D/S Norefjord
Updated March 13-2012

To Norefjord on the "Ships starting with N" page.


Source: Roger W. Jordan collection.

Picture of a painting, received from Reidar Sletten, Norway.

When named Ryvarden, post war (ref. text under Post War further down on this page).
Received from, and painted by Jan Goedhart, Holland. He also sent me the picture below

See also this external page (click in the photo to enlarge).

Misc. Convoy Voyages – 1940-1945:

For information on voyages made in between those mentioned here, please see the documents received from the National Archives of Norway and A. Hague's Voyage Record above. Follow the convoy links provided for further details; the Commodore's notes are also available for most of them and several Norwegian ships took part.

Judging from the information found on Page 1 of the archive documents, it looks like Norefjord was on her way to Norway when war broke out there on Apr. 9-1940, but was diverted to London, where she eventually arrived (via various other ports) on May 13, remaining there for about a month, before proceeding to Hull, with arrival June 18. A week later, she's listed in Convoy OA 174, which departed Southend on June 25 and dispersed on the 28th. Her destination is given as St. Francis, C.B. and she had station 45 of the convoy. The Norwegian San Andres is also included. Going back to the archive document, we learn that Norefjord arrived Guysboro, N.S. on July 8, later proceeding to Halifax. We now find her going in the other direction with the Halifax-U.K. Convoy HX 58, pulp wood for Barrow, where she arrived July 30, subsequently joining Convoy OB 199, leaving Liverpool on Aug. 16, dispersed on the 20th, Norefjord arriving Halifax Aug. 28. The Norwgian Selbo is also listed, as is the Panamanian Norvinn (Norwegian Managers).

Having made a voyage to St. Francis and back to Halifax, Norefjord headed back to the U.K. on Sept. 13 with Convoy HX 73, again bound for Barrow with pulp wood, arriving Sept. 29, remaining there until Oct. 18. She later shows up in Convoy OB 231, which left Liverpool on Oct. 19 and dispersed on the 23rd, Norefjord arriving Halifax Nov. 1. The Norwegian Idefjord, Rena and Skaraas are also listed. Norefjord is also mentioned in connection with Convoy HX 95 the following month; she's crossed out from station 62 of that convoy, but joined the next convoy on Dec. 14, HX 96, bound for Hull with a cargo of grain. She arrived Hull, via various other ports, on Jan. 5-1941. More details on the OA and OB convoys mentioned here is available via the links provided within the Voyage Record.

She later appears, together with Beduin, Buesten, Kristianiafjord, Madrono, President de Vogue and Solsten, in Convoy OB 279, which originated in Liverpool on Jan. 28-1941 and dispersed Febr. 2. According to Page 1, Norefjord arrived Halifax on Febr. 13, having started out from Loch Ewe Jan. 30. She was scheduled to return with Convoy HX 111 on Febr. 23 (as can be seen on the archive document, she was on her way from St. John, N.B. to Halifax on that date), but instead joined HX 112 on March 1, in which Beduin and Ferm were sunk (follow the links for details). Norefjord was bound for Swansea with a cargo of grain in station 82, arriving that destination (via Loch Ewe and Belfast Lough) on March 26 - see Page 2. We now find her, along with Cetus, Fido and Innerøy, in Convoy OB 311, bound for Halifax, where she arrived May 2, having sailed from Milford Haven Apr. 16 (convoy originated in Liverpool Apr. 16, dispersed Apr. 25), returning to the U.K. with Convoy HX 127 from Halifax on May 16, again with a cargo of grain for Hull, where she arrived June 8 (there's a note in the Advance Sailing Telegram indicating she had been cancelled from the previous convoy, HX 126, in which John P. Pedersen and several others were sunk - follow the links for much more information). With destination Montreal, she's subsequently listed in Convoy OB 338, which left Liverpool on June 21 and dispersed on July 3. Norefjord arrived her destination on July 8, having sailed from Loch Ewe June 23. Alaska, Ferncastle, Malmanger, Skaraas and South Africa are also named in this convoy; again, see the external links provided in the Voyage Record for more information on the OB convoys.

