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S/S Oscar II, Scandinavian America Line Main Page >>

BurdenBuiltShipowner or operator Dimensions
9,975 gross 1901 at Glasgow by Alexander Stephen & Sons Scandinavian America Line 500.8ft x 58.3ft x 29.2ft 
 Year Departure ArrivalRemarks
 1901  Nov. 14: LaunchedAtlantic Journey ID 8447
 1902  Mar. 3: departed on her maiden voyage Copenhagen Kristiania (Oslo), Kristiansand - New YorkAtlantic Journey ID 8448
 1902  Kristiania - New York   
 1902  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Mar. 13  New York  Mar. 26 Arrived in New York at 08:00 morningTransatlantc ID
 1902  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Apr. 24  New York  May 05 Transatlantc ID
 1902  Arrived in Kristiania June 5 with 551 emigrants and left when 319 persons embarked there. Among the passengers were 35 Swedes. In Kristiansand another 100 passengers will embark.Atlantic Journey ID 4862
 1902  Kristiania - Kristiansand  June 05  New York  June 16 Arrived in New York at 09:00 morningTransatlantc ID
 1902  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Aug. 28  New York  Sept. 07 Transatlantc ID
 1902  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Oct. 09  New York  Oct. 20 Transatlantc ID
 1902  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Nov. 20  New York  Nov. 30 Transatlantc ID
 1903  Christiania  Feb. 12    Feb. 18 Arrived around this date to the Azores after the starboard engine broke down in heavy seas. Passengers was transferred March 12th to the S/S Grosser KurfürstTransatlantc ID
 1903  March, returned from The Azores to Glasgow for inspectionAtlantic Journey ID 4895
 1903  Kristiania - New York   
 1903  Kristiania - Kristiansand  July 02  New York  July 12 Only 9 days journey from NorwayTransatlantc ID
 1903  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Aug. 13  New York  Aug. 23 Transatlantc ID
 1903  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Sept. 24  New York  Oct. 05 About 500 Danes followed from Copenhagen. In Kristiania another 331 emigrants embarked and in Kristiansand 75.Transatlantc ID
 1903  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Nov. 05  New York  Nov. 17 Transatlantc ID
 1904  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Jan. 28  New York  Feb. 10 Arrived in New York in the evening. Delayed for 2 days due to StormTransatlantc ID
 1904  Feb. 28 run aground of Flekkerø on the entrance to Kristiansand with pilot onboard. The pilot was later removed from his work due to this accident.Atlantic Journey ID 4908
 1904  Kristiania - Kristiansand - New York   
 1904  Kristiania - Kristiansand  June 30  New York  July 10 Transatlantc ID
 1904  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Aug. 11  New York  Aug. 21 About 600 passengers. 90 embarked in KristiansandTransatlantc ID
 1904  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Sept. 22  New York  Oct. 02 Transatlantc ID
 1904  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Nov. 03  New York  Nov. 14 Transatlantc ID
 1905  Feb. Repaired and refitted with new rescue gears and several new collapsible lifeboatsAtlantic Journey ID 4909
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Feb. 23  New York  Mar. 06 Transatlantc ID
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Apr. 06  New York  Apr. 17 Transatlantc ID
 1905  Kristiania - New York   
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  May 18  New York  May 29 Transatlantc ID
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  June 29  New York  July 09 Arrived in New York on a Sunday morningTransatlantc ID
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Aug. 10  New York  Aug. 27 Transatlantc ID
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Sept. 21  New York  Oct. 01 Transatlantc ID
 1905  Kristiania - Kristiansand  Nov. 02  New York  Nov. 12 Transatlantc ID
 1906  Kristiania - New York   
 1907  Kristiania - New York   
 1908  Kristiania - New York   
 1909  Kristiania - New York   
 1910  Kristiania - New York   
 1911  Kristiania - New York   
 1912  Kristiania - New York   
 1913  Kristiania - New York   
 1914  Kristiania - New York   
 1915  Kristiania - New York   
 1915  Dec. 4: departed New York with Henry Ford for his peace pilgrimage to EuropeAtlantic Journey ID 8449
 1916  Jan. 14: arrived Copenhagen, went for maintenance, then laid up till Apr. 28Atlantic Journey ID 8450
 1916  Kristiania - New York   
 1917  Kristiania - New York   
 1917  Aug. 28: arrived New York, laid up - had a fire in the coal bunkerAtlantic Journey ID 8451
 1918  Kristiania - New York   
 1918  Oct. 21: called at Bergen, disembarked 20 passengers by boatAtlantic Journey ID 8452
 1919  Mar. 3: called at Newcastle for bunkering, departed Apr. 6 for New York directAtlantic Journey ID 8453
 1919  Kristiania - New York   
 1919  Aug 30: called at Newcastle for bunkering, departed Sept. 4 for New York directAtlantic Journey ID 8454
 1920  Feb. 15: grounded in the Ambrose Channel on way to new York, towed clear by 3 tugs later the same dayAtlantic Journey ID 8455
 1920  Kristiania - New York   
 1921  Kristiania - New York   
 1922  Kristiania - New York   
 1922  Nov. 12: grounded off Oxø Fyr (lighthouse) with pilot on board, no leaks and the passengers stayed on board till the next day.Atlantic Journey ID 8456
 1922  The ships cargo was loaded and she came clear with assistance from 2 steamboats, then went to Burmeister & Wain for repairsAtlantic Journey ID 8457
 1923  Kristiania - New York   
 1924  Kristiania - New York   
 1925  Oslo - New York   
 1927  July 10: departed Copenhagen for a cruise on the Norwegian coast to the North CapeAtlantic Journey ID 8458
 1931  Jan. 18: arrived Copenhagen after her last voyage for the company, laid up till Sept. 9, 1933, departed for Blyth for scrappingAtlantic Journey ID 8459
The information listed above is not the complete record of the ship. The information was collected from a multitude of sources, and new information will be added as it emerges


