HELIER 2

1923 1923/24: Illegal iron strike Based on an index clause the Mekaniske Verksteders Landsforening late October 1923 proclaim a 5 per cent wage reduction. Iron workers in Kristiania (Oslo) and other areas responded immediately with an illegal strike. For the first time the skilled leadership in Landsorganisasjonen (LO) was set a side in a conflict. The illegal Iron worker strike was kept going in five months, until the end of March 1924. At this time the wage agreement period ended, and the conflict became legal. The strike went on another two months before the conflict ended. The iron workers had to except some weeks of five per cent reduction, but ended up with a rise of ten per cent increase from the 14th of July 1924. Including other strikes and lockouts that followed in the wake of the iron worker strike, totally 63 000 workers was in conflict in 1924, and about 5,1 millions work days was lost. 1924 Built as whale catcher NorgeRØNA by Kaldnæs mek. Verksted, Tønsberg for Hvalfanger-A/S Vestfold (Johan Rasmussen & Co), Sandefjord. Launched on 29/09-1924, completed on 23/10-1924. Price paid was NOK 532.634. Registered home port was Sandefjord. She was a sistership of A.W. SØRLLE and specially designed for the whaling out from the Stromness Harbour, South Georgia. A unlegal strike by the iron workers in late 1923, started a shortage in building material all over the country, as well as Kaldnæs mek. Verksted. The strike lasted for about seven months and NorgeRØNA had her whaling season cut by about a month as she arrive Stromness on 04/12-1924. Her sister show up a month later. She did catch for the Stromness station throughout the season. Despite a short season she became, with Mr. Sverre Skedsmo at the gun, the best boat at the station with a catch of 238 whales. She was in lay up mode between the seasons, and had her last whaling season at Stromness the season of 1927/28. 1928 Laid up in Sandefjord, Norgeway for sale. 1929 Sold to Falkland Whaling Co. Ltd. (Hans Borge, Tønsberg), St. Helier. Jersey, England. Renamed FALCONER 1. Shortly after renamed POLAR 1, and registered at St. Helier, Channel Islands, UK Went in to pelagic catching with the floating factory FL/F POLAR CHIEF the season of 1929/30 and until end of 1937/38. 1937 The boiler is converted from coal to oil firing 1938 Hired by the German UNITAS-expedition for the season of 1938/39. 1939 Laid up in Tønsberg, Norgeway. 1940 Taken over by the German occupants in April and used as patrol boat. Renamed by the Germans to HAGEN (NT 80), later with new identity sign as ND 08 and V 6401. 1945 Taken back by allied forces in May 1945. Taken into use as minesweeper. 1947 Sold to Sevrin Vikanes, Stord and converted to fishing/cargo vessel. 1948 Severin Vikanes, Sagvåg in Sunnhordland, Norgeway registered as owner, renamed STORDING and registered in Haugesund. Steam machinery replaced by a diesel engine of type Wichmann, 2-stroke/single acting, 4-cylinders, cyl. dim.: 280 x 320 mm, 260 BHP at 375 rpm. Built by M. Haldorsen & Sønner, Rubbestadneset. The vessel obtained a service speed of 9,5 knots. Call sign was LLTB. New tonnage: 221 grt, 119 nrt. Built with 1 x cargohold with two hatches served by one cargo derrick (2,5T) and winch. 1968 New main engine fitted. A type Wichmann 2-stroke/single acting, 5-cylinders, cyl.dim: 280 x 420 mm, 500 BHP at 350 rpm. Built by M. Haldorsen & Sønner, Rubbestadneset in 1959. 1974 Sold to Elias Haakonsen, Åkrehamn and renamed DRAGSUND. Registered in Haugesund. 1979 Sank alongside the quay at Karmøy. 1980 Re-floated and repaired 1986 Still in service with Elias Haakonsen, Åkrehamn as owner.