The Fleets
The Swedish American Line was formed in 1914 to run passenger and cargo services between Gothenburg and New York. It was greatly assisted by Sweden's neutrality during the First World War when Germany's shipping services ceased. Services continued, but gradually decreased in the 1960's due to the rise in air travel. By 1970 the company concentrated mostly on cruising and in 1975 their last two ships were sold and Swedish America Line disappeared as passenger ship operators.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- Gothenburg - New York
- Some calls also made at Liverpool, Havre, Oslo, Copenhagen, Bremen, Southampton, Cherbourg and Halifax.
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drottningholm | 1904 | ex- Virginian, 1920 purchased from Canadian Pacific and renamed Drottningholm, 1948 sold to Home Lines, Panama, renamed Brasil. | 11,182 |
| Gripsholm (1) | 1925 | 1954 sold to Bremen-Amerika Line, 1955 renamed Berlin. | 17,993 |
| Gripsholm (2) | 1957 | 1974 sold to Karageorgis Lines, Greece, renamed Navarino. | 23,190 |
| Kungsholm (1) | 1901 | ex- Noordam, 1923-1926 chartered from Holland America Line and renamed Kungsholm, 1926 reverted to Holland America Noordam. | 12,531 |
| Kungsholm (2) | 1928 | 1941 sold to US Government as troopship John Ericsson, 1947 repurchased by Swedish American Line, 1948 sold to Home Lines, renamed Italia. | 21,532 |
| Kungsholm (3) | 1952 | 1965 sold to North German Lloyd, renamed Europa. | 22,071 |
| Kungsholm (4) | 1966 | 1975 sold to Flagship Cruises, Liberia, 1978 became Sea Princess (P& O Line) | 26,667 |
| Stockholm (1) | 1899 | ex- Potsdam, 1915 purchased from Holland America Line and renamed Stockholm, 1929 sold to Norway, renamed Solglimt and became whale factory ship. | 12,606 |
| Stockholm (2) | 1938 | 1938 launched but destroyed by fire before completion at Monfalcone. | 28,000 |
| Stockholm (3) | 1940 | never sailed for Swedish American Line but taken over by Italy as troopship, renamed Sabaudia and bombed and sunk 1944 by British planes at Trieste. | 29,307 |
| Stockholm (4) | 1948 | 1956 collided with and sank Andrea Doria, 1960 sold to East Germany, renamed Volkerfreundschaft (cruising liner). | 11,700 |