 Göta Kanal Sweden
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Three historic boats
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| The
Göta Kanal
boats were designed specifically to fit the locks, which allow a maximum
length of 32 m, a beam of 7 m and a draught of 2.82 m. A long time ago,
steam power gave way to diesel engines. The boats fulfill today’s
stringent laws on maritime safety. The sanitary arrangements have been
modernized and closed tanks installed to protect the environment. The
original design of the steamers has, however, been preserved, together
with their traditional atmosphere. Each steamer has a crew of 12. |
 M/S Juno
The
dean of the canal boats, "Juno" is named for the patron
goddess of marriage and motherhood. She was built in 1874 at the Motala
Werkstad in Motala. The intent was to call her "Darwin" to
honor the English scientist, but some of the shareholders objected and
Juno was the compromise choice. As a direct result of this, many of the
company's subsequent ships were also named after gods. At first the boat
was painted black with a white line around the deck and square windows.
She had a single cabin on the upper deck and the long, thin funnel
typical of the times. In 1904 the boat was thoroughly rebuilt at Motala
Werkstad and in 1956 she was fitted with two diesel engines. Her current
profile dates to 1963 and today she is the world's oldest registered
boat with overnight cabins. |
 M/S Wilhelm Tham
The
next oldest of the steamship company's boats is the "Wilhelm Tham",
named after the industrialist and CEO of Husqvarna Weapons Factory from
1876-1911. Built at the Motala Werkstad as well, she was launched in
1912 and was one of three boats named to honour three of the area's
living native sons. The other two were Victor Rydberg and Per Brahe. She
became part of the steamship company in the fusion with Ångbåts
Aktiebolaget Jönköping-Stockholm in 1914, was extended and given her
current profile in 1961 at the Falkenberg Shipyard. One of the measures
was to move her bridge forward under the mast, thus doubling the number
of cabins. The steam engine was replaced by diesel in 1965. |
The
new combined passenger and freight boat, the M/S Diana was delivered to
the Göta Canal Steamship Company on March 15, 1931. Built at the
Finnboda Shipyard in Stockholm, she had been ordered in anticipation of
a wave of Swedish-American guests during the Tercentenary Celebration
and was built to travel the Göta Canal in scheduled traffic between
Stockholm and Gothenburg. Named after the goddess of the hunt and
chastity, she was Sweden's last steamship in regular canal service. It
was not until 1969 that the steam engine was replaced by a diesel one
and in 1975, the boat received its current profile. In 1987 efforts to
pump her dry failed and the boat sank at the quay in Trollhättan, was
condemned and then returned to the Steamship Company. It was decided to
totally renovate her, to reduce the number of cabins and outfit other
areas of the boat for meetings of various types. One result was that the
dining-room and the lounge were made into one large room.
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Juno
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Wilhelm Tham
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Diana
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| Built |
1874 |
1912 |
1931 |
| Registration no. |
1840 |
5359 |
7740 |
| Signal letters |
SFCD |
SHIG |
SDRU |
| Shipyard |
Motala |
Motala |
Finnboda |
| Speed, knots |
10 |
10 |
10 |
| Engine, hp |
440 |
460 |
460 |
| Gross tonnage |
254 |
268 |
269 |
| Length, m |
31.45 |
31.53 |
31.66 |
| Beam, m |
6.68 |
6.73 |
6.79 |
| Draught, m |
2.72 |
2.72 |
2.72 |
| No. of berths |
55 |
55 |
55 |
| No. of cabins |
28 |
26 |
28 |
 
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