View source for SS Noordam (1902)

{{short description|Dutch ocean liner built in Ireland & chartered to Sweden}}
{{other ships|List of ships named Noordam|List of ships named Kungsholm}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= SS Noordam 1903.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Noordam'' picking up a [[Maritime pilot|pilot]] in 1903.
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship country= 
|Ship flag= 
|Ship name= *1902: ''Noordam''
*1923: ''Kungsholm''
*1925: ''Noordam''
|Ship namesake= 
|Ship owner= [[Holland America Line]]
|Ship operator= *1923: [[Swedish American Line]]
|Ship registry= *1902: {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Port of Rotterdam|Rotterdam]]
*1923: {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Port of Gothenburg|Gothenburg]]
*1925: {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Rotterdam
|Ship route= *1902: Rotterdam – [[Port of New York and New Jersey|New York]]
*1923: Gothenburg – New York
*1926: Rotterdam – New York
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Harland & Wolff]], [[Belfast]]
|Ship original cost= 
|Ship yard number= 338
|Ship laid down= 
|Ship launched= 28 September 1901
|Ship completed= 29 March 1902
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship commissioned= 
|Ship decommissioned= 
|Ship honours=
|Ship maiden voyage= 1 May 1902
|Ship refit= 1923
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service= 
|Ship identification= *1902: [[code letters]] PMVL
*{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|Victor}}{{ICS|Lima}}
*by 1913: [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] MHA
*1914: call sign PAI
|Ship fate= Scrapped 1928–29
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[ocean liner]]
|Ship tonnage= {{GRT|12531}}, {{NRT|7978}}, {{DWT|12339}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length= *{{cvt|170.9|m|1|disp=flip|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|overall]]
*{{cvt|550.3|ft|abbr=on}} registered
|Ship beam= {{cvt|62.3|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{cvt|32|ft|1|in|abbr=on|2}}
|Ship depth= {{cvt|26.2|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks= 3
|Ship power= 1,265 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]], 7,600 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]]
|Ship propulsion= *2 × [[Propeller|screws]]
*2 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion engines]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}
|Ship capacity= *'''passengers:'''
**'''1902:''' 286 × [[First class travel|1st class]], 292 × 2nd class, 1,800 × 3rd class
**'''1923:''' 478 × cabin class, 1,800 × 3rd class
**'''1926:''' 3rd class only
*'''cargo:''' {{convert|530000|cuft|0}} grain, {{convert|488000|cuft|0}} bale
|Ship crew= 
|Ship armament= 
|Ship sensors= by 1911: [[Submarine signals|submarine signalling]]
|Ship notes= [[sister ship]]s: {{SS|Potsdam|1899|2}}, {{USS|Rijndam||2}}
}}
|}

'''SS ''Noordam''''' was a [[Steamship|steam]] [[ocean liner]] that was launched in [[Ireland]] in 1901 and scrapped in the [[Netherlands]] in 1928–29. [[Holland America Line]] owned her throughout her career. From 1923 to 1924 [[Swedish American Line]] [[Chartering (shipping)|chartered]] her and renamed her '''''Kungsholm'''''.

She was the first of four Holland America Line ships to be called ''Noordam'', and the first of four Swedish American Line ships to be called ''Kungsholm''.

==Building==
At the turn of the 20th century, Holland America Line's [[flagship]] was {{SS|Potsdam|1899|2}}, launched by [[Blohm+Voss]] in 1899 and completed in 1900. In 1901 and 1902 [[Harland & Wolff]] in [[Belfast]] built a pair of [[sister ship]]s for her. {{USS|Rijndam||2}} was launched in May 1901 and completed that October.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theyard.info/ships/ships.asp?entryid=336 |title=Rijndam |work=Harland & Wolff The Yard |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> ''Noordam'' was built on slipway number 5 as yard number 338, launched on 28 September 1901 and completed on 29 March 1902.<ref name=Yard>{{cite web |url= http://www.theyard.info/ships/ships.asp?entryid=338 |title=Noordam |work=Harland & Wolff The Yard |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref>

''Noordam''{{'}}s [[length overall]] was {{cvt|170.9|m|1|disp=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name=SMHD>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=4701 |title=Noordam – ID 4701 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |language=nl |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref> and her registered length was {{cvt|550.3|ft|abbr=on}}. Her beam was {{cvt|62.3|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|26.2|ft|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1903|loc=NIV–NOR}} Her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|12531}}, {{NRT|7978}} and {{DWT|12339}}.<ref name=SMHD/> Her passenger accommodation had berths for 286 [[First class travel|first class]], 292 second class and 1,800 third class passengers.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1903|loc=NIV–NOR}} Her holds had capacity of {{convert|530000|cuft|0}} for grain or {{convert|488000|cuft|0}} for cargo in bales.<ref name=SMHD/>

''Noordam'' had twin [[Propeller|screws]], each driven by a three-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engine]]. The combined power of her twin engines was rated at 1,265 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1903|loc=NIV–NOR}} or 7,600 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]],<ref name=SMHD/> and gave her a speed of {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=Yard/>

Holland America Line [[Ship registration|registered]] ''Noordam'' at [[Port of Rotterdam|Rotterdam]]. Her Dutch [[code letters]] were PMVL.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1903|loc=NIV–NOR}}

