Founded in 1883 by Captain Lars Krogius to compete with
the increasing number of steamers coming into service in the Baltic, and
to maintain a regular service to the United Kingdom for Finland's agricultural
and forestry products. In 1884 the first steamships, SIRIUS and ORION
were completed, and the company expanded rapidly and owned eight ships
by 1890 and 27 by 1899, totalling 30,000 gross tons. Originally winter
traffic to Finland was considered impossible, and their ships were forced
to sail south for the winter months. However, with the assistance of a
loan from the State, the CAPELLA was built in 1888, able to withstand
ice pressure, and in the winter of 1888-89 maintained a service between
Hanko and Hull for most of the season. In the light of this, new ships
were planned to meet ice conditions, and from 1898 to 1914 an uninterrupted
service ran between Hanko and Hull.
The export of butter to the UK required regular sailings
and vessels equipped with refrigerated cargo space, and the company
placed
it's best ships on this service between Hanko and Hull, and later between
Turku and Hull. They were also heavily involved in the transport of
Finnish
emigrants to Hull on their way to America and by 1932 had carried nearly
half a million passengers on this route. (see Transmigration
via British Ports )
During the 1914-1918 war, the company lost eight of the
nine vessels that were beyond the Baltic at the outbreak of war, and as
these ships were employed by the British Admiralty, they never received
full compensation. Payment was dependent on the approval of the Russian
Government and this was never received due to the Russian Revolution.
However, the company's ships played an important role in the country's
war of independence and lost many ships, but by 1919 economic conditions
improved and the fleet expanded rapidly, comprising 44 vessels, totalling
55,000 tons by 1929.
The trade depression of the 1930s did not affect Finland's
export trade to any great extent and the company continued to grow.
Apart from the war years, very little loss of tonnage occurred.
The only major incident being the collision between the OBERON and ARCTURUS
on 19th Dec.1930 in the Kattegat. The ships were commanded by brothers
and collided in dense fog, the OBERON sinking almost immediately with
the loss of 40 lives.
On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the company
owned 58 ships (80,000 tons) and operated 22 regular routes. They lost
several ships, but were able to purchase others, and by 1943 owned 62
vessels. However, they were forced to surrender 25 ships, including their
newest and best, to the Soviet Union as reparations after the end of the
war. New ships were built and others purchased and by 1958 the number
of ships owned was 55. At this time, cargo services were operated to most
European countries as well as the east coast of North America. Passenger
routes ran between Turku - Stockholm, Helsinki - Stockholm, Helsinki -
Copenhagen and Helsinki - Lubeck.
see also The
F.Å.A.
Line's Emigrant Ships for pictures
NAME
|
BUILT
|
GROSS
TONS
|
HISTORY
|
AALLOTAR |
1937 |
2900 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
AALLOTAR |
1952 |
2915 |
1971 sold to Angf. A/B Bore, Finland. |
ABO |
1873 |
436
|
1893 purchased, 1897 sold to Ali Dadascheff, Baku. |
AEGIR |
1896 |
769
|
1920 taken over from Helsingfors Angf A.B. when companies
merged. |
ALDEBARAN |
1938 |
1832 |
1968 sold to Greece renamed ANTONIOS |
ALGOL |
1902 |
2221 |
1917 requisitioned by British Government, Jun.1917 captured
and scuttled by U.Boat off North Cape. |
ANTARES |
1932 |
1381 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
ANTARES |
1949 |
2113 |
1968 sold to Panama renamed AMIGO. |
ARA |
1923 |
1940 |
ex- ARGO, 1937 purchased from Rasmussen, Denmark renamed
ARA, 1945 to USSR as war reparation renamed OLONETS. |
ARA |
1954 |
1349 |
1966 sold to Cie. Franco-Finlandaise de Nav., France
renamed LA GAVOTTE. |
ARATOR |
1911 |
4724 |
ex- EQUATOR (Finland South America Line), 1953 sold
to Anchor Shipping, Finland. |
ARCTURUS |
1899 |
2155 |
1957 scrapped Germany. |
ARGO |
1889 |
?
|
6th Jan1891 wrecked. |
ARGO |
1921 |
1817 |
1963 scrapped. |
ARIADNE |
1897 |
?
