M/S Fernmoor - Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945

Misc. War Voyages:

Fernmoor (station 52, carrying 3 bombers and crated aircraft) was in Convoy HX 146 in Aug.-1941 along with the Norwegian Skaraas (station 74, behind Gallia), Høegh Scout (possibly station 63?), Gallia (station 73), Anna Knudsen (station 35), and Strix. Fernmoor returned with the westbound Convoy ON 20, which left Liverpool on Sept. 25-1941. Her destination is given as Halifax, and she had station 105 of the convoy.

She was also in Convoy HX 168 in Jan.-1942, together with the Norwegian N. T. Nielsen Alonso, Tai Shan and G. C. Brøvig. Brimanger was also scheduled for this convoy, but was cancelled. That spring, on May 31-1942, she joined Convoy HX 192 from Halifax to the U.K., and in July that same year she's listed in Convoy HX 200. Other Norwegian ships were Norfjell, Morgenen, Gallia and Samuel Bakke. This convoy arrived the U.K. on Aug. 7, and on the 21st Fernmoor returned to the U.S. with the westbound Convoy ON 123 (station 102). The following month she joined Convoy HX 208 to go back to England, then in Nov. she was one of many Norwegian ships in Convoy HX 216 from New York, general cargo and explosives for Liverpool, station 75, returning to the U.S. with the westbound ON 155 at the end of Dec.-1942.

In Jan./Febr.-1943 she sailed in Convoy HX 224 from New York (general and explosives for Swansea, station 133), then in March she's listed in the westbound Convoy ON 170, which departed Liverpool on March 3, arrived New Yok on the 20th and had a total of 12 Norwegian ships. On Apr. 13-1943, while in port in New York there was a fatal accident on board, when 3rd Engineer Leif Løckra died in an explosion. Captain at that time was Konrad Gjørtz-Hansen, 1st Engineer Olaus Andersen, assistant Per Thoresen. A few days later, on Apr. 18-1943, she left New York in Convoy HX 235, which arrived Liverpool on May. 5. Fernmoor was bound for Mersey with general cargo on that occasion. The following month she can be found in Convoy HX 244, leaving New York on June 15, arriving Liverpool on the 30th, general cargo, station 23. At the end of Aug. she joined Convoy HX 254, bound for Cardiff, station 105.

In Jan.-1944 she sailed in Convoy HX 275 from New York, bound for Liverpool with general cargo, then returned to the U.S. with Convoy ON 224, which left Liverpool on Febr. 15-1944 and arrived New York on March 2. The Norwegian Samuel Bakke, Molda, Pan Scandia, Skaraas and Vanja are also listed. Some of them, including Fernmoor, went back to the U.K. with Convoy HX 284 towards the end of March. At end of May-1944 Fernmoor, general cargo for Liverpool, joined Convoy HX 293. In Aug.-1944 she's listed as sailing in Convoy HX 302 from New York, general cargo for London. She was scheduled for Convoy HX 311 (Boston section) at the end of Sept., but cancelled and joined the next convoy, HX 312, general cargo for Tyne. In Dec. that year she was scheduled for Convoy HX 327, but instead joined HX 328, bound for Liverpool with general cargo.

Note that my Convoys section has more details on all these convoys, direct links have been provided above. Unfortunately, I don't have much information on her westbound voyages at this time. More info on the other Norwegian ships mentioned here can be found with the help of the alphabet index below.

POST WAR:

Sold in 1954 to Sameiet Varangskip, (manager A/S Malmfart) Norway, and renamed Varangmalm. In 1955 managers became A/S Malmfart and Fearnley & Eger's Befragtningforretning, Oslo. During the night of Jan. 23/24-1960, she ran aground off Bodø, when on a voyage from Hartlepool to Narvik, and later refloated. Found not worth repairing and sold to Netherlands breakers. Arrived in the New Waterway in tow on March 4-1960 on way to yard of Utrechtse Ijzerhandel.