In the years 1893 - 1895, the The Hamburg America Line maintained a direct service between Scandinavian ports and America. The ships departed from Stettin, calling at Helsingborg, Gothenburg (Copenhagen) and Christiansand. Passengers were conveyed from other Scandinavian ports to embark at Gothenburg and Christiansand. The Scandinavian service was operated under the name "Scandia Line". It was in sharp competition with the Thingvalla Line, later called the Scandinavian America Line, and to the great anoyance of the British lines which considered the Scandinavian marcet as part of their domain. This lead to a furious price war, fatres was reduced to about the half of the usual, and in 1895 HAPAG decided to come to an agreement with the other lines and discontinued the Scandia Line.
However, the service was taken up again in the summer of 1903, and continued till the autumn of 1904.
For passengers traveling on HAPAG ships via Hamburg the Emigration Protocols will often only give the name of the company as "Hamburg". Note that some Norwegians traveling on German ships would choose a rout from Norway to Denmark by ship, and from Denmark to Germany by train, the Hamburg America Line also called at English ports.
Newspaper announcement from Romsdals Tidende July 20th 1909:
Skandia Line, new Scandinavian steamship line for low fare conveyance between Molde - New York via Kristiansand S, with excellent steamships, fitted with waterproof departments and all comforts of out time in cabin as in steerage. Careful service!, Excellent meals!, Electric light!, Scandinavian kitchen!, Scandinavian stewards!, Scandinavian doctors! Adria 30th July -,, Willehad (NDL) 27th August from Kristiansand S (Changes may appear.) - Steerage fare 60,- Kr. [Norwegian Kroner]
from Molde to New York. Steerage passengers will also be conveyed from Bergen via Hamburg to New York with the Hamburg America Line twin screw oceanliners for the same fare. To reserve tickets one should enroll as soon as possible at Klaus Andersen, Molde.
This announcement is an example on the way this service was announced in many of the Norwegian newspapers throughout the country.
Go here to read the
passenger list for the Gothia leaving Christiansand on 28th July 1894
