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S/S Courier, Wilson Line Main Page >>

BurdenBuiltShipowner or operator Dimensions
323 gross 1850 at Glasgow by Thomas Wingate & Co. Wilson Line, Hull, England 175.6ft x 21.6ft 12.1ft 
 YearRemarks
 1851 Bought from Hull & Leith Steam Packet CoAtlantic Journey ID 4037
 1852 Christiania to Hull   
 1853 Christiania to Hull   
 1854 Operated by Wilson on the Christiania routeAtlantic Journey ID 4039
 1854 Captain D. Fairburn  from Christiania to Hull   
 1854 Sold to London ownersAtlantic Journey ID 4038
 1855 Captain D. Fairburn  from Christiania to Hull   
 1856 Captain D. Fairburn  from Christiania to Hull   
 1857 Captain D. Fairburn  from Christiania to Hull   
 1875 Sank inside Holy Island Bar - sold and scrappedAtlantic Journey ID 4041
 1875 Struck Emanuel Head, Holy Island on passage Seaham-AberdeenAtlantic Journey ID 4040
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

Paddlesteamer built in 1850 by T. Wingate in Glasgow. Measuring 175,8 x 21,8 x 12,1. Taken over by The North Europe Steam Navigation Company in 1854 she sailed on a regular route between Christiania and Hull, calling at Christiansand between 1852 - 1858. It is told that the winter in 1855 was very cold, and that the Christianiafjord was frozen all the way to Oks&slashoy. On April 25th the ice opened so ships could sail in to Nesodden. Couriers captain Fairburn then decided to try to break trough the ice to unload in Christiania. Fairburn used all the speed the steam engine could give to run the ship into the ice, backing out every time the ship was stuck. Fairburn finally succeeded in his efforts, and was saluted as a hero by the numerous people on the pier. The paddle wheel was of course badly damaged, but was temporarily repaired in Christiania. Captain Fairburn was given a silver pot by businessmen in Christiania. The pot had the following engraving:

In remembrance of the 26th April 1855 when Captain Fairburn, gallantly forcing the icy barrier of Christiania, brought his steamvessel the Courier safely into port and thus opened the navigation, from Norwegian subscribers.

The Courier was, according to Credland and Thompson, struck in 1875 on passage from Seaham to Aberdeen. She was then sold at auction and subsequently scrapped.

COURI

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