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D/S Sjofna To Sjofna on the "Ships starting with S" page. Owner: D/S A/S Vivi Built in Gouderak in 1918. Previous names: Phoenix, then Kongsaa, according to a visitor to my website (his source: "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles"). Captain: Johannes Hovden. Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives: These documents were helter-skelter, and it has been very difficult to list them in order, as most of them had no ship's name or year, but I believe the above is correct. Please be aware, however, that some guessing has taken place. Also, please refresh this page, as I've discovered that some of the links go to the wrong documents, which have since been reorganized and renumbered. Please compare the above voyages with Arnold Hague's Voyage Record below.
(Received from Don Kindell - His source: The late Arnold Hague's database). Follow the convoy links provided for more information on each. Errors may exist, and several voyages are missing.
Sjofna is listed in Convoy HN 10 from Norway to the U.K. in Febr.-1940, bound for Liverpool with a cargo of carbide. Early in March A. Hague has included her in the U.K.-Norway Convoy ON 17A, and later that month we find her in Convoy HN 20, bound for Middlesbrough, again with carbide. On Apr. 5-1940 she joined Convoy ON 25 in order to go back to Norway, but must have been among the ships that turned around due to the German invasion being underway upon the convoy's arrival in Norwegian waters - follow the links for more convoy info; several Norwegian ships took part in all these convoys, and misc. reports are also available for most of them. From Page 1 of the archive documents, we learn that Sjofna was bound for Arendal, Norway, but was diverted to Rouen, where she arrived, via Methil and Shields, on May 4, making 2 more voyages U.K.-France later that month. (It looks like she made another voyage to France in June, possibly two, but these are not detailed on the document). On March 5-1943, she was damaged by a mine which detonated close by when off Bridlington, but she was taken in tow and arrived Humber that same night. According to Page 10 of the archive documents, she spent a long time at Hull in this period - perhaps she was repaired there?
Sjofna departed Fowey in the morning of Nov. 22-1944 with a cargo of 720 tons porcelain clay for Larne, Northern Ireland. According to Arnold Hague, she had joined Convoy EBF 43 but detached on the 23rd (external link; the Norwegian Bestik, Kolsdal, Leka and Thordis are also listed). At 01:00 that day, she ran aground in heavy rain and seas. All on board were called on deck, distress calls were sent via the radio, rockets and signal lamp, and about half an hour later they obtained contact with land with the help of the signal lamp. A lifeboat was launched but it was immediately smashed against the side of the ship. Those on board could see that people on shore were preparing rescue equipment, and later a rescue vessel came alongside the ship. 7 crew members were hauled through the water in rescue buoys, the first of whom was sent over to the rescue vessel at 10:25, the last at 11:30. Rescue work from the beach started at 14:40 when Gunner Gauge was sent ashore, then at 14:50 it was 2nd mate Henriksen's turn. However, 20-30 meters from shore he was swung around in the water several times, believed to be due to seaweeds in the water, so that he was beaten up to such an extent that he was brought ashore in an unconscious condition. "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles" by R & B Larn, published by Lloyd's Publishing Co. picks up the story - this source says Sjofna ran aground at Morwenstow near Knap Head, North Devon on Nov. 23-1944 (see also Page 17), in 50 56 40N 04 33W, at 2:30 in the morning, on a reef of rocks under the high cliffs, and gives different times: Padstow Clovelly lifeboats rescued 7 crew at dawn, then the remaining crew as well as the 3 gunners were rescued by the Hartland Point LSA Company. They started with the oldest man, and the book continues "the lines tangled and he was dashed onto the rocks, but the prompt action of an auxiliary Coastguard saved him, with the help of a boy who cut the whip and got the unconscious man ashore. Another rocket line was fired but missed, a second went straight through a window in the wheelhouse, struck the master breaking his leg, as well as setting fire to the fur of the ship's cat! By 3:30 am*, the master, 9 seatuen, 2 dogs and the schorched cat were safely ashore".
The above mentioned book adds that Sjofna was broken up for scrap on the beach, along with the remains of the 600 tons of cast iron carried in the hold of S/S Eilanus, wrecked in 1936. The maritime hearings were held in Cardiff on Nov. 30-1944 with the 1st mate (officer on watch), the 1st engineer, Ordinary Seaman Vangsnes (helmsman) and Able Seaman Gulliksen (lookout) appearing. Crew List - No casualties:
Back to Sjofna on the "Ships starting with S" page. Other ships by this name: The company had another ship by this name after the war; this was the former D/S Ara, later Bjørnvik and Rim, purchased in Febr.-1951 by D/S A/S Vivi & D/S A/S Asta (Clemeth Dann), Oslo and renamed Sjofna - follow the link for her further history. Also, Norway (C. A. Olsen, Tvedestrand) had lost a Sjofna to WW I, built 1881, only 527 gt - sunk by U-71 on Dec. 17-1916, voyage Arendal, Norway-West Hartlepool. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume II and misc. (ref. My sources).
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