SS Helsingfors (1903)
Helsingfors was a Finnish freight and passenger steamship built in Belgium in 1903 for Helsingfors Ångfartygs Aktiebolaget. She ran aground and sank near Bengtskär on 1 January 1905. The accident resulted in the construction of the Bengtskär Lighthouse. DescriptionHelsingfors was 63.00 metres (206 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 9.12 metres (29 ft 11 in).[1] Her triple expansion steam engine, made by North Eastern Marine Engineers Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom,[2] was rated at 800 ihp.[1] She was assessed at 759 GRT.[3] HistoryHelsingfors was built as yard number 24 by Chantiers Navals Anversois, Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium.[4] She was launched on 8 August 1903 and completed two months later.[3][4] She was built to carry passengers and freight and was owned and operated by Helsingfors Ångfartygs Aktiebolaget .[1] During the night of 31 December 1904, Helsingfors ran aground during a gale near Bengtskär, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Hanko, and sank on New Year's Day.[2][5] She was on a voyage from Fowey, United Kingdom to Hanko with a cargo of kaolinite.[1][4] The Finnish salvage vessel Protector also ran aground and was holed whilst going to her assistance. Two crew from Helsingfors, three from Protector and a pilot were drowned.[5] These wrecks motivated the construction of the Bengtskär Lighthouse.[6][7] The wreck was sold in 1906 for 401 Markka. The broken remains of the vessel lie in 8 to 13 metres (26 to 43 ft) of water.[1][2] References
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