Built as an iron vessel under yard No. 57 by Alexander Denny & Brother at Dumbarton, Scotland for Nordre Bergenhus Amts Dampskibe, Bergen.
Launched under the name FRAMNÆS, one sister FJALIR.
Tonnage 242 gross, dim. 131.9 x 21 x 11.1ft.
One 2 cyl. H&L pressure steam engine, 40 nhp., manufactured by Denny.
Nov. 1858 delivered.
Her maiden voyage from Scotland to Bergen was a rough one, and she arrived at Bergen on 27 Nov. During the passage she got some damage. After repaired placed in the regularly service with passengers and mail from Bergen to Lærdal-Luster-Aurlandsfjord in Sogn from 7 December that year.
Around 1870 the ship received her own postmark DPSK FRAMNÆS.
1873 rebuilt at the Bergens Mek. Verksteder, new interior, boiler and engine, a 2cyl. compound steam engine.
June 1875 ran aground near Skjelanger, Herdlefjord, repaired.
1899 Ran aground in Dalsfjord in 1899, repaired.
1904 Laid up.
1909 rebuilt and lengthened by Akers Mek. Verksted, Oslo, tonnage 307 gross, dim. 134.9 x 21 x 11.1ft.
A new engine fitted a triple expansion steam engine 57 nhp.
April 1911 ran aground near Rongevær, heavy damaged. Again repaired.
29 August 1913 ran aground and sank in 21 fathoms of water near Nesefjord, Sollund.
Raised and repaired at Bergens Mek. Verksteder, Bergen and placed in the Bergen-Førdefjord and Dalsfjord route.
25 Jan. 1919 company name changed to Fylkesbaatane I Sogn & Fjordane.
Oct 1938 ran aground at Svanøybukt in Sunnfjord, she lost her propeller, again repaired.
When war broke out between Norway and Germany on 09 April 1940, the FRAMNÆS was at the yard at Bergen for her yearly overhaul, entered service the same year. Was not requisitioned by the German’s during the war, and was used in her regular service.
On a southbound voyage from Nordfjord to Bergen with about 70 passengers, mail and live cattle on board, she passed a anchored German convoy near Frøysjoen, when the convoy was attacked by British aircraft on 08 Nov. 1944, during the attack she was caught in the middle and got on fire, after her hull above and underwater was riddled with some hits, 6 passengers and 1 crewmember died, 4 passengers and 5 crew seriously injured.
The German convoy at anchor nearby at that time lost the D/S AQUILA and D/S HELGA FERDINAND, both sunk.
The FRAMNÆS was beached near Austnes in Gulen, and the fire extinguished. Refloated and laid up for the rest of the war.
After the war repaired, not sure she was used again.
June 1951 sold to Belgium, at that time she was Norway’s oldest passenger vessel. She was the first vessel of today’s Fylkesbaatane I Sogn & Fjordane.
23 June 1951 sailed from Bergen and arrived at Antwerp on 27 June. (most probably for scrapping)
Norway 1996 3k50 sg1238, scott1127.
Source: copied from http://www.warsailors.com/materials/norfleetf.html Watercraft Philately Vol 43 page 60.