The Aaro made her first voyage on the Kristiania (Oslo) - Kristiansand - route in June 1909. Her first departure from Kristiania with Norwegian emigrants was on Saturday the 5th of June 1909. She was scheduled to depart at 10 AM. From then on she replaced the S/S Motebello on the Kristiania route, departing every fourteen days (Saturdays at 10AM) until May 1910. The The voyage between Kristiania and Hull would usually take about 2 days. After being taken of the Kristiania service the S/S Aaro was put on the Trondheim - Kristansund - Aalesund (frequently also calling at Bergen and Stavanger) - Hull route, only randomly doing a few trips on the Kristiania route. The emigrants had to proceed from Hull on the east coast of England, to the vest coast by train to embark on the transatlantic steamer.
Wilson Line, Trondheim - Hull. "Aaro" (3.500 tons) departure from Trondheim Thursday at 12 o'clock daytime on September 1st calling at Christiansund N, Aalesund, Bergen and Stavanger. Gods expedition on Wednesday. Obs. departure every Thursday at 12 o'clock daytime.
The last time the Aaro brought emigrants from Kristiania was on March 31st. The Aaro was torpedoed on August 8th 1916 by submarine U-20, on passage from Hull to Christiania. 3 crew members were lost, and the survivors were taken as prisoners. Call sign: HPBT. Official registration #: 128175
Details: 2,603 gross ton, 2,246 under deck and 1,618 net. She was a steel construction, single screw Schooner, 2 decks and water ballast. She was fitted with electric light and wireless. Forecastle 35 feet long. Propulsion: triple expansion engine with 3 cylinders of 22¾, 37 & 62 inches diameter respectively; stroke 42 inches; 249 nominal horsepower. The engine was built by the same company as the hull.