With a cargo of flour, Norefjord returned to the U.K. in Convoy HX 141, which had sailed from Halifax on July 27, but Norefjord joined from Sydney, C.B., having left that port on July 28. She arrived Loch Ewe on Aug. 9, before proceeding to Methil Roads and Hull, according to Page 2. The following month, we find her in station 83 of the westbound North Atlantic Convoy ON 14, bound for Galveston, with arrival there on Oct. 3, the convoy having been dispersed on Sept. 14. The Commodore's narrative is also available for this convoy. With a cargo of sulphur, she joined Convoy HX 156 from Halifax to the U.K. on Oct. 22 (Eglantine and Montbretia are named among the escorts). The archive document gives her destination as London; she arrived Gravesend, via Loch Ewe and Methil Roads, on Nov. 13, returning across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 42* (originated in Liverpool Dec. 1, dispersed on the 14th). Norefjord was bound for New York, where she arrived Dec. 21, having sailed from Loch Ewe on the 3rd. She had again been in the company of several other Norwegian ships, namely Eidanger, Glittre, Kaldfonn, Kollbjørg, Nueva Granada, Olaf Bergh, Slemdal, Tankekspress and Thorshov.

Early in the new year Norefjord joined Convoy HX 169, which left Halifax on Jan. 8-1942. According to A. Hague, she collided with the Dutch Palembang in this convoy and had to return to port (see also Page 3). She joined Convoy HX 175 a month later, but again returned, subsequently joining Convoy HX 176, which left Halifax on Febr. 19. Via Belfast Lough and Barry Roads, she arrived Newport on March 8. She's now listed as bound for Halifax in Convoy ON 79*, which originated in Liverpool on March 23 and arrived Halifax on Apr. 7 (the archive document gives her arrival Halifax as Apr. 5). The Norwegian Brant County, Grey County, Hallanger, James Hawson, Meline, Noreg, Stigstad and Trondheim are also listed. With a cargo of grain, she went back to the U.K. in May with Convoy HX 188, and arrived Swansea on May 17, returning to the U.S. at the end of that month with Convoy ON 99, and arrived New York June 15, proceeding to Hampton Roads the next day. Emma Bakke had served as the Vice Commodore's ship. Subsequent voyages are shown on the archive document; convoy info for some of these can be found in the table above.

Norefjord was scheduled for Convoy HX 203 on Aug. 16-1942, but did not sail (destination is given as Manchester, cargo of sulphur). According to Arnold Hague, she had arrived Halifax that same day with Convoy BX 33 (external link), but was involved in a collision at Halifax and beached. Her next departure date given on Page 3 is Nov. 21, when she left Halifax for Loch Ewe, arriving Dec. 6. With a cargo of grain for London, she had started this voyage in the Halifax section of Convoy HX 216 (originated in New York City on Nov. 19), however, she lost touch in a gale encountered on Nov. 25 and was later reported to be in Convoy SC 110*, which had started out from New York on Nov. 17 and also had Fana, Ferncliff, Gezina, Hallfried, John Bakke (collided, follow link for details), Meline, Norbris (Panamanian flag), Tanafjord and Vav in its ranks. Norefjord's last Trans-Atlantic voyage that year was made in the westbound Convoy ON 157, for which Skiensfjord served as the Commodore Vessel. According to the Commodore's notes, Norefjord detached from the convoy in the morning of Jan. 11-1943; she arrived Halifax the next day, having sailed from Loch Ewe Dec. 27.

She later returned to the U.K. with Convoy HX 226, which originated in New York on Febr. 8-1943. This time, the Commodore was in Laurits Swenson. Norefjord again joined from Halifax, bound for Liverpool, cargo of flour. It now looks like she remained there for quite some time - according to Page 4, she had arrived on Febr. 23 and departure is given as Apr. 5 when she proceeded to Belfast Lough, joining the westbound Convoy ON 177* from there. Abraham Lincoln (Commodore Vessel), Norholm and Spinanger are also listed in this convoy, which originated in Liverpool on Apr. 6 and arrived New York on the 23rd. Norefjord's destination is given as New York, but from the archive document, we see that she arrived Halifax on Apr. 21, having sailed from Belfast Lough on the 7th. In May we find her in Convoy HX 237, joining with the Halifax portion, bound for Avonmouth with grain and general, arriving there May 18 (the Norwegian Sandanger and Brand were sunk - follow links for details).

