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ICGV Þór (1926)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Þór while in Danish service
History
Iceland
NameÞór
OperatorBjörgunarfélag Vestmannaeyja
BuilderEdwards Brothers, North Shields, England
Launched1899
Acquired1920
In service1920–1926
FateSold to the Icelandic Government on 1 July 1926
Iceland
NameICGV Þór
OperatorIcelandic Coast Guard
Acquired1 July 1926
In service1926–1929
FateWrecked in Húnaflói during a storm on 21 December 1929
General characteristics
TypeSteam trawler
Tonnage190 BT / 71 NT
Length115.3 ft (35.1 m)
Beam21.3 ft (6.5 m)
Draught11 ft (3.4 m)
Decks1
Propulsion325 hp (242 kW) triple expansion steam engine, G.T. Grey, South Shields, 1 x screw
NotesRigged as trawler

ICGV Þór was the first patrol ship of the Icelandic Coast Guard. It was named after the nordic mythology god Þór. She was built by Edwards Brothers at North Shields, England in 1899 as a steam trawler for Danish-Icelandic trade and fishing association in Geirseyri and later served as a research ship for Denmark.[1] In 1920, Björgunarfélag Vestmannaeyja bought the ship for use in fishing control and rescue work.[2] After paying for its operational cost for several years, the Icelandic government decided to buy the ship in 1926. With its purchase, the Icelandic Coast Guard was de facto established.[3] In the early years, the ship was armed with two 57 mm cannons, which were later replaced by one 47 mm cannon. Þór ran aground at Húnaflói during a storm on 21 December 1929.[4] As a result, it was decided to buy a new patrol vessel in its place.[5]

Danish service

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Thor served as a Danish research vessel from 1903 to 1920, conducting hydrographical and oceanographical research in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean and helped locate the spawning grounds of the Icelandic cod.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Fyrstu áratugirnir". lhg.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Coast Guard.
  2. ^ ""Þór" kominn". Skeggi (in Icelandic). 31 March 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via Tímarit.is. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Landhelgisgæsla Íslands er 80 ára í dag og ný lög um stofnunina taka gildi". Icelandic Coast Guard (in Icelandic). 1 July 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Varðskipið "Þór"". Alþýðublaðið (in Icelandic). 22 December 2019. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via Tímarit.is. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Landhelgisgæzla". Ægir (in Icelandic). 1 January 1931. p. 17. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via Tímarit.is. Open access icon
  6. ^ Wolff, Torben (1967). 200 years of Danish Marine Exploration. Copenhagen: Rhodos.