S.S. St. Olav, The Norwegian American Steamship Company

Ship Data

Type Built Burden Dimensions Line / Owner
S.S. 1871 at Walker-on-Tyne, England by Wigham, Richardson & Co. 1,935 gross 293.9ft x 35.2ft The Norwegian American Steamship Company

The name of this ship occures with different spelling variations, like St. Olaf, St. Olav and Sanct Olaf. Details: straight stem, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw. The engine by North Eastern Marine Co, Sunderland delivered 900 h.p., which gave the ship a speed of 10 knots. This ship was the first to be built for the direct service between Christiania - Bergen and New York. She had a steerage capacity for 500 passengers, and cabin capacity for another 30 passengers. It had a crew of 51. The ship was fitted with large dormitories steerage, without any refectory or saloons. The food was boiled with steam, and brought in to the rooms in big tin pails. It is said that when the food was served it was complete chaos steerage. With the founding of the Norwegian - American Steamship Company, the conditions became much better for Norwegian emigrants. The crew on board the ships spoke the same language as the passengers, and the food was traditional Norwegian. Also, the journey became quicker and easier. The company was also often referred to as "Det Norske Utvandrings-selskap" (The Norwegian Emigration Company)

Note that there was also another ship by the name "St. Olaf" which was also involved in the conveyance of Norwegian emigrants. That ship belonged to the "Det Søndenfjedsk Norske Dampskibsselsab" and sailed mainly between Christiania and Hamburg.

Chronological History

Year Event
1871 April, launched for Peter Jebsen of Bergen, Norway
1871 Departed Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1871 Bergen July 6 → New York July 23. Journey of 15 days from Bergen.
1871 Bergen Sept. 13 → New York Sept. 29. 15, 5 days journey from Bergen <BR> According to “Times” the Captain and Crew (24 men) was saved from the wrecked English ship <B>Sublime</B>.
1872 March 15: (Capt. Hille) at Liverpool
1872 March 22: (Capt. Hille) at Newcastle
1872 Departed Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1872 Bergen Apr. 1 → New York Apr. 19. Reported a stormy journey.
1872 June, left for New York with 614 passengers, and 5000 tons of fish
1872 Bergen June 10 → New York July 1
1872 July 17: Sailed from New York with 31,382 bushels of corn, 28,970 bushels of wheat, 300 bbls Flour
1872 Aug. 9: (Capt. Hille) arrived London
1872 Aug. 16: (Capt. Hille) arrived Newcastle
1872 Aug. 20: (Capt. Hille) arrived Bergen
1872 Bergen Aug. 26 → New York Sept. 11. <I>Feeder ship </I><B>Kong Sverre</B> from Christiania to Bergen with 205 emigrants..
1873 Departed Christiania - Christiansand - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1873 Christiania Mar. 30 → New York Apr. 17. Captain Hille, Arrived in New York in the morning.
1873 Apr. 26; (Capt Hille) departed New York for London
1873 Christiania May 27 → New York June 15
1873 July 20: London
1873 July 29: (Capt. Heltberg) from Bergen with merchandise and 172 passengers
1873 Christiania July 24 → New York Aug. 13. Journey of 15 days from Bergen.
1873 Sept. 19: (Capt. Heltberg) London
1873 Oct. 1: (Capt. Heltberg) departed Bergen with merchendise and 106 passengers
1873 Christiania Sept. 27 → New York Oct. 19
1874 Feb. 16: arrived London from the United States
1874 March 28; (Capt Pedersen) cleared to sail from New York to Hamburg
1874 Departed Christiania - Bergen. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1874 Christiania Apr. 30 → New York May 24. Captain Pedersen. Departure Bergen 1874-05-05.
1874 June 2: reported to have cleared to sail for Havre with 110 bdls. Whalebone, 6 pks. Furniture, 252 Hides, 6,000 Staves, 11 bags Hair, 63 bags Bones, 350 bxs. bacon, 6,293 bushels Wheat
1874 Nov. 17: reported at London
1875 May 7: Newcastle
1875 Departed Bergen May 15. Arrived New York June 2. — See in Routes & Departures
1875 Bergen May 15 → New York June 2
1875 July 2: at London
1875 Sept. 11: (Capt Hammer) departed London for the United Sates
1876 Departed Christiania Apr. 27. Arrived Philadelphia May 17. — See in Routes & Departures
1876 Christiania Apr. 27 → Philadelphia May 17
1880 Sold, name unchanged
1903 Scrapped at Genoa

Routes & Departures

Year Route To Departures
1871 Bergen - New York ▶ 2
1872 Bergen - New York ▶ 3
St. Olav, journey in June 1872
The departure day from Bergen was aproximate June 10. The ship arrievd in New York July 1.
1873 Christiania - Christiansand - Bergen - New York ▶ 4
S/S St. Olav, March 30
In Christiania the steamship Sanct Olaf, Captain Hille, anchored at Fæstningsbryggen to unload a lot of goods from Newcastle, England. In Christiania she loaded some goods and about 60 emigrants for New York. She arrived safely in New York, April 17.

S/S Haakon Adelsteen, April 24
Captain Müller sailed from Christiania with about 190 emigrants for America. They arrived New York, May 15.

S/S St. Olav, July 24
Arrived in New York August 13 after a journey of 15 days from Bergen.

S/S Harald Haarfagre, August 4
Arrived in New York after a journey of 15 days from Bergen.

S/S Peter Jebsen, August 19
She left Bergen with 127 passengers onboard, of them were 79 over 14 years old, 38 between 1- 14 years old and 10 under 1 year.They arrived New York September 4.

S/S Kong Sverre, August 28
Arrived in New York September 19 after a journey of 17 days from Bergen.

S/S Haakon Adelsteen, September 11
Arrived in New York after a journey of 16 days from Bergen.

S/S St. Olav, September 27
Arrived in New York October 19 after a journey of 17 days from Bergen.

S/S Peter Jebsen, November 1873
Left Bergen and arrived New York November 31 , reported strong weather.

1874 Christiania - Christiansand - Bergen - New York New York 1
S/S Haakon Adelsteen, April 9
Arrived in New York April 29 after 15 days journey from Bergen

S/S St. Olav, April 30
Left Bergen May 5 and arrived in New York May 24 after a journey of 19 days.

S/S Harald Haarfagre, May 7
Arrived in New York May 26 after a journey of 13 days from Bergen

S/S Kong Sverre, May 23
Captain Dannevig left Bergen May 30 and arrived in New York June 15 after 16 days at sea.

S/S Haakon Adelsteen, June 18
Arrived in New York July 8 after 15 days at sea from Bergen.

S/S Kong Sverre, July 21
Arrived in New York August 12 after 17 days at sea from Bergen. Reported a stormy journey

Date From To Note Connections
1874-04-30 Christiania - Christiansand - Bergen New York see below

Other ships named "St. Olav"

Ship Line / Owner
St. Olav

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