SS Skoghaug

SS Skoghaug was a Norwegian steam cargo ship, built in 1930. She exploded and sank in the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands on Christmas Day, 1947. Only one of her 27 crew survived.

Background

SS Skoghaug was built as SS Livingston II in 1930 by Austin S. P. & Son Ltd., at Sunderland, UK, with yard number 323. Her 224 n.h.p. 3-cylinder triple expansion engine was supplied by Clark George Ltd., drove a single shaft, 1 screw, and was capable of 10 knots. The ship measured 84.1 x 12.9 x 5.67 meters. She is listed as 1,950 tons or as 2099 grt.
The ship was named Livingston II briefly in 1930, then was sold and operated from 1930 to 1947 as SS Sea Valour. Sold again, in January 1947, to Lindø Alf-Lindøs Rederi D/S A/S, Haugesund, Norway, the vessel was renamed Skoghaug.

Fate

Early on Christmas Day 1947, the ship exploded in the North Sea off North Holland. One crewman of 27 survived the disaster.
Although a wartime mine was initially conjectured as the cause, examination of the wreck suggested a boiler explosion.