1940s War times

Despite the Second World War, vessels are operated and traded. The business expands and dry-cargo vessels named after well-known operas are added to the fleet. Many countries lose much of their merchant fleet in the war which means the demand for tonnage and transport facilities are enormous after the declaration of peace in 1945.

1940

The small tankers are sold
The company sells all small SOYA vessels, except for SOYA V whose master is qualified only for domestic traffic. Olof Wallenius promises to retain the vessel so long as the master remains in service.

1941

First dry-cargo vessel
MS KOLSNAREN is acquired and renamed MS RIGOLETTO. Because of Olof Wallenius’ passion for opera, the company from this point names its entire fleet of dry-cargo vessels after operas  which gives the company  the nickname “The Opera Line”.

1942

The only war-time loss
SS TOLKEN hits a mine and sinks off the coast of Canada. All the crew survive and the ship’s bell floats all the way across the Atlantic and is found in Ireland. Olof Wallenius and his wife Signe give the bell a place of honour in their home.

1943

Breaking the blockade
The newly purchased tanker MT KALMIA succeeds in breaking the blockade. She then operates for several years in traffic between Lisbon and the West Indian island of Aruba.

1944

One of the world’s largest tankers
MT SOYA, 16,225 dwt, is delivered and at the time of launching is one of the largest tankers in the world. She is also the first of the company’s fleet of large tankers. Seven tankers, ranging from 9,000 to 17,000 tonnes, are built between 1944 and 1952.

Back to Swedenborgsgatan
The company moves to new offices at Swedenborgsgatan 2, the street in which it has since remained.

1949

Tankers with a family name
MT SOYA-MARIA is delivered, named after Olof Wallenius’ mother. A further ten women in the Wallenius family will go on and lend their names to the company’s tankers.

MT SOYA-MARIA (2) was delivered in 1960.

 

The Fleet 1940 – 1949

AIDA (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 133.6
  • Beam (m): 17.3
  • Deadweight (m/t): 9030
  • Gross tonnage: 5572
  • Built: July 1947
  • Delivered: 1947
  • Sold: November 1949
  • Builder: Short Bros. Ltd, Sunderland
  • Sister ship: Rigoletto (3)

AUGUSTA

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 35.5
  • Beam (m): 6.7
  • Deadweight (m/t): abt 350
  • Gross tonnage: 211
  • Built: 1903
  • Delivered: March 1942
  • Sold: April 1942
  • Builder: Lindholmens Verkstads AB, Gothenburg

BERN

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 118.1
  • Beam (m): 16.6
  • Deadweight (m/t): 8,230
  • Gross tonnage: 5,482
  • Built: June 1922
  • Delivered: Jan 1943
  • Sold: Sep 1950
  • Builder: AB Götaverken, Göteborg
  • Former namnes: ex Rio, ex Oljaren

BOHEME (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor General Cargo with refrigerated installation
  • Length (m): 140.1
  • Beam (m): 16.5
  • Deadweight (m/t): 9015
  • Gross tonnage: 5553
  • Built: July 1947
  • Delivered: 1947
  • Sold: May 1950
  • Builder: Kockums Mek Verkstads AB, Malmö
  • Sister ship: Tosca (1)

HILLERSJÖNÄS

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam Sloop
  • Length (m): 17.6
  • Beam (m): 4.1
  • Gross tonnage: 48
  • Net tonnage: 28
  • Built: 1908
  • Delivered: June 1943
  • Sold: April 1950
  • Builder: AB C J Wennbergs Mek Verkstad, Karlstad
  • Passengers: 80
  • Former name: ex Vålösund

HJELMAREN

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor General Cargo
  • Length (m): 93.5
  • Beam (m): 13.9
  • Deadweight (m/t): 4,660
  • Gross tonnage: 2,467
  • Built: Oct 1928
  • Delivered: Jan 1942
  • Sold: Jan 1943
  • Builder: AB Götaverken, Göteborg
  • Senior ship: Kolsnaren

KALMIA

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 140.8
  • Beam (m): 18
  • Deadweight (m/t): 12,380
  • Gross tonnage: 8,249
  • Built: June 1931
  • Delivered: Jan 1943
  • Sold: Dec 1945
  • Builder: Caledon S.B. & Eng. Co Ltd, Dundee and AB Götaverken, Göteborg (fitting out)

OTHELLO (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Wallship, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 115.2
  • Beam (m): 16.1
  • Deadweight (m/t): 7,462
  • Gross tonnage: 5,247
  • Built: Jan 1918
  • Delivered: June 1946
  • Sold: March 1951
  • Builder: Seattle Con. & Dry DK Co, Seattle
  • Former names: ex Bonita, ex Point Bonita, ex Sacramento

PORJUS

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 95.1
  • Beam (m): 14.1
  • Deadweight (m/t): 4,725
  • Gross tonnage: 2,921
  • Built: Nov 1906
  • Delivered: Jan 1946
  • Sold: March 1946
  • Builder: S P Austin & Sons Ltd, Sunderland
  • Former name: ex Hampshire

