The St.Olaf was built in London in 1855 for The Norwegian steamship company "Det Søndenfjeld Norske Dampskibsselskab". For some years the company used the ship on a route between Christiania and Hull in strong competition with the Wilson Line. By 1858, the Wilson Line virtually monopolized the Scandinavia to Hull route, and the Søndenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap gave priority to maintain routes to Germany. Their main route was between Kristiania (Oslo) and Hamburg, calling at the ports of Arendal and Kristiansand on the way. Passengers going to Hamburg would usually proceed to New York on one of the Hamburg American Packet Companie's (Hamburg-America Line) ships. The St. Olaf was on the Hamburg route until she was sold in 1882.

The St. Olaf of the Søndenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap is often mixed up with the St. Olav owned by "Det Norsk Amerikanske Dampskibsselskab" DNADS (The Norwegian American Steamship Co). This other ship was maintaining direct sailings between Bergen and other Norwegian ports between 1871 to 1876.

This is a Newspaper notice from 1869: St Olaf, Capt Raabe, every second Saturday in the afternoon, (the 15th, the 29th of May, 12th, 26th of June and so on) from Christiania [Oslo] to Arendal Christiansand and Hamburg. From Hamburg every second Saturday in the afternoon (22nd of May, 5th, 19th of June, 3rd 17th of July and so on) back to Christiansand, Arendal, Langesund, Vallø and Christiania. Passenger tickets sold daily Gods expedition every second Saturday from 8 - 10 in the morning Remark: Further information can be obtained from my office, through "Norges Kommunikationer" which magazine can be obtained from bookstores and postal offices. Jens Meinich

S/S St. Olaf