Norefjord subsequently joined the westbound Convoy ON 187*, which originated in Liverpool on June 1 and arrived New York on the 15th, however, Norefjord is said to have gone to Belfast Lough only (arrived June 5, having sailed from Milford Haven May 31; according to A. Hague, she had experienced engine trouble and became a straggler), later joining Convoy ON 190* from there - this convoy had originated in Liverpool on June 24 and had New York City as its final destination, arriving there July 9, but Norefjord stopped at Halifax on July 6. Both these convoys had several Norwegian ships, namely Annik, Athos, Braga, Bralanta, Elisabeth Bakke, Fagerfjell, Frontenac, Helgøy, Kronprinsen, Lista, Morgenen, Norbryn, O. B. Sørensen, President de Vogue, Toledo and Vanja, as well as the Panamanian Norvinn (Norwegian managers) in ON 187, and Brajara, California Express, Dageid, Fjordaas, Gefion, Høyanger, Lynghaug, Mosli, Norsol, Orwell, Polartank, Skiensfjord and Tarifa in ON 190. Norefjord returned across the Atlantic later that month in Convoy HX 249, which also originated in New York (July 23-1943), but Norefjord again joined from Halifax, and again her cargo is listed as grain, destination Avonmouth, where she arrived, via Belfast Lough, on Aug. 7.

She now made a voyage to Freetown, having joined Convoy OS 54/KMS 25, which left Liverpool Aug. 27-1943 and split up Sept. 8, the KMS portion* arriving Gibraltar on Sept. 10, while the OS convoy continued to Freetown, where it arrived Sept. 17. Gudrun, Rutenfjell, Sirehei and Troubadour are also listed. The following month she headed in the other direction with Convoy SL 138/MKS 28, in which the Norwegian Hallfried was sunk - follow the link for more info. Norefjord had a cargo of ground nuts and was in the SL convoy, which left Freetown on Oct. 13, joined up with MKS 28 from Gibraltar on the 24th, and arrived Liverpool Nov. 5. Other Norwegian ships in the combined convoy were Kristianiafjord, Lisbeth and Spurt. With Gabon, Hardanger, Kaldfonn and Norfalk, Norefjord later joined Convoy OS 60/KMS 34*, bound for Philippeville with vehicles and stores in station 83. This convoy departed Liverpool on Nov. 25 and split up Dec. 7, the Gibraltar portion arriving there Dec. 9, the OS convoy arriving Freetown Dec. 18. Norefjord, in the KMS convoy, arrived her destination Philippeville on Dec. 12 - again, see Page 4 for a listing of her voyages in this period. More convoy information is available via the links provided in the Voyage Record above.

Arnold Hague has also included her in Convoy OS 62, which had started out from the U.K. on Dec. 15-1943 as the combined OS 62/KMS 36 and split up on Jan. 2-1944, the KMS convoy* arriving Gibraltar on Jan. 3, while the OS convoy proceeded to Freetown, with arrival there on Jan. 11. Norefjord, however, was not present from the U.K.; she joined the OS convoy off Gibraltar and was bound for Dakar, where she arrived Jan. 8. From Dakar, she later joined Convoy SL 147, which had started out from Freetown on Jan. 22 and arrived Liverpool on Febr. 13, having joined up with Convoy MKS 38* from Gibraltar on Febr. 2. Germa, Helgøy, Jenny, Norelg and Sirehei are also named in this convoy. Norefjord had sailed from Dakar on Jan. 25 and stopped at Loch Ewe Febr. 12, proceeding to Methil Roads and Hull the next day. In March she can be found in Convoy OS 71/KMS 45, on a voyage from Oban to Lisbon in station 14. This convoy departed Liverpool on March 14, split up on the 25th, KMS 45* arriving Gibraltar on March 27, while the OS convoy arrived Freetown Apr. 4; Norefjord, in the KMS portion, had sailed from Oban March 15 and arrived Lisbon on the 27th. The following month, she appears, together with Anna Knudsen, Mathilda and Novasli, in Convoy MKS 46*, departing Gibraltar Apr. 22. This convoy joined up with the Freetown Convoy SL 155 the next day (in which Lago took part) before proceeding to the U.K., arriving Liverpool on May 3; Norefjord, general cargo and wolfram, stopped at Loch Ewe that day. Again, ref. external links in the table above for more convoy details.

