Porsgrunds Cementstoperi A/S,
Porsgrund, Norway

The development of ferro-concrete shipbuilding in Norway is' remarkable, not only by reason of its present extent, but also owing to the rapidity of its growth. The uses of concrete in ship construction were not investigated in Norway until a comparatively recent date. The first step was taken by the Porsgrunds Company, which started its pioneering efforts in 1913, and received its first commercial order (for a bridge pontoon) in 1915.
Soon after that, the Alfsen " keel-up " system of construction was taken in hand, and the first vessel, a 200-ton motor ship, was laid down in 1916, and ran her trials in the summer of 1917. In 1917, the Porsgrund Company raised its capital from £16,600 to £55,000.
From Shipbuilding and Shipping Record June 27 1918, page 699

The Christiania correspondent of the Times reports that the first Norwegian iron and concrete ship was launched on August 20 at the Porsgrund Cement Works in the presence of the Prime Minister M. Knudsen. The ship is built on an entirely new system, with the bottom upwards, in which extraordinary position the launching took place on a sort of underlying sledge, which glided out with the ship. When the water was reached the hull became detached from the sledge and gradually sank up to a certain point, then subsequently slowly righted itself. This particular ship, which is of 200 tons burden, was built in three weeks, but the next one will only require about half that time, as the original frame will be used for each subsequent ship for the same size. The casting of the ship, when the frame is completed, will this time take only two days. It is intended to start the wholesale building of iron and concrete ships of 200, 500 and 1.000 tons. A 1.000-ton ship will be completed in six weeks.
From SHIPBUILDING AND SHIPPING RECORD, September 6, 1917, page 165.

BETON I (m/v)
Build 1917.08. at Porsgrunds Cementstöperi A/S, Norway
Tons: 200
Dim:
Engine: Bolinder, 80 bhp
Owner:               
1917.08.20. Bjaalands Laegterkompani, Skien, Norway

VICTORIA (tug)
Build 1918.05.
Tons: ?,
Dim: ?
Engine: ?
Owner: 1918.05. ?

VICTORIA after trial 1918	VICTORIA under reconstruction 1986

Drawing on Porsgrunds first 650 tons seagoing motorvessel. Build 1918 - 199-1919

Drawing on Porsgrunds first 1100 tons seagoing steam vessel. Build 1918-1919

Last update: 2001.09.23.