|
1901 sold to Bordeaux. |
ARIADNE |
1914 |
2698 |
1914-1918 Russian Navy Hospital Ship, 1969 scrapped. |
ARIEL |
1897 |
396
|
ex- IGOR, 1913 purchased, 26th Mar.1916 sank. |
ARIEL |
1929 |
2197 |
Aug.1944 sunk by Allied air attack on Stettin. |
ARIEL |
1954 |
2145 |
1969 sold to Sweden renamed MONTROSE. |
ASTRAEA |
1891 |
1186 |
1930 sold to H.A.Elfving, Hango. |
ASTREA |
1941 |
3269 |
Laid up in Turku during WWII, 1944 sold to Svea Line,
Sweden. |
ASTREA |
1956 |
1518 |
1974 sold to Panama renamed SPEEDAFRIC. |
BALTIC |
1898 |
1077 |
1920 taken over. |
BJARMIA |
1894 |
1317 |
ex- GREYFRIARS, built for W.Leslie & Co, Aberdeen,
1906 purchased by Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B, renamed BJARMIA, 1926 taken
over when companies merged, 1929 sold to G.Rosenfeldt, Reval, renamed
KUSTAS. |
BJARMIA |
1945 |
1558 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
BJARMIA |
1947 |
2092 |
1968 sold to Greece renamed DARLING. |
BORE II |
1900 |
737
|
1915 purchased from Angf A.B. Bore, Turku in wrecked
condition, 1916 sold to Russian Navy renamed JASTREB. |
CANOPUS |
1911 |
1598 |
ex- SAN MATEO, 1937 purchased, 1962 sold to Greece
renamed POPI. |
CAPELLA |
1888 |
1102 |
1945 to USSR as war reparations. |
CAPELLA |
1944 |
1563 |
1944 to USSR as war reparation. |
CAPELLA |
1945 |
1495 |
1965 scrapped. |
CARELIA |
1921 |
1083 |
1925 purchased from Atlantic Rederi, Helsingfors, 1963
scrapped. |
CASTOR |
1898 |
1225 |
Apr.1901 wrecked off coast of Spain. |
CASTOR |
1906 |
1261 |
Built as SAGA, 1912 owned by A. Busck & Cie., Marseilles
renamed CETTOIS, 1914 purchased and renamed CASTOR, 1914-1918 seized
by Germany, 1962 scrapped. |
CERES |
1889 |
995
|
1952 scrapped at Ghent. |
CERES |
1952 |
1347 |
1973 sank in Gulf of Bothnia after developing list. |
CLIO |
1907 |
995
|
1926 taken over with Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B when the
companies merged. |
CLIO |
1944 |
1487 |
1965 scrapped. |
CORONA |
1921 |
1591 |
ex- NELLY, 1936 purchased from J. Lauritzen, Denmark
renamed CORONA, 1945 MOWT, London renamed EMPIRE CONCERTO, 1946
reverted
to Finland renamed CORONA, 1960 scrapped. |
DIONE |
1920 |
1779 |
ex- SMALAND, 1937 purchased from S. Janson, Goteborg
renamed DIONE, 1945 to USSR as war reparations renamed ORANIENBAUM. |
DIONE |
1941 |
1953 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
EXPRESS |
1876 |
381
|
1894 purchased, 1901 sold to Archangel. |
FENNIA |
1897 |
1197 |
1926 taken over with Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B when the
companies merged. |
FENNIA |
1944 |
1487 |
1965 scrapped. |
FINLAND |
1876 |
551
|
1893 purchased from Angf A.B.Turku, Turku, Dec.1898
sold to Sweden. |
FINLANDIA |
1920 |
1145 |
1925 taken over from Atlantic Rederi, Helsingfors, 1944
to USSR as war reparation renamed KURA. |
FINLANDIA |
1946 |
2094 |
1967 renamed CARELIA, 1968 sold to Liberia renamed ELIANA. |
FLORA |
1880 |
557
|
ex- FIDUCIA, 1902 purchased in wrecked condition, repaired
and wrecked Dec.1902 on Finnish coast in thick fog. |
FREJ |
1900 |
561
|
ex- VLADIMIR, 1907 purchased by Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B
renamed FREJ, 1926 taken over with Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B when the
companies merged. 1959 sold to Partrederi Fygia, Finland renamed
FYLGIA. |
HEBE |
1898 |
791
|
ex- BORE I, 1919 purchased from Angf A.B.Bore, 1926
sold to Angf A.B.Bore. |
HEBE |
1912 |
685
|
1949 grounded off Boisto, salvaged and sold to Capt.O.Nyland,
Helsinki. |
HEKTOS |
1903 |
2092 |
1914 purchased from Finska Lloyd, 1918 seized by Russia
renamed AGITATOR, 1923 recovered and repaired, 1961 scrapped. |
HEROS |
1957 |
1373 |
1975 sold to Greece renamed SKOPELOS SEA. |
HESPERUS |
1903 |
2231 |
1914 taken over from Angf A.B. Finska Lloyd, requisitioned
by British Admiralty, Apr.1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.Boat. |
HESPERUS |
1922 |
2175 |
ex- KILSTROOM, 1933 purchased from Hollandsche Stoom.
