SS Helsingfors (1903)

Helsingfors was a Finnish freight and passenger steamship built in Belgium in 1903 for Helsingfors Ångfartygs Aktiebolaget. She ran aground and sank near Bengtskär on 1 January 1905. The accident resulted in the construction of the Bengtskär Lighthouse.

For other ships with the same name, see SS Helsingfors.

History
Finland
NameHelsingfors
NamesakeHelsinki
OwnerHelsingfors Ångfartygs Aktiebolaget
Port of registryHelsinki
BuilderChantier Naval Anversois, Antwerp
Yard number24
Launched8 August 1903
Out of service1 January 1905
FateRan aground and sank 1904
General characteristics
Tonnage759 GRT
Length63.00 metres (206 ft 8 in)
Beam9.12 metres (29 ft 11 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 800 ihp
PropulsionScrew propeller

Description

Helsingfors was 63.00 metres (206 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 9.12 metres (29 ft 11 in).[1] Her triple expansion steam engine, made by North Eastern Marine Engineers Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom,[2] was rated at 800 ihp.[1] She was assessed at 759 GRT.[3]

History

Helsingfors was built as yard number 24 by Chantiers Navals Anversois, Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium.[4] She was launched on 8 August 1903 and completed two months later.[3][4] She was built to carry passengers and freight and was owned and operated by Helsingfors Ångfartygs Aktiebolaget.[1]

During the night of 31 December 1904, Helsingfors ran aground during a gale near Bengtskär, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Hanko, and sank on New Year's Day.[2][5] She was on a voyage from Fowey, United Kingdom to Hanko with a cargo of kaolinite.[1][4] The Finnish salvage vessel Protector also ran aground and was holed whilst going to her assistance. Two crew from Helsingfors, three from Protector and a pilot were drowned.[5] These wrecks motivated the construction of the Bengtskär Lighthouse.[6][7] The wreck was sold in 1906 for 401 Markka.

The broken remains of the vessel lie in 8 to 13 metres (26 to 43 ft) of water.[1][2]

References
  1. "Helsingfors". Hylyt (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  2. "SS Helsingfors". Wrecksite. The Wrecksite. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  3. "Anversois". P Benyon. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  4. "Helsingfors". Miramar Ship Index (subscription required). Wellington, New Zealand: R B Haworth. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. "Wreck of Finnish Steamers". The Times. No. 37596. London. 5 January 1905. col F, p. 4.
  6. "History of Bengtskär Lighthouse". Bengtskär. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  7. "Bengtskär stod emot två världskrig" [Bengtskär withstood two world wars] (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.

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