| Name: | COLONIA |
| Type: | Cable Ship |
| Launched: | 14/02/1902 |
| Completed: | 06/05/1902 |
| Builder: | Wigham Richardson & Co |
| Yard: | Neptune, Low Walker |
| Yard Number: | 387 |
| Dimensions: | 7976grt, 4977nrt, 487.0 x 56.0 x 27.6ft |
| Engines: | 2 x T3cyl (24, 40.5 & 67 x 48ins), 846nhp |
| Engines by: | Wigham Richardson & Co, Low Walker |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Screws; 14.2knots (trials) |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Reg Number: | 115810 |
| History: | |
| 06/05/1902 | Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Co Ltd, London |
| 1928 | A/S Odd (Thor Dahl), Sandefjord; renamed TORODD |
| 1934 | Norske Hvalprodukter A/S (Nordstrøm, Jespersen & Co A/S), Oslo |
| 1934 | Renamed SYDIS |
| 1937 | Hamburger Walfang-Kontor GmbH (Deutsche Ölmühlen-RohstoffeGmbh) |
| 1937 | Renamed SÜDMEER |
| 01/06/1940 | Kriegsmarine |
| 14/10/1944 | Sank |
| Comments: | Contract Price £136766; Profit £18141-10s-11d. |
| At the time of her construction was the largest cable ship in the world | |
| Built to lay a cable from Vancouver to New Zealand a distance of 3627 miles | |
| Over 26 years involved in laying over 35 major cable routes totalling 80,700 miles. | |
| 1928: Converted to whale factory ship | |
| 01/06/1940: Requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine as an advanced base depot ship | |
| 14/10/1944: Sank after being torpedoed by Russian aircraft near | |
| Honningsvaag, in position 70.03N – 25.18E |
Above photo as COLONIA courtesy of Photoship
Above photo as COLONIA copyright of Bill Holly
Above photo as TORODD copyright of A Duncan
Above photo as SÜDMEER copyright of Judit Lorincze
Shields Daily Gazette, Saturday, 15/02/1902