OSCAR II

The “Oscar II” was built by A.Stephen & Sons, Glasgow in 1901 for the Scandinavian – American Line of Denmark. She was a 9,956 gross ton vessel, length 500.8ft x beam 58.3ft, one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 150-1st, 140-2nd and 900-3rd class passengers. Launched on 14/11/1901, she sailed from Copenhagen on her maiden voyage to Christiania (Oslo), Christiansand and New York on 12/3/1902. In 1915 she was chartered to Henry Ford for his peace pilgrimage to Europe. In March 1921 her accommodation was altered to cabin class and 3rd class, and in May 1928 altered again to Cabin, tourist and 3rd class. On 17/12/1930 she commenced her last voyage from Copenhagen to Oslo, Christiansand, New York (dep 5/1/1931), Christiansand, Oslo and Copenhagen. She was scrapped at Blyth in 1933. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3, p.1240]
Oscar II belonged to The Scandinavian America Line (Skandinavien-Amerika-Linien) was founded in 1898, when Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskap (DFDS) took over the steamship company Thingvalla Line.
The passenger and freight service between Scandinavia and New York City was operated under the name Scandinavian America Line until 1935.
Amerikakaj (America Quay) is the name of the quay in the former Free Port of Copenhagen from where the America liners departed. Scandinavian America Line’s sales office in Copenhagen was based at Nyhavn 1.

• Hekla, 1884-1898, taken over with Thingvalla Line, 1905 sold to Danish owners, renamed Eduard Regel.
• Thingvalla, 1874-1898, taken over with Thingvalla Line, 1900 sold to Norway.
• Norge, 1881-1898, taken over with Thingvalla Line, 1904 wrecked near Rockall, 620 lives lost. 
• Island, 1882-1898, taken over with Thingvalla Line, 1906 scrapped. 

Oscar II, 1901-1933 scrapped.

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Here is a description of the DFDS line ship “Oscar II” printed in the Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet before the ship’s first trip in March 1902.

Det Forenede Dampskibselskabs new big ocean steamer is expected to arrive tomorrow morning. We have mentioned this vessel as the biggest in Scandinavia and the biggest trade ship in the East Sea (Østersøen) because it measures ca. 10.000 ton brutto (6.300 netto) and we will hereby give a detailed description of the ship.

Length: 515 feet. Width 58 feet and the height to the upper deck is 42 feet. Of course the ship is built in steel the highest class of Bureau Veritas, in addition the skeleton has extra support and strength. The whole length has three full decks of steel and a double bottom divided into 10 independent rooms. There are 10 water tight departments where there are no doors or openings. Should an accident occur the water can be pumped out by means of 8 pumps that are set up in the engine room. Besides the pumps there are manual pumps set up as well.

The upper deck is covered at the bow and stern and each of them covers 60 feet. The middle of the ship is covered as well. This coverage goes from side to side and has the length of 176 feet, this is where the first and second class passengers and the dining salon will be found. On top of this there is one more covered deck where there is a music salon, ladies salon, smoking salon and a library. Finally on the upper deck there is a promanade deck where the captain has his room, and there you will also find the command bridge.

The ship can take 260 passengers of first and second class and 1500 in third class. The third class passengers stay on the main deck where there are two giant dining salons which are the full width of the ship.

The light from the ship comes from about 680 electrical lamps and the heat comes from steam-radiators and there is also very good ventilation onboard. In different locations there are bath houses available to the passengers and also to the crew. The ship has all modern and comfortable facilities of all kinds just like the best transatlantic steamships have. There are 24 safety rafts where 4 of these are made of metal, 10 of wood and 8 can be folded and 2 small boats.

The vessel is not beautiful but looks very solid. It cannot compete with the big boats from older lines but the ticket price is considerably lower. (Added note: a third class ticket from DK to USA cost approximately $30 in 1905 on this boat.)

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