Gripsholm (1925)

Later names
Berlin (1955)


Owners:
Svenska Amerika Linien
(Swedish American Line)
Gothenburg, Sweden

Jan. 30, 1954:

Norddeutscher Lloyd
(North German Lloyd)
Bremen, Germany



Builder:
Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth
& Company Ltd.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Ordered:
N/A
Keel Laid:
N/A
Year Built:
1925
Launched:
November 26, 1924
Sister Ships:
None
Maiden Voyage:
November 21, 1925
Fate:
Scrapped at La Spezia, Italy 1966-67.


Dimensions, machinery and performance

Length:
573' (a)
Engines:
2 Burmeister & Wain six cylinder diesels
Beam:
74'
Boilers:
N/A
Draft:
43' (depth)
Shafts:
2
Gross Tons:
17,993 (b)
HP:
N/A
Displacement:
N/A
Speed:
17 knots
Crew:
N/A
Funnels:
2
Passengers:
1,557 (c)
Masts:
2

Armament or construction notes:
(a):
590' after 1950 refit.
(b):
18,600 after 1950 refit.
(c):
976 after 1950 refit.


History:
Nov. 21, 1925:
Maiden voyage Gothenburg - New York.
1940-1946:
Chartered by the USA and used for repatriation of German and Japanese nationals and to
return American and Canadians home. She sailed under the Red Cross flag and was operated
by a Swedish crew.

1946-1954:
Returned to Gothenburg - New York service.
*1950:
Refit in Kiel, Germany. Lengthened to 590', passenger accommodations reduced to 976,
GRT increased to 18,600.

Jan. 30, 1954:
Sold to Bremen Amerika Line, this was a temporary company set up by North German Lloyd
and half owned by the Swedish America Line due to restrictions on German ownership of
ocean going passenger ships. Gripsholm operated from Bremerhaven to New York under the
Swedish flag until Jan. 1955 when the restrictions were lifted.

Jan. 1955:
Bremen Amerika Line was dissolved and the ship was renamed Berlin and operated by
North German Lloyd on the Bremerhaven - Cherbourg - Halifax (westbound only) -
New York route. Southampton was added in Jan. 1960.

Jan. 8, 1955:
Maiden voyage as Berlin Bremerhaven - New York.
Nov. 1966:
Withdrawn from service.
Oct. 1966:
Sold for £223,000 to an Italian shipbreaker and scrapped at La Spezia, Italy.


Notes:
First diesel powered transatlantic liner built.
First to return to Germany to U.S. service since 1939.


Page created Aug. 6, 2007