SS Kristianiafjord (1912)

SS Kristianiafjord was the first ship in the fleet of the Norwegian America Line, built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, UK.[1] The name refers to the fjord leading into the Norwegian capital Oslo, at the time called Kristiania. Launched from its shipyard on 23 November 1912, it was put into service in 1913, the same year as its sister ship, SS Bergensfjord. It embarked on its maiden voyage on 4 June that year, sailing from Christiania (Oslo) through Christiansand, Stavanger and Bergen to New York, with the captain S. C. Hiortdahl. Kristianiafjord had a tonnage of 10,699, and was fitted with wireless and electric light. She could take 1,200 passengers – 100 first class, 250 second class and 850 third class.[2]

Official postcard of the SS Kristianiafjord
History
Norway
Name: SS Kristianiafjord
Owner: Norwegian America Line
Port of registry:  Norway
Route: Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York
Builder: Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, UK
Yard number: 784
Launched: 23 November 1912
Acquired: May 1913
Maiden voyage: 4 June 1913
Fate: Grounded off the coast of Newfoundland on 15 June 1917 and sank on 28 June 1917 during a storm
General characteristics
Class and type: Ocean liner
Tonnage: 10,699 gross tons
Length: 512.1 ft
Beam: 61.2 ft
Draft: 29.4 ft
Installed power:
  • Quadruple expansion engine with 8 cylinders of 26, 37​1⁄2, 53 & 75 inches diameter each pair; stroke 51 inches operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa) The engine was built by the same company as the hull.
  • 1,469 nominal horsepower
  • 8 single ended boilers
  • 32 corrugated furnaces with a grate surface 590 sq. ft. and a heating surface 23,000 sq. ft forced draught.
Speed: 15 knots
Capacity:
  • 1,200 passengers
  • 100 first class
  • 250 second class
  • 850 third class

Kristianiafjord remained on the same route for the next four years, but on 15 June 1917 the ship wrecked near Cape Race, Newfoundland due to navigational error. There were 1144 persons on board at the time, but no lives were lost. About two weeks later, on 28 June, the wreck was destroyed and lost in a storm.[2]

Other ships by the same name

The same name was later used by the company for two other ships. The first one (tonnage 6,759) was purchased in 1921, and sold in 1955 to Marinos & Frangos, Nassau, who renamed it Aghios Stefanos. The last Kristianiafjord (tonnage 17,188) was a bulk carrier, bought in 1981. It had previously been in the possession of D. Lauritzen, Denmark, under the name of Dan Bauta. It was purchased by the Norwegian America Line in 1989, but sold to Vibeke K/S, Oslo, in 1993, and renamed Federal Vibeke.[1]

References
  1. S. Swiggum and M. Kohli (21 July 2007). "The Fleets: Norwegian-America Line". TheShipsList. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  2. "S/S Kristianiafjord (1), NAL - The Norwegian-America Line". Norway-Heritage: Hands Across the Sea. Retrieved 28 November 2007.

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