Pre War History:

Delivered in Apr.-1912 from Burmeister & Wains Maskin- & Skipsbyggeri, Copenhagen (282) as coastal vessel Polarlys to Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Bergen, 1070 gt, 208.5' x 31.6' x 19.8', Tripple exp. 1473 ihp, 13 knots; built for Hurtigruten (express coastal service), in service Bergen-North Norway with passengers, cargo and mail. Refrigeration was later installed, new interior for 3rd class in 1930.

WW II:

When the Germans invaded Norway on Apr. 9-1940 she was in Bergen and was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as accommodation vessel Satan at Marineholmen in Bergen, then later that same year as Tan (same use, same place). Returned to owners in Dec.-1940.

POST WAR:

Laid up in Bergen in Oct.-1951 (Oct. 11? Oct. 12?). Renamed Sylvia on Apr. 1-1952 (when Bergenske's new Polarlys was delivered). Sold in July-1952 to Den Kongelige Norske Marine (the Royal Norwegian Navy), delivered July 1-1952, converted at Bergens Mek.Verksteder, Bergen to mothership for MTB's. Entered service as KNM Valkyrien on June 1-1953. Sold for breaking up in 1963.

Related external link:
External picture of Polarlys - This is from a WW II photo collection belonging to a Norwegian fellow named Erik (I do not know his last name). The collection starts here.

Back to Polarlys on the "Homefleet Ships starting with P" page.

(Source: "Bergenske, byen og selskapet", by Dag Bakka Jr., and info received from T. Eriksen, Norway - his sources: Articles by Dag Bakka Jr. in the Norwegian magazine "Skipet" 1-2.88 and "Skipene som bandt kysten sammen, hurtigruten 1893-1980” Dag Bakka Jr. for Bergens Tidende 1980).

Other ships by this name: As mentioned, this company had another Polarlys post war, built at Ålborg, Denmark in 1952, 2163 gt. Sold in 1979 to Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap, Tromsø, no name change. Sold to Mercy Ships, Panama in May-1994 and renamed Caribbean Mercy, in service between her home port Jacksonville, Florida and the Caribbean, providing humanitarian services for the poor. There's also a Polarlys (external link) in Hurtigruten today, owned by Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap, Tromsø, built 1996, 12 000 gt.