	Deutsche Werft
Material of build:		Location of yard:	Finkenwarder
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):	2D-12

Subsequent History:

1950 MAGGY

Disposal Data:

Scrapped at Savona 17.07.1960. [ By ARDEM ]

History:

Sistership is D. L. Harper.

Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :

FRANZ KLASEN - 1932 DZ 2M (aft) (12)

12,425 GRT for Baltisch-Amerik. Petroleum Import G.m.b.H. (Waried Tankschiff Rhed.), Danzig, 521.4 x 70.4

Tanker build by Deutsche Werft A.G., Bet Finkenwerder, Hamburg, (7), #148

1935 - Panama Transport Co., Panama PA

1950 - MAGGY Cia. Panamena de Transportes Petroleos, S.A., Panama [Folcini-Grassi & Co., Genoa]

Broken up at Savona 1960 by "ARDEM", arrived 17.7.1960.