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Owner: D/S A/S Vivi Built in Gouderak 1918. Previous names: Phoenix, then Kongsaa, according to a visitor to my website (his source: "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles"). Captain: Johannes Hovden. 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 we find her in the U.K.-Norway Convoy ON 17A, and later that month she joined 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 one of the ships that turned around and returned to the U.K., as the German invasion was underway upon the convoy's arrival in Norwegian waters, because she was later in allied control - follow links for more convoy info; several Norwegian ships took part in all these convoys. Damaged by a mine which detonated close by on March 5-1943 off Bridlington, but she was taken in tow and arrived Humber that same night.
Departed Fowey in the morning of Nov. 22-1944 with a cargo of 720 tons porcelain clay for Larne, Northern Ireland. Ran aground at 01:00 on Nov. 23 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 immedaitely 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 beat up to such an extent that he was brought ashore in an unconsious 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, 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 1st mate's report says that the captain was sent ashore at 15:50, then at 16:30 the last man, 1st Mate Bentsen was hauled ashore. The captain and the 2nd mate were taken by ambulance to a hospital, the former to Princess Elizabeth's Hospital, Exeter and the latter to Stratton Cottage Hospital, Bude, Cornwall. 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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