Maats, Amsterdam renamed HESPERUS, 1945 to USSR as war reparation
renamed PAVLOVSK. |
HESPERUS |
1921 |
2324 |
ex- HEIMGAR, 1947 purchased from C. Stamer, Bergen
renamed HESPERUS, 1969 wrecked on rocks at Lebanon. |
ILMATAR |
1929 |
2364 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation, renamed EMBA. |
INARI |
1958 |
1362 |
1975 sold to Yugoslavia renamed LUN. |
INNAMO |
1922 |
1790 |
ex- PEGGY THORDEN, 1946 purchased from Finnish Government
renamed INNAMO, 1964 sold to Sweden, converted to stone crushing
mill
barge |
IRIS |
1884 |
446
|
1926 taken over from Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B. when companies
merged. |
IVALO |
1902 |
2035 |
ex- BRETLAND, 1937 purchased from Det Danske Kulkompagni,
Copenhagen renamed IVALO, 1954 scrapped Scotland. |
IVALO |
1957 |
1362 |
1975 sold to Yugoslavia renamed RAD. |
JACOBSTAD |
1875 |
604
|
1892 purchased, 1905 sold to Odessa. |
JUNO |
1906 |
1239 |
1925 wrecked. |
JUNO |
1920 |
1241 |
ex- LORMONT, 1934 purchased from Moss Hutchison Line
renamed JUNO, 30th Oct.1939 mined and sunk off Hull. |
JUNO |
1948 |
1778 |
ex- IRISH WILLOW, 1954 purchased renamed JUNO, 1966
sold to Lebanon renamed AMIRA-K |
KOLLAA |
1943 |
1339 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
LAPPONIA |
1898 |
1172 |
ex- JOHANNA, 1908 purchased by Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B,
1926 taken over with Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B when the companies merged. |
LEDA |
1908 |
1282 |
19th Aug.1944 bombed and sunk at Bremen in Allied air
attack. |
LEO |
1903 |
2224 |
1915 torpedoed and sunk near Tuskar Rock. |
LEO |
1920 |
1242 |
ex- LANDES, 1934 purchased from Moss Hutchison Line
renamed LEO, 1945 to USSR as war reparation renamed GATCHINA. |
LEO |
1948 |
1766 |
ex- IRISH ROSE, 1954 purchased renamed LEO, 1966 sold
to Gibraltar renamed COLON. |
LYRA |
1881 |
355
|
1912 purchased, 1928 sold to Turku. |
MALLAND |
1911 |
332
|
1923 sold to Helsingfors Skeppsvary. |
MARGARETA |
1919 |
1859 |
1941 purchased from A. Karlsson , Mariehamn, 1944 sunk
in collision with s/s LIGUR. |
MERCATOR |
1920 |
4748 |
ex- EMPIRE CROUCH, 1952 purchased from Finland America
Line, 1956 sold to J. Nurminen, Herlsingfors renamed RUTH NURMINEN. |
MIRA |
1898 |
820
|
1955 scrapped at Hamburg. |
MIRA |
1956 |
1377 |
1975 sold to Cyprus renamed ETTORE |
NAJADEN |
1906 |
1989 |
1939 purchased from J. Lauritzen, Denmark, 1960 scrapped
after stranding at Helsinki. |
NAVIGATOR |
1905 |
3700 |
1932 purchased, 1935 sunk in collision with s/s MERVYN
in Atlantic. |
NAVIGATOR |
1921 |
3700 |
1952 purchased from Finland America Line, 1956 sold
to Liberia renamed KEFALOS. |
NJORD |
1919 |
528
|
ex- SUNKIST, 1924 purchased by Wasa-Nordsjo Angb
A.B, 1926 taken over with Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B when the companies
merged, 1926 sold to Pargas Kalkbergs A.B. |