RIGOLETTO (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Wallenco, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor General Cargo
  • Length (m): 131
  • Beam (m): 17.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 9100
  • Gross tonnage: 4879
  • Built: 1941
  • Delivered: 1941
  • Sold: 1941
  • Builder: Eriksbergs Mek Verkstads AB, Göteborg
  • Former name: Yarrawonga
  • Ordered but sold before delivery

RIGOLETTO (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor General Cargo
  • Length (m): 94.6
  • Beam (m): 13.8
  • Deadweight (m/t): 4730
  • Gross tonnage: 2402
  • Built: May 1923
  • Delivered: Jan 1942
  • Sold: Nov 1947
  • Builder: AB Götaverken, Göteborg
  • Former name: Kolsnaren, Renamned Rigoletto (2) February 1944
  • Sister ship: Hjelmaren

RIGOLETTO (3)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 133.8
  • Beam (m): 17
  • Deadweight (m/t): 9050
  • Gross tonnage: 5670
  • Built: August 1948
  • Delivered: 1948
  • Sold: September 1953
  • Builder: Short Bros. Ltd, Sunderland
  • Sister ship: Aida (1)

SOYA (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 159.2
  • Beam (m): 19.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 16,225
  • Gross tonnage: 10,431
  • Built: Nov 1944
  • Delivered: 1944
  • Sold: April 1952
  • Builder: Kockums Mek Verkstads AB, Malmö
  • Sister ships: SOYA II (2), SOYA-MARGARETA, SOYA-MARIA (1)

SOYA II (2)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 159.2
  • Beam (m): 19.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 16,225
  • Gross tonnage: 10,477
  • Built: March 1946
  • Delivered: 1946
  • Sold: April 1956
  • Builder: Kockums Mek Verkstads AB, Malmö
  • Sister ships: SOYA (2), SOYA-MARGARETA, SOYA-MARIA (1)

SOYA V

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 30.5/35.4
  • Beam (m): 6.6
  • Deadweight (m/t): 225/300
  • Gross tonnage: 203/236
  • Built: November 1941
  • Delivered: 1941
  • Lengthened: 1948
  • Sold: May 1958
  • Builder: Lidingö Nya Varv och Verkstäder, Lidingö

SOYA VI

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 77.3
  • Beam (m): 11.5
  • Deadweight (m/t): 1755
  • Gross tonnage: 1334
  • Built: September 1940
  • Delivered: 1940
  • Sold: January 1943
  • Builder: Eriksbergs Mek Verkstads AB, Göteborg

SOYA-MARIA (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor Tanker
  • Length (m): 161.6
  • Beam (m): 19.2
  • Deadweight (m/t): 16,125
  • Gross tonnage: 10,614
  • Built: June 1949
  • Sold: September 1958
  • Builder: Kockums Mek. Verkstads AB, Malmö
  • Sister ships: Soya (2), Soya II (2), Soya-Margareta

TOLKEN

  • Owner: Rederi AB Wallenco, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 104,5
  • Beam (m): 16,4
  • Deadweight (m/t): 8347
  • Gross tonnage: 4521
  • Built: March 1922
  • Delivered: April 1941
  • Torpedoed and total loss: May 1942
  • Builder: Eriksbergs Mek Verkstads AB, Göteborg

TOSCA (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Wallenco, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Motor General Cargo with refrigerated installation
  • Length (m): 140.1
  • Beam (m): 18.1
  • Deadweight (m/t): 9,050
  • Gross tonnage: 5,553
  • Built: March 1947
  • Sold: Nov 1950
  • Builder: Kockums Mek Verkstads AB, Malmö
  • Sister ship: BOHEME (1)

TRAVIATA (1)

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 109
  • Beam (m): 15.5
  • Deadweight (m/t): 5,330
  • Gross tonnage: 2,828
  • Built: August 1946
  • Delivered: Under construction 1946
  • Sold: May 1947
  • Builder: Aalborg Vaerft A/S, Aalborg
  • Former name: ex Kegnoes

TRIO

  • Owner: Rederi AB Soya, and from June 1944 Rederi AB Wallenco, Stockholm
  • Flag: SWE
  • Ship Type: Steam General Cargo
  • Length (m): 76.5
  • Beam (m): 11.6
  • Deadweight (m/t): 2,415
  • Gross tonnage: 1,489
  • Built: 1922
  • Delivered: Dec 1941
  • Sold: July 1946
  • Builder: Svendborg Skibs og Maskinbyggeri AS, Svendborg
  • Former name: Inge Maersk

Bought and sold directly

BENGUELA

CLEOPATRA

LEO

Ordered but sold before delivery:

ARNARFELL

ATOMENA

BOOLONGENA

CASSIOPEIA

MANGARELLA

TRITONIA/SYMFONI

TRIVIA