Thingvalla | Norway Heritage

Ship Data

Type	Built	Burden	Dimensions	Line / Owner
S.S.	1873 at Copenhagen, Denamrk by Burmeister & Wain	2,524 gross	301.5ft x 37.4ft x 21.6ft	Thingvalla Line

Her tonnage was 2,524 tons gross, 1,745 under deck and 1,630 net. She had one funnel and three masts. Originally she was rigged as a bark, later probably as a barquentine. in the 1887-88 Lloyd's Registry of Shipping, she is listed as being schooner rigged. She was an iron construction, and had a single screw. She had 2 decks and spar deck, 6 cemented bulkheads and partial double bottom 600 tons. Aft Peak Tank and Forward Peak Tank. She had a compound engine with 2 inverted cylinders of 30 and 60 inches diameter respectively, stroke 36 inches, operating at 60 p.s.i. delivering 225 horsepower (900 indicated horsepower) giving her a speed of 10 knots. The engine was built by the same company as the hull. There was passenger accommodation for 50-1st, 50-2nd and 900-3rd class. The ship was named after the field in Iceland where the old assemblies of the people were held according to Norse custom and usage, and where resolutions were passed for the benefit of their commonwealth. The year 1874 when the "Thingvalla" was built marked the 10th centenary of settlement in Iceland.

In 1888 the S/S Thingvalla collided with and sank the Thingvalla Line vessel "Geiser" off Sable Island with the loss of 105 lives:

The Collision between the S/S Thingvalla and the S/S Geiser, Details of the disaster (2000)
The Thrilling Story of the Sinking of the Gesier, The S/S Thingvalla arrives in port. From the Halifax Morning Herald Sat. Aug 18, 1888

The collision between the S/S Thingvalla and the S/S Geiser - STORY OF THE SURVIVORS (2000)
The Thrilling Story of the Sinking of the Gesier, The S/S Thingvalla arrives in port. From The Halifax Morning Herald Mon. 20 Aug. 1888. THE CATASTROPHE OFF SABLE ISLAND, Captain Møller's Version. —A Passenger says The Thingvalla Officers Are to Blame. — A Woman's Heart-rending Story.

A. B. Wilse's journey on the S/S Geiser in 1888 (Oslo 1936)
The collision between the S/S Thingvalla and the S/S Geiser - A passenger account of the disaster

Collision between the S/S Thingvalla and the S/S Geiser - excerpts from the NEW YORK TIMES
Excerpts from an article in the NEW YORK TIMES. It is dated Friday, August 17, 1888, page 2, column 3. Transcribed and contributed by Jeanne Nelson.

[DFDS 1866-1991, p. 236, shown by the kind permission of Søren Thorsøe]

S/S Thingvalla after the collision with S/S Geiser

Sources: [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.3,p.1050,][Lloyd's registry of shipping] [Skandinavien-Amerika Linien, DFDS' passager- og fragtfart på Amerika, Søren Thorsøe, Simonsen, Krogh-Andersen, Frederichsen][DFDS 1866-1991 by Søren Thorsøe a.o., p. 236]

