S.S. Bergensfjord, NAL - The Norwegian-America Line

Ship Data

Type Built Burden Dimensions Line / Owner
S.S. 1913 at Birkenhead by Cammell, Laird & Co. Ltd. 10,666 gross 512,1ft x 61.2ft. x 29.4ft NAL - The Norwegian-America Line , Kristiania, Norway
The steamship Bergensfjord was almost Identical to the Kristianiafjord. This was a 10 666 gross ton ship, 6 475 net., she had two funnels and two masts. She was constructed in steel; twin screws, had 2 steel decks and steel shelter deck, 3rd deck in No. 1,2 & 5 holds, 8 cemented bulkheads. Poop Deck 70 feet long, and Bridge Deck 201 feet long. Forecastle was 108 feet long. She was fitted with wireless and electric light. There was cellular double bottom aft 119 feet long, under engine & boilers 152 feet long, forward 189 ft. long, 1 165 tons. Forward Peak Tank 149 tons, Aft Peak Tank 150 tons, flat keel. Propulsion: quadruple expansion engines with 8 cylinders of 26, 37 ½, 53 & 75 inches diameter each pair; stroke 51 inches; operating at 220 p.s.i.; 1 469 nominal horsepower; 8 single ended boilers, 32 corrugated furnaces; grate surface 590 sq. ft.; heating surface 23 000 sq. ft.; forced draught. She had a service speed of 15 knots. The engine was built by the same company as the hull. There was passenger accommodation for 100-1st, 250-2nd and 850-3rd class. The Bergensfjord operated as a passenger ship conveying emigrants from Norway to America from 1913 till 1940, but it was also used for sumer cruises. Master appointed to the ship in 1913: Captain Irgens.

 


Bergensfjord - dockside, Norwegian-America Line steamship
Bergensfjord - dockside at Kristiania
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Norwegian-America Line steamships Bergensfjord and Kristianiafjord - 3rd class plan
Norwegian-America Line steamships Bergensfjord and Kristianiafjord - 3rd class plan
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For more pictures: NAL Image Gallery

Chronological History

Year Event
1913 April 8; Launched by Cammell Laird & Co. Ltd (Yard No. 787)
1913 September; Delivered NAL
1913 Sept. 25; maiden voyage Christiania-Christiansand-Stavanger-Bergen-New York
1913 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1914 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1915 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1916 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1917 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1918 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1919 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1920 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1921 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1921 New Tonnage; 10709 gross and 6448 net
1922 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1923 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1924 Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived Halifax - New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1924 July; engine room explosion shortly after leaving Bergen - passengers transferred to other ships
1924 Sept. 26; resumed Christiania-New York sailings after repairs
1925 Departed Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen. Arrived Halifax - New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1925 Nov.; refitted to carry 367-cabin and 572-3rd class passengers
1926 New Tonnage; 11013 gross and 6406 net
1927 Sept.; again adapted to carry 90-cabin, 155-tourist and 500-3rd class
1932 Fitted with two low-pressure steam turbines
1933 Rebuilt to a tonnage of 11015 tons
1939 Jan.; altered to accommodate cabin and 3rd class only
1940 April 7; commenced her last voyage from Bergen to New York
1940 April 16; Laid up on arrival New York from Oslo
1940 Nov.; Converted to troopship at Halifax (total carried 165,000 troops)
1946 Feb; Chartered for 1 voyage to carry GI brides from Europe to USA
1946 Aug; Sold to Panamanian Lines Inc, renamed "Argentina"
1947 Commenced sailings between Genoa and South America
1949 Owners restyled Mediterranean Lines Inc.
1949 Converted to accommodate 126-1st, 250-cabin and 574-tourist class passengers
1949 Sept; commenced her first voyage from Genoa to Central America
1951 July 13; first voyage New York-Naples-Genoa
1951 Aug.; Genoa-Naples-Halifax
1951 Sept.; Genoa-Naples-Halifax-New York
1952 Nov. 26; 1 round voyage New York-Hamburg
1952 Sold to Home Lines Inc. (Panama)
1952 Nov.; last voyage from Naples to Genoa, Lisbon, Halifax and New York
1952 Dec. 20; Last voyage for Home Line, New York-Mediterranean.
1953 Sold to Zim Israel Navigation Co. Ltd. (Israel) - renamed "Jerusalem"
1953 Sold to the Zim Line - 11 round voyages between Haifa, Limasol, Malta, Cannes Halifax and New York
1957 Renamed "Jerusalem" for Israel/Marseilles service
1959 Aug; Scrapped at La Spezia

Routes & Departures

Year Route To Departures
1913 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 3
1914 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 9
1915 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 8
1916 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 8
1917 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 7
1918 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 7
1919 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 8
1920 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 7
1921 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 8
1922 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 9
1923 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 9
1924 Kristiania - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Bergen - New York ▶ 8
1925 Oslo - Stavanger - Bergen - Halifax - New York ▶ 8

Pictures

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