==Career==
The regular route of ''Potsdam'', ''Rijndam'' and ''Noordam'' was between Rotterdam and [[Port of New York and New Jersey|New York]] via [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]].{{sfn|Dowling|1909|p=321}} ''Noordam'' left Rotterdam on her maiden voyage on the route on 1 May 1902.<ref name=Yard/>

By 1910 ''Noordam'' was equipped for [[Submarine signals|submarine signalling]], and the [[Marconi Company]] had equipped her for [[wireless telegraphy]].{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1910|loc=NON–NOR}} By 1913 her wireless telegraph [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was MHA,{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1913|p=270}} but by 1914 it had been changed to PAI.{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1914|p=415}}

On 24 November 1911, in fog the [[English Channel]] off the [[Isle of Wight]], the [[schooner]] ''Alida'' collided with ''Noordam''. ''Alida'' suffered only a broken [[bowsprit]], and both ships continued their voyages.<ref name=SMHD/>

At 11:40 hrs on 14 April 1912, ''Noordam''{{'}}s Marconi wireless telegraphist transmitted a warning of [[sea ice]]. The [[Cunard Line]]r {{RMS|Caronia|1904|6}} relayed the message to RMS ''[[Titanic]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.titanicinquiry.org/ships/noordam.php |title=Noordam |work=Titanic Inquiry Project |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref> ''Titanic'' replied that she "had experienced moderate, variable weather".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/who-talked-to-titanic.html |title=Who talked to Titanic? |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Titanica |date=11 March 2010 |access-date=14 May 2023 |last1=Molony |first1=Senan }}</ref>

[[File:Peace Delegates on NOORDAM 18848v.jpg|thumb|left|US and UK delegates aboard ''Noordam'' in 1915 on their way to the International Congress of Women at [[The Hague]]. They include [[Jane Addams]] and [[Annie E. Molloy]].]]
On 17 October 1914 ''Noordam'' was returning from New York to Rotterdam. She had passed [[The Downs (ship anchorage)|The Downs]] and was about {{convert|80|nmi|km}} off the [[Hook of Holland]] when she struck a British [[Naval mine|mine]]. Her stern was badly damaged, but she reached the [[Nieuwe Waterweg]] safely.<ref name=SMHD/>

On 3 March 1916 the British [[Collier (ship)|collier]] ''Swiftsure'' collided with ''Noordam'' off Dover. ''Swiftsure''{{'}}s bow was bent and her forepeak was flooded, but she reached [[Port of Dover|Dover]] safely.<ref name=SMHD/>

[[File:Ford Party on NOORDAM LCCN2014700867.jpg|thumb|Members of the [[Peace Ship|Henry Ford Peace Mission]] aboard ''Noordam'' in 1916]]
On 3 August 1917 ''Noordam'' was en route from [[Port of Halifax|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]] to Rotterdam when she struck a mine in the [[North Sea]] off [[Terschelling]]bank. Her 237 passengers were transferred to the tugs ''Thames'' and ''Samson''.<ref name=SMHD/>

In March 1923 [[Swedish American Line]] (SAL) [[bareboat charter]]ed ''Noordam'', renamed her ''Kungsholm'' and registered her in [[Port of Gothenburg|Gothenburg]].<ref name=SMHD/>{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1923|loc=KUM–KUO}} SAL had her refitted as a two-class ship, replacing her first and second class accommodation with berths for 478 cabin class passengers.<ref name=Yard/> In December 1924 SAL returned the ship to her owners, who restored her original name.<ref name=SMHD/>

In December 1925 ''Noordam'' was laid up in Rotterdam. She returned to service on 6 October 1926. From December 1926 she carried only third class passengers.<ref name=SMHD/> She began her last voyage from Rotterdam to New York on 16 April 1927.<ref name=Yard/>

In May 1928 Holland America Line sold ''Noordam'' for scrap to NV Frank Rijsdijkʼs Industriëele Ondernemingen, who started demolishing her in Rotterdam. In June 1928 she was towed to [[Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht]], where her [[Ship breaking|breaking]] continued, and was completed in the final quarter of 1929.<ref name=SMHD/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Dowling |first=R |origyear=1903 |year=1909 |edition=3rd |title=All About Ships & Shipping |place=London |publisher=Alexander Moring Ltd}}
*{{cite book |year=1903 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |volume=I.–Steamers |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] of Shipping |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1904ST/page/n594/mode/1up |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1903}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1910 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |volume=I.–Steamers |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |via=Internet Archive |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1911ST/page/n746/mode/1up |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1910}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1923 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motor Vessels |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |via=Internet Archive |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1924ST/page/n652/mode/1up |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1923}} }}
*{{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1913 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The St Katherine Press}}
*{{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1914 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Noordam (ship, 1902)}}

{{Holland America Ships}}
{{1911 shipwrecks|state=collapsed}}
{{October 1914 shipwrecks|state=collapsed}}
{{March 1916 shipwrecks|state=collapsed}}
{{August 1917 shipwrecks|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noordam}}
[[Category:1901 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1911]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1914]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1917]]
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]
[[Category:Ships of the Holland America Line]]
[[Category:Ships of Swedish American Line]]
[[Category:Steamships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Maritime accidents involving fog]]