Oslofjord, Though Norway's merchant marine is fourth biggest on the seas, the navy that defends it has a total personnel of 1,200, includes but four battleships. Nevertheless, Norway announced last week that the new flagship of its merchant marine, the Oslofjord, is a peace ship and inconvertible to war purposes. Due in New York in June, the new Norwegian America liner was last week getting her finishing touches at Bremen, Germany. Launched to the strains of Ja Vi Elsker Dette Landet (Yes, We Love This Country), Norway's biggest ship is a 20,000-tonner, 588 ft. long, is equipped with Diesel engines to carry 800 passengers from Oslo, Kristiansand, Stavenger and Bergen to New York in seven days—twelve hours faster than any other Norwegian vessel. Grateful for Germany's slick construction job, the line gave a 10,000-mark tip to the shipyard's relief fund.
Pasteur. Down the ways of Penhoet's big shipyards at St. Nazaire, France, fortnight ago screeched a 30,000-ton French Line luxury ship for the France-South America run. All the 695-ft. vessel's first and second-class rooms, as well as some of the third class, will be outside. Top speed will be 28 knots, far faster than anything in the South Atlantic. Her predecessor was the Atlantique, mysteriously burned out during her trials in 1933, on which London and other insurance groups paid $11,000,000 insurance.
Nieuw Amsterdam, Nearly twice the size of any vessel previously built in The Netherlands, the Nieuw Amsterdam was solemnly launched by Queen Wilhelmina early in 1937. Due to begin her trial runs in the next fortnight, Holland-America Line's air-conditioned flagship is scheduled to arrive in the U. S. next May. Almost exactly the size and speed of Britain's new Mauretania (see below), The Netherlands' vessel differs from the British ship in that it is streamlined, has egg-shaped, sootless funnels, and its $12,000,000 cost was met entirely without Government subsidy or mail contracts. First ship to explore New York's Hudson River 329 years ago was also Dutch—Henry Hudson's Halve Maen, which would fit neatly into the Nieuw Amsterdam's great delft-tiled swimming pools.