Chronological History

Year	Event
1873	Built for A/S Sejl- og Dampskibsselskabet af 1873 (F.W. Kiørebo, Copenhagen)
1873	Oct. 25, launched, but delivery was delayed till June 20, 1874
1874	Her first service was in the East Asian trade
1877	Chartered to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique to replace the Amerique on their passenger and post route between Le Havre and New York. She was in this service for 7 moths before returning to East Asian trade again.
1879	May 24, arrived to Burmeister & Wain from Bremerhafen
1879	Aug. 8, arrived at Thameshaven with live stock
1879	Oct 25, departed from Copenhagen on her first voyage with passengers for Thingvalla Line, calling at Newcastle on way to New York where she arrived Nov. 11
1880	Feb 8: departed from New-York Capt. Molson, arrived at Copenhagen ca. Feb 22. She landed at the Isle of Wight the crew of the ship Alexander Marshall, Capt. Gardner, which was abandoned leaky and dismantled. Nothing was saved.
1880	Mar 9, arrived to Burmeister & Wain for repairs
1880	Apr. 14, departed Newcastle - Apr. 24 fell in with a lot of small icebergs just southeast of Nova Scotia
1880	May 7, arrived to Boston requiring repairs after loosing her screw, the passengers proceeded to New York by train, Thingvalla departed Boston May 11, - arrived New York May 13
1881	Jan. 31, arrived Kristiansand with leaks after striking an underwater rock in thick snow
1881	Departed Christiania. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1881	Christiania June 23 → New York July 7
1881	Christiania Aug. 15 → New York Aug. 30
1881	Christiania Oct. 8 → New York Oct. 26. Reported to have left Christiania the 9th.
1881	Christiania Dec. 1 → New York Dec. 22
1882	Christiania Dec. 1 → New York Jan. 17
1882	Jan 23, arrived Burmeister & Wain for repairs
1882	Departed Christiania. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1882	Christiania Feb. 5 → New York Feb. 21. Capt. Laub from Christiania with emigrants and cargo of 5,000kg wood pulp, 1,000kg books and 88kg tinned products.
1882	Left New York March 5 and arrived in Christiania March 19. At Newfoundland they was stocked in the ice where she had to stay for one night when after she had to sail some 70 mile around the ice
1882	Mar. 27, arrived Burmeister & Wain for repairs
1882	Christiania Apr. 13 → New York Apr. 28. Capt. Laub from Copenhagen with emigrants. Within 2 – 3 hours in Christiania another 206 emigrants embarked and 50,000kg wood pulp loaded.
1882	Christiania June 1 → New York June 16. Capt. Laub from Christiania with 268 emigrants. Cargo loaded: 500 barrels anchovies and 15 barrels of medicine fish oil.
1882	Christiania July 27 → New York Aug. 13. Capt. Laub.
1882	Christiania Sept. 21 → New York Oct. 7. 221 Norwegian passengers.
1882	Christiania Nov. 16 → New York Dec. 4. Capt. Laub in Christiania some 50 Norwegian passengers embarked. Cargo loaded herring and cheese..
1883	Jan. 6 - Mar. 30, refitted with new cabins and new deck by Burmeister & Wain
1883	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1883	Christiania Apr. 5 → New York Apr. 21. 319 Norwegian passengers.
1883	Christiania May 31 → New York June 16. 329 Norwegian passengers<BR>Also reported arrive 1883-06-15.
1883	Christiania July 26 → New York Aug. 10. 202 Norwegian passengers.
1883	Christiania Sept. 20 → New York Oct. 5. 204 Norwegian passengers.
1883	Christiania Nov. 15 → New York Dec. 3
1884	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1884	Christiania Jan. 10 → New York Jan. 29
1884	Christiania Mar. 6 → New York Mar. 22
1884	Christiania May 1 → New York May 17. Also reported arrive 1884-05-16<BR>383 Norwegian passengers.
1884	Christiania June 26 → New York July 12. 110 emigrants from Copenhagen and loaded 136 emigrants in Christiania.
1884	Aug. 8, arrived Burmeister & Wain for repairs
1884	Christiania Aug. 21 → New York Sept. 7. 205 Norwegian passengers.
1884	Christiania Oct. 7 → New York Oct. 21. 13 days at sea.
1884	Christiania Nov. 27 → New York Dec. 15
