The S.S. Frankfurt was the  steamship on which Peter Meÿer/Meier family made the crossing of the Atlantic from Bremerhaven, Germany to New Orleans, USA. Described in this chapter is the steamship Frankfurt [1].

Ship Description

The steamship FRANKFURT, the first of three steamships of this name owned by Norddeutscher Lloyd of Bremen, was built by Caird & Co, Greenock (yard #151), Scotland and was launched on 18 June 1869. 2,582 tons; 94,76 x 11,90 meters (length x breadth); clipper stem, 1 funnel, 2 masts(rigged for sail); iron construction, single screw propulsion, low-pressure, single-expansion, inverted engine, service speed 10 knots; accommodation for 60 passengers in 1st class and 600 passengers in steerage; crew of 61 to 79.

The FRANKFURT was built for Norddeutscher Lloyd’s new New Orleans service. Launched on 18th of June 1869. Maiden voyage (and first voyage of service) was 15 September 1869 for the Bremen – Havana – New Orleans service. And, 30 June 1870 was the first voyage for the Bremen – Havre – New York service. Laid up at New York during the Franco-Prussian war. 1871-1874, primarily New Orleans service, but 6 roundtrip voyages to New York. 1880, engines compounded by builders. 10 August 1881, first voyage, Bremen-South America. 8 March 1882, last voyage, Bremen-Baltimore; subsequently to South America. 30 September 1893, last voyage, Bremen-South America; laid up. 1894, with OHIO, traded to Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co, shipbuilders, in part payment for two new ships, the PFALZ and MARK; both resold to H. F. Swan, Newcastle. 1895, sold to La Spezia as a coal carrier. March 1896, scrapped by Conti, La Spezia in 1897.

Sources: Arnold Kludas, Die Seeschiffe des Norddeutschen Lloyd, Bd. 1: 1857 bis 1919 (Herford: Koehler, c1991), p. 20; Edwin Drechsel, Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, 1857-1970; History, Fleet, Ship Mails, vol. 1 (Vancouver: Cordillera Pub. Co., c1994), p. 50, no. 25; Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 2 (1978), p. 547.

Information Source

From Palmer List of Merchant Vessels, http://www.oocities.org/mppraetorius/com-fr.htm

Ship Picture

The steamship in the picture is the S.S. Bremen – a picture of the S.S. Frankfurt was not found. Both ships have the same general description “clipper stem, 1 funnel, 2 masts (rigged for sail)”.

Ship Announcement

S.S. Frankfurt Visitation

Cargo Loaded

Shipping Line Opened

S.S. Frankfurt Departure Schedule

Low Water at the S.W. Pass

S.S. Frankfurt Departed New Orleans

Departures of the Ship “Frankfurt” from Bremerhaven – 1869 – 1870

Information Source

DIE MAUS Departures of emigration passages. Downloaded from http://212.227.236.244/auswanderung/abfahrtsdaten/passagen.php?s=s&v=Frankfurt&lang=de10 April 2016

Notes

1. The New Orleans newspaper articles give the ship name as the S.S. Frankfort. However, shipping records list the name as S.S. Frankfurt, Bremen.