Åland is well known for it’s many ship stamps, and the two ships given below are the S/S OSMO and the S/S THORNBURY.
Shipping and navigation traditions have always been strong in Åland. Older ships were often bought instead of new ones. Such was the case during both the sailing ship and steamship epoch. The limited company ‘Ålands Lastfartyg’ (Ålands Cargo Ships) bought the first Åland steam-driven cargo ship for international traffic, the OSMO, in 1910. Åland was familiar with steam-power prior to this, thanks to the smaller steam launches used in the Åland passenger traffic as early as the 1880’s.
The freighter OSMO was ten years old when bought by ’Ålands Lastfartyg’ in 1910. She had deadweight of approximately 2.000 tons and was used to carry timber coal and salt. Since the ship proved not to be a profitable investment she was sold in 1912.
The number of Åland steamships increased when the 23-year-old freighter THORNBURY came to Åland in 1928, bought by the limited company ‘Ångfartygs Aktiebololaget Alfa’ (previously ‘Lindqvist Shipping Company’), Ångfartygs Aktiebolaget Alfa’ was established in 1927 by the sea captain Hugo Lundqvist of Marieham.
The THORNBURY, 3.050 tons cost the company FIM 2.9 million ands she was mainly used to carry timber. She turned out to be a good investment, and the company used her for no less than 31 years before going to the breakers.
OSMO was built as a cargo vessel under yard no 69 by Craig Taylor & Co., Stockton, U.K. for Björnborg Ångf. A/B (O. Heine) at Björborg, at that time in Russia.
02 February 1900 launched under the name OSMO.
Tonnage 1.482 gross, dim. 245 x 37.3 x 15.6ft.
One triple expansion steam engine 162 nhp.
1907 Was she managed by W. Ahlström, and in 1909 by G.W. Snell-man, all the time with the same owners.
1911 Sold to A/B Ålands Lastangare (O.Pettersen), Mariahamn.
1912 Sold to Luciano Campisi di S., Syracuse, Italy, renamed AMELIA CAM-PISI.
1918 Sold to Fili. Beraldo fu G.B., Genoa, renamed Giuseppe Beraldo.
1922 Owned by Vilian & Fassio, Genoa as the NASCO.
1923 Sold to Rederi A/B Portos (Robert Philis), Helsingborg, Sweden and renamed JARL.
On a voyage from Viborg to Ostend with timber, she struck a mine and sank on 1 December 1923, about 18 miles northwest of Surop Light.
THORNBURY, built as a cargo vessel under yard No 546 by the Stettiner Oderwerke at Stetin, for Robert Koppen at Stettin.
Launched under the name ELWINE KÖPPEN.
Tonnage 2.050 gross, dim. 276.6 x 41.2 x 18.4ft.
One triple expansion steam engine, speed 8 knots.
April 1905 completed.
1920 Taken over by the British Shipping Controller Co. Ltd., (manager J.T.Duncan & Co.), London.
The same year sold to Alexander Shipping Co. Ltd (Capper, Alexander & Co.), London, renamed THORNBURY.
1936 Sold to Angf. A/B., Alfa (Hugo Lundqvist), Mariehamn, Finland
1955 Managed by Frank Lundqvist, still with the same owners.
1959 Broken up by Petersen & Albeck A/S, Copenhagen.
Aland 1997 2.80 and 3.50m sg127/28, scott?
Source: Åland Post. Register of Merchant ships completed in 1905/1900.