NORMA |
1907 |
1507 |
ex- BRUSSEL, 1958 still in service, no further info. |
NORRA FINLAND |
1885 |
593
|
1892 purchased, 1909 sold to Stockholm Rederi A/B, Svea. |
OBERON |
1896 |
1922 |
1901 sold to M.Jebsen, Hamburg. |
OBERON |
1925 |
3007 |
19th Dec.1930 sank in the Kattegat after collision with
ARCTURUS. |
OIHONNA |
1898 |
1072 |
1960 scrapped. |
ORION |
1884 |
1066 |
1914 Requisitioned by Russia, 1919 repurchased, 1931
wrecked in snowstorm. |
ORION |
1935 |
2407 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
ORION |
1951 |
2353 |
1972 sold to Cyprus renamed MARIGO T. |
OSTROBOTNIA |
1920 |
1335 |
1925 purchased from Atlantic Rederi, Helsingfors, 1945
to USSR as war reparation renamed RAZLIV. |
OSTROBOTNIA |
1946 |
2100 |
1958 still in service, no further info. |
PALLAS |
1890 |
1210 |
Dec.1916 captured and scuttled by U-Boat off Ushant. |
PALLAS |
1921 |
1425 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation renamed UMBA. |
PALLAS |
1953 |
2220 |
1968 sold to Greece renamed ANNITA. |
PATRIA |
1923 |
695
|
1926 taken over with Wasa-Nordsjo Angb A.B when the
companies merged, 1945 to USSR as war reparation renamed MGA.. |
PATRIA |
1947 |
2093 |
1968 sold to Panama renamed GALATEA. |
POHJANMAA |
1929 |
2062 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
POHJANMAA |
1951 |
2277 |
1968 sold to Greece renamed FIDELITY. |
POLARIS |
1899 |
2018 |
1914 requisitioned by Russia. |
POLARIS |
1912 |
1614 |
ex- PREUSSEN, 1933 purchased from Renata Damps. G.
T. Gribel, Stettin renamed POLARIS, 1945 to USSR as war reparation
renamed
SESTRORETSK. |
POLARIS |
1956 |
1518 |
1974 sold to Panama renamed SPEED MEDIT. |
POLLUX |
1898 |
1288 |
Still in service 1958, no further info. |
POSEIDON |
1899 |
804
|
1912 purchased. |
POSEIDON |
1957 |
1373 |
1975 sold to Cyprus renamed NIKOLAKIS. |
PRIMULA |
1904 |
862
|
1920 taken over with Helsingfors Angf A.B. when companies
merged, 1955 scrapped. |
PRINSESSAN
MARGARETA |
1907 |
1375 |
1909 purchased, 1912 sold to Russia. |
REGULUS |
1889 |
1136 |
1905 wrecked off Uto. |
REGULUS |
1921 |
1821 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation renamed PARNU |
REGULUS |
1942 |
2705 |
ex- LEENA NURMINEN, 1956 purchased renamed REGULUS,
1967 sold to Panama renamed INSULA. |
RHEA |
1883 |
1144 |
1891 purchased, Sep.1915 torpedoed and sunk off Scilly
Isles. |
RHEA |
1921 |
1427 |
1939 seized by Germany, 1942 returned to Finland, 1945
to USSR as war reparation renamed KILDIN. |
RHEA |
1954 |
2198 |
1968 sold to Greece renamed EVALIA. |
RIGEL |
1937 |
1450 |
28th Oct.1944 mined and sunk near Porkkala. |
RIGEL |
1950 |
1664 |
1971 sold to Panama renamed FINDEX. |
SAIMAA |
1922 |
1824 |
ex- ERLAND, 1937 purchased from D. Brostrom, Goteborg
renamed SAIMAA, 1964 sold to Panama renamed TAITU. |
SALLA |
1941 |
1340 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
