The August Mystery Ship was the liner Hikawa Maru, which is preserved in her company colours of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line (Japan Mail Steamship Co)at Yokohama.
The 11,622grt vessel was built in 1930 as a passengercargo liner for the company; she measured 512ft by 66ft and was powered by diesels driving twin screws to give a service speed of 15-18 knots on the Pacific service.
I believe she was taken into military use in 1941 and served as a hospital ship, before being returned to the same company, trading until 1953. She has been preserved to a high standard, as can be seen from her superb appearance, and was one of a class of superior vessels, of which they are clearly very much more proud than any surviving UK shipping company.
M. J. Benning, Somerset
