Το Νικολαος Κ ηταν ενα απο τα παλαια επιβατηγα της Ελληνικης ακτοπλοιας που εμειναν ενεργα επι 30+ χρονια στον Ελληνικο χωρο και πανω απο 60 χρονια γενικα. Ναυπηγηθηκε στο Aberdeen της Σκωτιας το 1873 σαν το επιβατηγο Alexander Pirie που εκανε τα δρομολογια απο Aberdeen στο Newcastle και το Hull. Ηταν σχετικα μικρο, μονο 503 τοννων. Ηλθε στην Ελλαδα το 1906, ονομασθηκε Νικολαος και περασε τον μεγαλυτερο χρονο της καρριερας του με την Ελληνικη Ατμοπλοια Κατρακη ειτε σαν Νικολαος ειτε σαν Νικολαος Κ. Προς το τελος της καρριερας του, ονομασθηκε για 2βΛ†’3 χρονια Ταιναρον.
Ο φιλος cpt babis ανεβασε προσφατα μια ωραιαοτατη φωτογραφια του πλοιου στα Κυθηρα. http://www.nautilia.gr/forum/showpos...6&postcount=32
Nikolaos K.JPG
Nikolaos was a well known passenger ship that appeared in the Greek market under two different names., Nikolaos and Tainaron. She was built as Alexander Pirie by A. Hall & Co of Aberdeen, Scotland in 1873. She had 54.9 m length, 8.8 m width but only 503 tons.
Alexander Pirie belonged to the Aberdeen, Newcastle and Hull Steam Co. For more than 30 years she was doing just one major route, on the East and North East route of Great Britain, from Aberdeen, Scotland to Newcastle and Hull, England… See the attached advertisement from 1880 below.
Aberdeen Co 1880.jpg
The technical characteristics of the ship according to Miramar were
After 33 years in the British market she was sold to Greek owners (A. Coulouthros, Andros) in 1906 (not 1912 as mentioned in the Lloyd Register) and was named Nikolaos. After 1908 (not 1909 as mentioned in Miramar) she belonged to the Katrakis Greek Shipping Company (Elliniki Atmoploia Katraki).IDNo: 1065102 Year: 1874
Name: ALEXANDER PIRIE Launch Date: 8.11.73
Type: Cargo ship Date of completion: 1.74
Flag: GBR Keel:
Tons: 514 Link: 1626
DWT: 0 Yard No: 282
Length overall: Ship Design:
LPP: 54.9 Country of build: GBR
Beam: 7.9 Builder: Hall, A.
Material of build: I Location of yard: Aberdeen
Number of screws/Mchy/ Speed(kn): 1C-
Subsequent History: 1877 (Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Co Ltd, Aberdeen) - 1906 NICHOLAOS (A.Coulouthros, Andros) - 1909 (G.Katrakis, Piraeus) - 1920 (G.T.Katrakis, Piraeus) - 1923 TAINARON (s/o) - 1931 NICOLAOS K. (s/o)
Disposal Data:BU 1937
Name Tons Change Registered Owner
ALEXANDER PIRIE 514 1873 Aberdeen & Hull
NICHOLAOS 514 1906 A.Coulouthros
TAINARON 514 1923 G.T.Katrakis
NICOLAOS K. 514 1931 G.T.Katrakis
As she was a relatively smaller ship (during that time there were numerous bigger, former British ships that had arrived to Greece), she was placed in the route Piraeus, Monemvasia, Aghia Pelagia, Neapolis, Plytra (!) and Gytheion! Here is an advertisement from July 6, 1908.
19080706 Nikolaos.jpg
This was a route in which she became quite famous! A month later (August 5 and 28, 1908) we see the same route, but also a route from Piraeus to Laurion (!), Aliverion, Chalkis, Limne, Aedipsos, Stylis, Oreoi and Volos.
19080805 Nikolaos.jpg19080828 Nikolaos.jpg
Regrettably, during that time she developed an extremely bad reputation as a very dirty and unreliable ship. It appears that Katrakis was a vey poor shipping company and the passengers suffered continuously