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HISTORY
SS
Bergensfjord was a Norwegian ocean liner that sailed for the
Norwegian America Line to the United States. During the Second World
War she was requisitioned by the British Ministry of War Transport
and used as a troop ship. After the war she continued sailing as a
Trans-Atlantic passenger liner, first for South American owners,
then for an Israeli company.
Her service
was quite a success as she was a well appointed ship with excellent
Cabin (First) Class as well as Tourist Class Lounges and
accommodations and comfortable Third Class facilities and cabins as
well as dormitories being the common in those days.
In November 1925 she was refitted to accommodate 367 Cabin Class and
572 Third Class passengers, thus becoming a two class ship. However
that changed just two years later when in September 1927 she
received yet another refit changing her capacity to just 90 Cabin
Class, 155 Tourist and 500 Third Class.
In 1932/33 it was decided to have her fitted with the more efficient
two low-pressure steam turbines, and during the ship general refit
her tonnage increased to 11,015 GRT. In January 1939 she received
yet another refit to once again to carry just Cabin and Third Class
only.
She left Bergen for her final voyage to New York on April 7, 1940,
just two days before the Germans invaded Norway. After arriving
safely in New York, in December 1940, she was handed over to the
British Ministry of War Transport and she soon commenced a career as
a Troop Transport ship for the next five years. During her active
duties, she carried around 165,000 troops, spending some 919 days at
sea having sailed over 300,000 wartime miles. An excellent wartime
career was had by her!
After her wartime service had been completed she was returned to NAL
in February 1946. NAL sold her in August the next year to Home
Lines, who renamed her SS Argentina to be used on the emigrant route
between Italy to South America. However, she was placed under the
management, of Panamanian Lines Inc. On July 13, 1951 she commenced
the Genoa to New York service. In 1952 she officially was
transferred to Home Lines Inc. Her final Trans Atlantic voyage
commenced December, 20, 1952.
Finally she became the ZIM Liner - Jerusalem:
Upon her return to Italy, she was sold to ZIM Lines, who renamed her
SS Jerusalem. After another refit she now accommodated 38 First
Class and 741 Tourist Class passengers. She departed on her maiden
voyage from Haifa to New York on April 4, 1953.
Her itinerary was as follows: Haifa, Limassol, Malta, Cannes,
Halifax and New York. SS Jerusalem crossed the ocean six times a
year, as well as five special voyages on the Haifa, Naples and
Marseilles.
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