1884	Dec. 23, returned to New York on way to Copenhagen after the cargo had shifted
1885	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1885	Christiania Jan. 22 → New York Feb. 7. Capt. Laub from Christiania with passengers. Cargo 464,000kg wood pulp and 16 barrels of anchovies.
1885	Christiania Mar. 19 → New York Apr. 5. Capt. Laub arrived in Christiania with 188 emigrants and goods from Copenhagen. Left Christiania with another 80 emigrants and cargo of 275,000kg wood pulp.
1885	April 27, at 06:00 morning, run aground the island of Hovedøya in Christiania. She was afloat after all goods were unloaded. She could continue her journey for Copenhagen after 3 days
1885	May 4 - May 16, repairs at burmeister & Wain
1885	Christiania May 19 → New York June 2. Capt. Laub from Christiania with 200 emigrants. Some 300 followed from Copenhagen and another 50 embarked in Christiansand.
1885	Christiania July 9 → New York July 24
1885	Christiania Sept. 4 → New York Sept. 19
1885	Christiania Oct. 29 → New York Nov. 15
1886	Christiania Dec. 24 → New York Jan. 13
1886	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1886	Christiania Feb. 18 → New York Mar. 6
1886	Christiania Apr. 15 → New York Apr. 30. 350 Norwegian passengers.
1886	Christiania June 10 → New York June 25. 408 Norwegian passengers.
1886	Christiania Aug. 5 → New York Aug. 20
1886	Christiania Sept. 28 → New York Oct. 13
1886	Christiania Nov. 23 → New York Dec. 11
1887	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1887	Christiania Mar. 17 → New York Apr. 5
1887	Christiania May 12 → New York May 29. Capt. Laub, from Christiania some 260 emigrants embarked and a cargo of 481.000-kilo wood pulp, 120.000-kilo chemical pulp loaded. In Christiansand another 180 emigrants embarked. Total 778 persons followed the ship..
1887	Christiania July 7 → New York July 21
1887	Christiania Sept. 1 → New York Sept. 16
1887	Christiania Oct. 27 → New York Nov. 13
1888	Christiania Dec. 22 → New York Jan. 8
1888	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1888	Christiania Feb. 16 → New York Mar. 3. <I>Feeder ship</I> left Bergen 1888-02-17.
1888	Christiania Apr. 12 → New York Apr. 27
1888	Christiania June 7 → New York June 22. Passengers from Bergen embarked in Kristiansand.
1888	Christiania Aug. 2 → Aug. 14. Collided with and sank the Thingvalla Line vessel "Geiser" off Sable Island with the loss of 105 lives. Passengers arrived in Halifax 2 days later.
1888	Christiania Aug. 2 → New York Aug. 16. The passengers arrived in New York, Steamship Thingvalla arrived in Halifax.
1889	Christiania Dec. 20 → New York Jan. 10
1889	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1889	Christiania Feb. 7 → New York Feb. 25. Capt. Larsen from Christiania with 28 passengers. Cargo; 89 barrels brisling, 160 barrels of herring, 15 barrels fish oil, 7000kg fresh herring, 806 liter beer, 490.200kg wood pulp and 3.760kg skin.
1889	March 16; arrived in Christiania from New York with cargo of meat, oil, tobacco and syrup
1889	Christiania Apr. 4 → New York Apr. 18. Capt. Laub from Copenhagen with 284 passengers, in Christiania another 91 embarked. Cargo loaded: 308.200kg wood pulp, 42 barrels of herring, 2.010kg fish skin and 1.160kg tinned products.
1889	Christiania May 30 → New York June 15. Capt. Laub from Christiania with 512 emigrants. 262 followed from Copenhagen. Cargo: 110 barrels of herring, 959 barrels of anchovies, 38,290kg Oxalic acid and 510.400kg wood pulp.
1889	Christiania July 18 → New York Aug. 3
1889	Christiania Sept. 19 → New York Oct. 4
1889	December, the 3rd mate was washed over board during a heavy storm in the Atlantic on way New York - Kristiania
1890	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1890	Christiania Mar. 13 → New York Apr. 1
1890	Christiania May 8 → New York May 20. Collided with an iceberg the 19th in a foggy morning, 20 feet high and 100 feet long. No personal injury and only minor damage to the ship..
1890	Christiania July 24 → New York Aug. 9
1890	Christiania Sept. 18 → New York Oct. 5