SALLA |
1957 |
1373 |
1975 sold to Greece renamed HEROIC SAILOR. |
SAVONMAA |
1922 |
1749 |
ex- ROLAND, 1936 purchased from D. Brostrom, Goteborg
renamed SAVONMAA, 1937 wrecked off Norwegian coast in snowstorm. |
SIRIUS |
1884 |
1003 |
Jun.1918 torpedoed and sunk off Scotland while in service
of British Admiralty. |
SIRIUS |
1929 |
2197 |
1945 to USSR as war reparation. |
SIRIUS |
1949 |
2339 |
1958 still in service, no further info. |
SUOMEN NEITO |
1921 |
1094 |
1928 purchased from Suomen Valtamarentakaisen, Helsingfors,
1963 scrapped. |
SUOMEN POIKA |
1921 |
1174 |
1928 purchased from Reposaaren Hoyrysaha, Helsingfors,
1945 to USSR as war reparations renamed PIONER. |
SUOMI |
1910 |
659
|
1944 sold to Carl Gahlnback, Danzig. |
TAURUS |
1908 |
195
|
1910 purchased, 1913 sold to Axel Lundberg, Rauma. |
TAURUS |
1923 |
1529 |
ex- LALY, 1937 purchased from Gogstad & Co., Norway
renamed TAURUS, 1945 to USSR as war reparation renamed TIHVIN. |
TITANIA |
1895 |
1917 |
1901 sold to W.Diederiksen, Kiel. |
TITANIA |
1908 |
3495 |
1916 taken over by British Admiralty, Mar.1918 mined
and sunk off Scotland. |
TOR |
1890 |
334
|
1896 purchased, 1916 requisitioned by Russia. |
TORNEA |
1876 |
704
|
1892 purchased. |
ULEABORG |
1876 |
549
|
1892 purchased from Uleaborgs Angf. 7th Sep.1914 sunk
by German destroyer in Baltic. |
URANIA (1) |
1891 |
1136 |
Feb.1913 collided with Norwegian steamer FANCY and sank. |
URANIA (2) |
1897 |
1936 |
ex- RUSSIE, 1913 purchased, 1915 chartered by Russian
Admiralty for voyage UK to Archangel and sank during voyage |
URSA |
1904 |
2790 |
ex- KARIN, 1941 purchased from K. Hansen, Helsingforsrenamed
URSA, 1945 scuttled at Bremen, 1945 salvaged and 1947 sold to R.Nordstrom
& Co, Loviisa, Finland renamed MARGARETA. |
URSUS |
1906 |
180
|
1913 sold |
VEGA |
1906 |
973
|
1914-1919 seized by Germany, 22nd Sep.1955 sank outside
Kotka after collision with Swedish ship BALI. |
VEGA |
1957 |
1372 |
1974 sold to Philippines renamed MARTINA. |
VESTA |
1889 |
1015 |
15th Jan.1945 capsized and sank north of Aland. |
VESTA |
1952 |
1336 |
1974 sold to Mini Carriers A/B, Finland renamed MINISTAR. |
VIOLA |
1893 |
324
|
1940 sold to Angbats A/B Aland. |
VIRGO |
1906 |
1070 |
1963 scrapped. |
VON DOBELN |
1876 |
669
|
1892 purchased from Wasa Angf.A.B. |
WAPPU |
1930 |
1444 |
ex- GOWER, 1933 purchased renamed WAPPU, 1958 still
in service, no further info. |
WASA |
1871 |
610
|
1892 purchased from Russia, 1899 sold to Hans Diedrich
Schmidt, Pernau. |
WELLAMO |
1897 |
1042 |
1916 sunk by German submarine. |
WELLAMO |
1927 |
1944 |
1968 sold to M. Rauanheimo O/Y, Finland renamed OULUTAR. |
WIIDES |
1904 |
2324 |
1941 purchased from Wiides O/Y, Helsingfors, 1944 wrecked
at mouth of River Weser. |
WIKLA |
1909 |
1179 |
ex- TEMPO, 1936 purchased renamed WIKLA, 1960 scrapped
after ice damage. |