IMPERIAL SIMCOE

Imperial Oil Limited, of Toronto, Ontario started shipping its products by water in 1902, using chartered vessels, and in 1910 started to operate its own tank ships. In 1930, the Furness Shipbuilding Company at Haverton Hill-on-Tees, Great Britain, built two sister tankers for Imperial Oil, the ACADIALITE (C. 154480) and SIMCOLITE.

After arriving in Canadian waters, the SIMCOLITE hauled petroleum products for Imperial Oil around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River often loading at the Sarnia refinery. In 1947, SIMCOLITE had her name changed to b) IMPERIAL SIMCOE. In 1962, her ownership changed to Chargord Investments Ltd., of Toronto, with Imperial Oil being her manager.

In 1965, after 35 years of service, IMPERIAL SIMCOE was laid up at Lauzon, Quebec, along with her older fleetmate, IMPERIAL WELLAND, a) ROYALITE. They were sold to Steel Factors Ltd., Montreal, and were then resold to German and then Spanish breakers. They cleared Lauzon on September 9, 1965, in tow of the Dutch tug LOIRE, but on two occasions the tankers broke the tow in the North Atlantic during heavy weather, and it was only with extreme difficulty that the tug got them back in tow again. IMPERIAL SIMCOE and IMPERIAL WELLAND finally arrived safely at Santander, Spain on October 13, 1965 where they were cut up for scrap.

IMPERIAL SIMCOE upbound in the St. Clair River opposite St. Clair June 28, 1963