File:Unidentified Passenger of SS Suevic c 1901-1928 (18695765056).jpg

Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
SUEVIC was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast for the White Star Line in 1901. It was the last and largest of the five Jubilee class ships built and was to service the Liverpool-Cape Town-Sydney route. SUEVIC had a capacity for 4oo passengers and was fitted with refrigerators.
In 1907 SUEVIC was returning to Liverpool when the crew misjudged the distance to shore during a fog at night off Cornwall; as a result the ship ran aground onto rocks at full speed. All passengers and crew were rescued. The ship was lightened in an attempt to refloat it but the bow was stuck fast. White Star decided to cut the ship in half and salvage the stern. This was successfully completed and the company ordered a new bow section from Harland and Wolff. The ship was rebuilt and re-launched in January 1908.
SUEVIC was requisitioned by the British Government during World War I but maintained its commercial route and was used for bringing provisions and troops from Australia to Europe.
SUEVIC continued on the Sydney route after the war until 1928 when White Star sold it to a Norwegian company where it was renamed SKYTTEREN and served in the whaling fleet in Antarctic waters.
In April 1940 Norway was occupied by Germany during World War II and SKYTTEREN was interned in a neutral Swedish port. In 1942, 10 ships attempted to leave the port and meet with British ships; only 2 made it. SKYTTEREN was scuttled by its crew so it would not fall into German hands.
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