1890	Christiania Nov. 13 → New York Dec. 1
1891	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1891	Christiania Mar. 5 → New York Mar. 22
1891	Christiania Apr. 30 → New York May 17
1891	Christiania June 25 → New York July 8
1891	Christiania Aug. 20 → New York Sept. 4. Capt. Laub with 682 passengers, 155 emigrants embarked in Christiania loading 210500kg wood pulp and 1008litre of beer..
1891	Christiania Oct. 15 → New York Oct. 31
1891	Christiania Dec. 10 → New York Dec. 27
1892	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1892	Christiania Feb. 4 → New York Feb. 19
1892	Christiania Mar. 31 → New York Apr. 15
1892	Christiania May 26 → New York June 9
1892	Christiania July 21 → New York Aug. 4. Capt. S. J. H. Laub. <BR>Also reported arrive August 2 and 3.
1892	Christiania Sept. 22 → New York Oct. 9. Capt. Laub.
1892	Christiania Nov. 10 → New York Nov. 25. Capt. Laub. Also reported arrive 1892-11-24.
1893	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1893	Christiania Jan. 12 → New York Jan. 29
1893	Feb. 22, damages to screw and hull due to ice in the Kristianiafjord (Oslofjord), went to Burmeister & Wain for repairs
1893	Christiania Mar. 30 → New York Apr. 15. Capt. Laub (see also S/S Siberian 1893-04-19). Cargo; 75 packages of exhibit objects, 13.229kg oxalis acid, 1.524 liter beer.
1893	Christiania May 22 → New York June 6. Capt. Berentzen with passengers. Cargo loaded in Kristiania: 73.000 kg marble, 153.000 kg wood pulp, 672 liter beer.
1893	Christiania July 20 → New York Aug. 4. Capt. Berentsen.
1893	Christiania Sept. 14 → New York Sept. 27. Capt. Berendsen. Also reported arrive 1893-09-28.
1893	Christiania Nov. 9 → New York Nov. 23. Capt. Berentsen. 188 emigrants from Christiania.<BR>Also reported arrive 1893-11-24.
1894	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1894	Christiania Jan. 4 → New York Jan. 19. Capt. Berentsen.
1894	May 11 → New York May 22. Capt. Laub.
1894	Christiania July 5 → New York July 21. Capt. Berentsen.
1894	Christiania Sept. 6 → New York Sept. 21. Capt. Berendsen.
1894	Christiania Nov. 1 → New York Nov. 20. Capt. Laub.
1895	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1895	Christiania Jan. 4 → New York Jan. 20
1895	Christiania May 2 → New York May 16
1895	Christiania June 27 → New York July 13
1895	Christiania Aug. 22 → New York Sept. 6
1895	Christiania Oct. 17 → New York Oct. 30. Also reported arrive 1895-10-31.
1896	Departed Christiania - Christiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1896	Christiania Feb. 6 → New York Feb. 25
1896	Christiania May 29 → New York June 11. Also reported arrive 1896-06-12.
1896	Christiania July 23 → New York Aug. 6
1896	Christiania Sept. 17 → New York Oct. 2. Also reported arrive 1896-10-03.
1896	Oct. 29; Arrived in Kristiania with 3 flags at half-mast, Norway, Denmark and United States. One sailor died after heavy sea off Scotland on the journey eastbound. The sailor was to be buried in Kristiania
1896	Christiania Nov. 19 → New York Dec. 5
1897	→ New York Feb. 7
1897	Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1897	Christiania Mar. 18 → New York Apr. 2. Capt. Berentzen left Kristiania with general goods.
1897	Christiania July 1 → New York July 16. Capt. Berentzen from Kristiania with passengers and general cargo.
1897	Kristiania - Kristiansand Aug. 26 → New York Sept. 8. Capt. Berentzen from Kristiania with passengers and 178 barrels of fish oil. 120 Norwegian passengers.
1898	Departed Kristiania - Kristiansand. Arrived New York. — See in Routes & Departures
1898	Christiania Feb. 10 → New York Feb. 27
1898	Christiania Apr. 7 → New York Apr. 26
1898	Christiania June 2 → New York June 17
1898	→ New York Aug. 11
1898	Christiania Sept. 22 → New York Oct. 6. Capt. Laub. From Kristiania with 175 barrels of fish oil and 259 barrels mackerel.
1898	Oct. 10, sold to DFDS, transferred to Scandinavian America Line
1900	Sold to Norwegian owners
1903	September, stranded at Torgfjord, sold and scrapped

Routes & Departures

Year

Route

Departures

1881