Ruth ( Ritan, Sigmundur and Masin. )

[john sefton]

Before the turn of the century, deep sea fishing stock fish production, trade and craftsmanship formed the basis of the economic development in the Faroes. Increased activity called for improved communications between the islands.
One of the leading shipping companies, A/S J Mortensens Eft. on Tvoroyri (Suduroy) paved the way by establishing a regular shuttle service with the steamer SMIRIL in 1895.
This was a step forward, but it must be remembered that for many years SMIRIL was the only ship on the run between the islands. Therefore, each village had to wait for a long time for the ship to arrive with mail and freight.
As migration from the smaller villages to bigger centres of commerce increased, certain problems arose, among them shortages of dairy products.
In the capital Torshavn, shortage of milk constituted a serious health problem. In December 1907 a self-appointed committee of citizens decided to establish a dairy plant on the condition that daily deliveries of fresh milk could be secured from the farming areas around Sundalag and Skalafjorour. A ferry service was required.
In a cover letter with a loan application the committee points out that this connection could also be of considerable Importance for the postal connections with Streymoy, Vagar, Eysturoy and to Klaksvik.
Such connections were at best irregular, and during the winter, mail was held up for weeks in Torshavn before it was forwarded to other islands.
A/S Torshavns Dairy and Margarine factory started operating in 1908 and in the same year the steamer RUTH 15BRT. was bought from Stavanger, Norway.
From August 1st RUTH or the 'dairy boat' as it was commonly called sailed regularly every morning from Torshavn to Hvalvik in the bay between Streymoy and Eysturoy and back again in the afternoon. En route it stopped at most villages but was seldom able to go alongside jetties. Even in Torshavn the small vessel could not go alongside a quay. Goods and passengers were then ferried ashore in small moats. RUTH was sometimes used on other routes, eg. Sandoy.
The quantity of mail and small goods and the number of passengers increased in the course of time. In 1926 RUTH had become much too small and antiquated and it was replaced by a larger vessel. The dairy bought more ferries, which maintained shuttle services between Torshavn, Sandoy and Vagar. Other firms and private enterprises followed the dairys example and established new ferry services, so that in time all the islands enjoyed good postal connections.
In most cases these boats were built for fishing and were unsuitable for passenger transport. Comfort was unknown and there was often little space below deck. Better equipped vessels, especially built for these coastal routes required investments that could not yield interest. The public authorities had to step in.
In 1932 the Parliaments Ferry Services were established. In due time these services overtook most of the routes. The name was later changed to the Public Ferry Services.
RITAN which belonged to this company was built in Copenhagen in 1949. It was approx 20BRT, and could accomodate 75 passengers. For 18 years this ship was run on the route between Torshavn, Sandoy, Hestur and Nolsoy. In 1967 RITAN came into collision with another ship in Torshavn harbour. It sank, and its days as a ferry were ended.
SIGMUNDUR belonged to the dairy. It was bought in England in 1950. Built for minesweeping in 1942 15BRT, but later rebuilt for passenger and freight transport. SIGMUNDUR could accommodate 250 passengers and was run on the route to SkalafJorour and Sundalag, as RUTH had been in its time. It was put out of commission in 1967.
The dairy, whose ferries were easily recognisable by the festive yellow and green colours, does not run ships any more. The public company which now (1992) runs all ferry services in the Faroes, paints its ships in traditional naval colours - black and white.
MASIN which belongs to the Public Ferry Services, was built by the Torshavn Shipyard in 1959. it is aprox 3OBRT with accommodation for 65 passengers. MASIN was built to serve the connectioon between Klaksvik and the villages during 1967/72 it was run on the route to Sandoy, until a new RITA was built.
The three postal vessels in the stamps have been replaced by much bigger and more comfortable ships. MASIN still maintains a shuttle service between Hvannasund, Fugloy and Svinoy on the northern islands.

Log Book January 1992.
Information by Faroes Philatelic Bureau.

Faroe Islands SG220 221 222 223.

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

MÁSIN, Gt:39, Nt:19 loa:15,90m. lbp:14,50m. br:5,06m. draft:2,29m. 4 cyl. Grena diesel:200 hp. 7½ kn. pass:65.

[aukepalmhof]

2013 When you look to this photo the MASIN is on the breakers yard.

http://www.pbase.com/regint/image/145200412