Hans Hedtoft was built by Frederikshavns Værft at Frederikshavn.
She was launched on 13 August 1958 and completed on 17 December, 1958.
She had a double bottom and seven watertight compartments and an armored bow and stern.
She was designed t
o provide a year-round service between Denmark and Greenland. Like the RMS Titanic, Hans Hedtoft had a riveted hull, a feature which was criticized by Knud Lauritzen, a shipowner.
Lauritzen claimed that a riveted hull was not as resistant to ice pressure as a welded hull.
Hans Hedtoft sailed from Copenhagen on her maiden voyage on 7 January 1959. Her voyage to
Julianehaab, Greenland, was made in record time.
Hans Hedtoft called at
Nuuk,
Sisimiut and
Maniitsoq before returning to J
ulianehaab.
On 29 January, 1959, she began her return journey. The ship had 40 crew, 55 passengers and a cargo of frozen fish on board. One of her passengers was the Danish parliament member Augo Lynge.
The next day,
Hans Hedtoft collided with an iceberg about 35 miles (56 km) south of Cape Farewell. A distress call was given at 13:56 (local time) stating that the ship had hit an iceberg at 59°30′N 43°00′W / 59.5°N 43°W / 59.5; -43. The call was answered by the
USCGC (Coast Guard Cutter) Campbell, the West German trawler
Johannes Krüss of Bremerhaven and another West German trawler.
Within an hour, another message was sent stating that the engine room was flooded. At 15:12, it was announced that the ship was sinking. A final message
was sent at 17:41 stating the ship was slowly sinking and requesting immediate assistance.
Aircraft in Newfoundland were grounded by the weather and unable to assist in the search for
Hans Hedtoft. The beginning of an SOS was received by
Johannes Krüss at 17:41 after which communication with
Hans Hedtoft was lost.
On 31 January, USCGC Campbell reported that conditions were the worst seen and there was no sign of Hans Hedtoft or her passengers and crew. The search was called off on 7 February, 1959.
Hans Hedtoft
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