She now made another Trans-Atlantic voyage, having joined the westbound Convoy ON 237*, which originated in Liverpool on May 19-1944 and arrived New York on June 3 and also included Brimanger (Commodore Vessel), Emma Bakke, Ferncourt, Glarona, Herbrand, Laurits Swenson (whose captain served as Vice Commodore), Maud, Mosli, Noreg, Norma, Pan Scandia, Skaraas and Velma. Norefjord arrived Baltimore June 5, having left Loch Ewe May 19. As will be seen, when going to Page 5, Norefjord remained in Baltimore for over a month, before making a voyage to Macoris, then proceeded to New York in order to join Convoy HX 304 on Aug. 17, for which Emma Bakke served as the Vice Commodore's ship. Norefjord was bound for Liverpool with a cargo of sugar, arriving there on Sept. 1, and together with Brasil, Emma Bakke (Commodore Vessel), Ferncliff, James Hawson, Norse Lady, Sommerstad and Stirlingville, she returned across the Atlantic with Convoy ON 254*, which left Liverpool on Sept. 16 and arrived New York on Oct. 5 - her destination is given as Pugwash, N.S. on that occasion, and she arrived there on Oct. 6, via Sydney, C.B. She subsequently went back to the U.K. in Convoy HX 315, bound for Sharpness with a cargo of lumber, arriving Nov. 5, having joined this convoy from Sydney, C.B. (originated in New York on Oct. 20). The Norwegian Ivaran acted as Commodore Vessel. Her last voyage that year was to Freetown, Convoy OS 98/KMS 72*. This convoy left Liverpool on Dec. 13-1944 and was dispersed on the 17th, Norefjord arriving Freetown on the 29th. Ragnhild is also listed.

From Freetown, she later made voyages to Bathurst and Casablanca, before proceeding to Gibraltar (Page 5), and in Febr.-1945 she's listed, with Anna Odland, in Convoy MKS 81*, departing Gibraltar Febr. 5. She had a cargo of ground nuts; the archive document gives her destination as Hull, and she arrived there on Febr. 15, remaining for almost a month. In March we find her in Convoy KMS 91*, which arrived Gibraltar on March 26, having started out from the U.K. on March 17 as the combined Convoy OS 117/KMS 91. Norefjord's destination is given as Cette (or Sette); according to the archive document, she arrived Oran on March 27, proceeding to Marseilles that same day, with arrival March 31, returning to Gibraltar the following month. From there, she made a voyage to Freetown, later Takoradi, then headed back to Gibraltar, with arrival May 21. She now appears in Convoy MKS 103*, which sailed from Gibraltar on May 25 and arrived Liverpool June 1 - Norefjord arrived Hull on June 3.

From Page 6 we learn that she went home to Norway in Oct.-1945, making another voyage home the following month, and again in Febr.-1946.

* The ON convoys will be added to individual pages in my Convoys section in due course, along with further details on each. In the meantime, the ships sailing in them (and escorts) are named in the section listing ships in all ON convoys. Also, the entire SC series will eventually be updated and completed, including the already existing convoys (some have already been updated), but for now, please go to ships in all SC convoys. Additionally, the KMS and MKS convoys will be completed; see ships in all KMS convoys and ships in all MKS convoys.

More info on the other Norwegian ships named on this page is available via the alphabet index below, or go to the Master Ship Index.

POST WAR:

Sold in 1949 to F. N. Nordbø A/S, Haugesund and renamed Ryvarden. Later registered owners A/S Ryvarden (F. N. Nordbø). Laid up at Haugesund in 1953, and later that year sold to Rolf Wigands Rederi, Bergen. Sold in 1955 to Halvorsen Shipping Co. A/S, Bergen. Sold in 1958 to Pan Norse Steamship Co. S.A., Panama and renamed Norse Lady. On Aug. 14-1958 she ran aground near Parigi, Celebes. Seized on Aug. 16 by Indonesian rebels, who got her afloat and took her to Belang, where she was beached. Sighted by the Indonesian Navy on the 18th. Set on fire by shelling on the 22nd and totally burnt out. The wreck was sold in March-1966 to Hong Kong buyers, then sold on to Taiwan shipbreakers for scrapping, arriving at Kaohsiung that same month.

Related external links:
A Stavern commemoration - Engineer Rolf Bakkehaug is said to have died on Norefjord on Febr. 14-1945 due to a war related accident. However, Rolf Bakkehaug was killed on board Norfjell that day (the memorial's text has now been corrected) - follow link to Norfjell for details.

Norway Heritage Project has a section on Norwegian America Line with pictures and more details on dimensions etc. on several of the company's ships, including Norefjord.

Back to Norefjord on the "Ships starting with N" page.

Den norske Amerikalinje later had 2 more ships by this name.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Den Norske Amerikalinje fleet list, and misc. - (ref. My sources).