Tonnage: 9,975 tons gross, 6,518 under deck and 6,093 net. Dimensions: 500.8 feet long, 58.3 feet beam and holds 29.2 feet deep, poop 44 feet long, bridge 176 feet long and forecastle 59 feet long. She was constructed in steel, had one funnel, two masts (Schooner), twin screws and a speed of 15 knots. She had 2 decks and awning deck, was fitted with electric light and refrigerating machinery. Water ballast. Propulsion: triple expansion engines with 6 cylinders of 30, 50 and 80 inches diameter each pair; stroke 54 inches, 940 nominal horsepower. The engine was built by the same company as the hull. There was accommodation for 150-1st, 140-2nd and 900-3rd class passengers. The S/S Oscar II, S/S Hellig Olav and the S/S United States were sister ships. These three steamers were all built at the famous shipyards of Alexander Stephen and Sons, on the Clyde, Scotland. All of them have double cellular bottoms divided into 10 watertight compartments, and in addition to that they were divided from bottom to deck by 10 other watertight compartments. They also had bilge keels to insure maximum steadiness at sea.

ACCOMMODATIONS FIRST CLASS
First cabin accommodations on these steamers were located amidships on the promenade and saloon decks. The staterooms were of liberal size, and well ventilated. They contained washstands, wardrobes and sofas. Hotchkiss Patent berths were installed throughout, permitting the upper berths to be closed out of sight when out of use. The "Oscar II" had two "chambres de luxe", located on the promenade deck. These were luxuriously furnished, with silk hangings and draperies, and equipped with brass beds.

The first cabin dining room was a magnificent apartment, extending the full width of the ship. The walls were of polished oak and mahogany and the furnishings strikingly. Small group tables, dainty table furnishings and porcelain combined to produce a dining room of unusual attractiveness and beauty.

Located well forward on the promenade deck was the Music Saloon. On one side of the Music Saloon was located the Ladies' Saloon and on the other side a comfortable Library and Writing Room. Further aft, on the same deck was a Smoking Room. Numerous baths, showers and lavatories were conveniently located on the promenade and saloon decks. The cabin barber and hair dressing shop was on the saloon deck. The entire upper promenade and the forward part of the saloon promenade deck were reserved for the use and convenience of First Cabin passengers. Steamer chairs and rugs could be obtained from the deck steward.

THE SECOND CABIN ROOMS
The Dining Room, located on the saloon deck, was finished in polished oak, and in furnishings and attractiveness was comparable with the First Cabin Dining Room. The Smoking Room and Ladies Room were likewise furnished and decorated with the idea of providing passengers with every comfort and most of the luxuries of the first cabin. The Second Cabin Staterooms for two, three and four passengers were located on the saloon and upper decks, and were furnished in the same style as those in the First Cabin. There were also numerous baths and lavatories. Second Cabin passengers had the exclusive use of the amidships and aft part of the saloon promenade deck.

THIRD CLASS
There was no steerage on the ships, as they operated with a third class. The third class staterooms, all of which were spacious, and well ventilated, were comfortably furnished with iron beds, springs, mattresses, sheets, pillows and blankets, wash-stands, mirrors, towels, soap and water. They were also supplied with fresh drinking water, and kept in order by stewards and stewardesses. They could accommodate two, four and six passengers, enabling whole families to keep together. Meals were served by uniformed waiters in clean dining rooms at tables set with clean linen and porcelain tableware, and the food was of good quality, cooked in the palatable Scandinavian style, served plentifully, and with a wide variety in the menus. Ample deck space for open air promenading and exercise was reserved for the third class passengers. Ladies' saloon, well furnished comfortable smoking rooms, barber shops and many baths were a few of the conveniences furnished to those traveling in third class. The services of a physician and nurse, and the facilities of a well equipped hospital and dispensary were at the service of passengers. The same standards of courtesy and cleanliness that made traveling in the first and second cabins were also found in third class. Women and children traveling alone were in the care of a special matron and stewardesses.

A burial at sea on board the S/S Oscar II in 1911 - snapshots taken by Peder Georg Christian Pedersen in 1911, when he sailed as an officer on the S/S Oscar II. Pedersen served on the Scandinavian America Line steamships from 1902 till 1920, and became the master of the S/S C. F. Tietgen. The pictures were provided by Karsten Egeblad, one of Pedersen's descendants. The text to the pictures are in Pedersen's own words.

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