Lot Essay
The Scandinavian-American Line came into being in 1898 following the amalgamation of two existing Danish shipping lines, both of which already had experience of regular sailings to the U.S.A. Their combined fleets were mostly outdated however and the new company soon decided to relaunch its Copenhagen to New York service with three custom-built steamers more suited to the prestigious North Atlantic route than their existing tonnage. Orders were placed with Stephen's of Glasgow and the last to be laid down was United States having been preceded by Oscar II in 1901 and Hellig Olav earlier in 1902.
Launched on 30th March 1903, United States was accepted by her owners on 15th May and left Copenhagen on her maiden voyage on 3rd June the same year. A fine twin-screw steamer, she was registered at 10,095 tons and measured 520 feet in length with a 58 foot beam. Powered by triple expansion engines, she had a top speed of 16½ knots although maintained a normal cruising speed of 15 knots. With comfortable accommodation for 131 First, 76 Second and 1,306 Steerage passengers, she proved a popular ship and, along with her two consorts, was highly profitable, particularly during the Great War when Denmark remained neutral and consumer demand for "safe" risk-free passages was at a peak. In 1922, in response to changing market conditions, she started carrying 'cabin class' passengers in place of First and Second class and, in 1928, a new 'tourist' class was introduced. This last innovation, whilst initially helpful to the Line's fluctuating fortunes, failed to stem the dramatic decline in passenger revenue as the world's depression deepened and soon both Oscar II and Hellig Olav had been laid up and offered for sale. United States herself remained in service a little longer but was withdrawn at the close of the 1934 season to await a buyer. In July 1935 it was rumoured she had been sold to the Italian Government for use as a troop transport in the Abyssinian War but on 2nd September she caught fire whilst lying in Copenhagen docks and was so damaged that a sale was no longer viable. Subsequently sold for scrapping, she was broken up at Leghorn later that year.
Launched on 30th March 1903, United States was accepted by her owners on 15th May and left Copenhagen on her maiden voyage on 3rd June the same year. A fine twin-screw steamer, she was registered at 10,095 tons and measured 520 feet in length with a 58 foot beam. Powered by triple expansion engines, she had a top speed of 16½ knots although maintained a normal cruising speed of 15 knots. With comfortable accommodation for 131 First, 76 Second and 1,306 Steerage passengers, she proved a popular ship and, along with her two consorts, was highly profitable, particularly during the Great War when Denmark remained neutral and consumer demand for "safe" risk-free passages was at a peak. In 1922, in response to changing market conditions, she started carrying 'cabin class' passengers in place of First and Second class and, in 1928, a new 'tourist' class was introduced. This last innovation, whilst initially helpful to the Line's fluctuating fortunes, failed to stem the dramatic decline in passenger revenue as the world's depression deepened and soon both Oscar II and Hellig Olav had been laid up and offered for sale. United States herself remained in service a little longer but was withdrawn at the close of the 1934 season to await a buyer. In July 1935 it was rumoured she had been sold to the Italian Government for use as a troop transport in the Abyssinian War but on 2nd September she caught fire whilst lying in Copenhagen docks and was so damaged that a sale was no longer viable. Subsequently sold for scrapping, she was broken up at Leghorn later that year.