November 9, 1922
More than three decades after being launched, the Norwegian ship Skomvær was retired from service. This three-masted barque was the first sailing ship in Norway to be built with steel. Measuring 257.4 feet (78.5 meters) in length, Skomvær also long held the record as the largest of all Norwegian vessels.
Skomvær was designed by renowned Norwegian naval architect Randulf Hansen. This ship was constructed at Laxevaags Maskin- og Jernskibsbyggeri in the city and municipality of Bergen on Norway’s western coast. She was christened on April 23, 1890, by Augusta Rafn, the daughter of that ship’s first captain Hans Christian Rafn. This vessel was named after Skomvær Lighthouse, which is located in Norway’s northern region and had been inaugurated in 1887. (During this point in its history, Norway was part of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway; this personal union was dissolved in 1905 and Norway instead became an independent constitutional monarchy.)
In the course of her seagoing career, Skomvær transported coal, cognac, grain, lumber, saltpeter, and many other kinds of high-value cargo from across the globe. These numerous voyages included a total of 31 trips on the often turbulent waters along Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.
Skomvær was pulled out of service due in large part to ever-increasing competition from steamships. In 1924, she was sold to the wrecking yard Stavanger Ophugningskompani in western Norway’s city and municipality of Stavanger. This ship was ultimately dismantled for scrap.
Skomvær returned to the public spotlight in 1960 thanks to Norwegian-American folk singer Erik Bye, whose song “Skomværsvalsen” paid tribute to the ship and her crew. Bye also led the effort to raise funds for Skomvær II, a rescue ship owned and operated by the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue.
Photo Credit: Public Domain
For more information on the original version of the ship Skomvær, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skomv%C3%A6r_(barque)
Transportation History 
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