NEW WESTERN MERCHANT VESSEL DELIVERED TO COMMUNIST CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01203A000200230002-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 2000
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: September 8, 1955
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 20QO05/30 : CIA-RDP79-01203A00020022-7
CONFIDENTIAL
EDIC/ID-17
-8 September 1955
WESZEfLN MERCHANT VESSEL DELIVERED TO COMMUNIST CHINA
I. The first newly constructed Western-built merchant vessel is reported
to have been delivered to Communist China, This vessel, ROSA (2345 GRT
3200 DWT), flying the Finnish flag, departed Kobe in the Japanese Inland
Sea on 6 August, declaring for Vancouver, D.C. On 9 August she was
sighted in the Yellow Sea on a northerly course, and is believed to have
been delivered to her new owners at Taku Bar on about 12 August, This
vessel is the first in a series of three constructed under a 1954 Sino=
Finnish trade agreement, and not only flew the Finnish flag but was
operated by a Finnish crew, The Finns apparently were very careful to
conceal the real nature of this vessels voyage to the Far East. For all
intents and purposes, she was a new Finnish vessel on a routine voyage to
Japan from Abe via Hamburg and Calcutta,,,
2. The second vessel in this series is believed to be in process of delivery
to Communist China at the present time. The RENATA,, sister ship of the
ROSA,, departed Abo on 13 July, declaring for Colombo. The third vessel,,
RITA2, title to which is reported to have passed to the Chinese at Turku
during the week of 21 August 19558 was to have departed Finland on
6 September for India, Japan, and thence to China According to reports,
the crew of the ROSA returned to Finland via the USSR, and was to operate
the RITA on her outward voyage,
3, In addition to the above vessels, it has been reported that Finland
has contracted with Co list China for the construction of three
additional cargo vessels of the above tonnage, as well as two tankers
of 4200 deadweight tons under the 1955 Sino-Finnish trade agreement
Similar delivery tactics are expected for these vessels.
NAVY DECLASSIFICATION/RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS ON FILE
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/05/30 : CIA-RDP79-01203A000200230002-7