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M/S Quest To Quest on the "Ships starting with P & Q" page. Owner: Skips-A/S Quest Delivered in 1917 from Erik Lindstøls Båtbyggeri, Risør as catcher Foca I to Andr. Ingebrigtsen, Høvik near Oslo (fishery No. K-13-K). Wooden hull, steam engine. Sold in March-1921 to Sir Ernest Shackleton, Cowes, U.K., renamed Quest. (Shackleton died when he was on his way to the Antarctic with this ship). Sold in 1923 to W. G. Oliffe, Cowes. Sold in March-1924 to Schjelderups Sælfangstrederi A/S (Thomas Schjelderup), Skånland / Bø (N-94-BN). In use as seal catcher in the Arctic, and probably as fishing vessel in between seasons. Sold in Jan.-1939 to Skips-A/S Quest (Ivar Austad, Tromsø) - fishery No. T-24-T. A 4cyl 2tev Wichmann 350bhp motor was installed (seal catcher in the Arctic, probably in regular fishing in between seasons).
When war broke out in Norway in Apr.-1940 she was catching for seal near New Foundland; came under Nortraship control. Upon hearing of the invasion of Norway she proceeded to St. John's. On hire to The Royal Navy from Nov.-1940 and in use as minesweeper in the West Indies / Caribbean. Returned to Nortraship in July-1941. In March-1942 she was scheduled for Convoy SC 76 from Halifax, but did not sail. She was also cancelled from Convoy SC 79 and SC 82, but is listed as sailing in SC 83 in May, bound for Glasgow with rubber - follow the links for more on these convoys. She had been requisitioned by Den Konglige Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy) in Apr.-1942, and was intended for use in Operation "Fritham 2" at Spitsbergen, Svalbard in May (the re-occupation of Svalbard - see D/S Isbjørn), but this was cancelled. Quest was returned to Nortraship on Sept. 1-1942. On hire to The Royal Navy as water vessel from June 21-1943.
Laid up on Oct. 10-1945. Returned to owner on July 19-1946. Sprang a leak and sank due to ice on May 5-1962 while catching seal off the north coast of Labrador. Crew saved by Norwegian seal catchers Norvarg, Polarfart, Polarsirkel and Kvitfjell. Related external links: For info, documents related to Operation Fritham are available for purchase at the Back to Quest on the "Ships starting with P & Q" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Misc. sources, including info received from T. Eriksen, Norway - His sources: Article by Thor B. Melhus in the Norwegian magazine "Skipet", and a posting to my Ship Forum by Atle Wilmar.
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