... not as far as we know. And why should he?

When s/s Mariefred set off on her maiden voyage on April 14, 1903 she was by no means alone. There were at least fifty other steamers in the lake Mälaren waters. So, if the Swedish king Oscar fancied a trip he had plenty of ships to choose from. And even if Mariefred was brand-new with a First Class Dining Saloon on the upper deck, she was just one in a row of steamboats to call at the many harbours and bridges in Mälaren. Furthermore, Mariefred was not solely a passenger ship. With the rest of the inlake fleet she carried goods, grain and vegetables, fish and fruit from the many manors and farms surrounding the big lake to be delivered in the capital of Stockholm. Nor was her route Stockholm-Mariefred unique. s/s Gripsholm sailed on the very same route and with two boats competition got tough.
Two years later, in 1905, the two steamers formed one shipping company, the Gripsholm- Mariefred Ångfartygs AB, GMÅA, still in existens this very day operating the route even though s/s Gripsholm has vanished into the shadows.
Halocyn days have, however, been scarce during the years gone by. In the twenties competition from railways, buses and lorries became a real threat and in 1927 the stockholders got dividends

from their shares for the very last time.
The thirties saw many shipping companies go under, GMÅA survived thanks to her summer tourists but with no profit to show at the end of the season. The former gallant Mälaren fleet shrank considerably and many boats were sold or broken up.
World War II was a turning point. Petrol and rubber were rationed in Sweden and once more steam became attractive. For the first time in fifteen years GMÅA could register a profit.
When the guns were finally silenced in Europe business moved backwards once more and it was evident that the steamboat era was over.
Nevertheless s/s Mariefred sailed on assidiously year in and year out, her financial status deteriorating each year. In 1966 there was not a penny left in the strongbox. But like an angel to the rescue the society Stiftelsen Skärgårdsbåten

appeared on stage and bought a majority of the GMÅA shares. The society was by no means well off, but ambition, strong will, voluntary work and idealism can make wonders.
The year 1980 could have been a disastrous year in more than one aspect. Fire broke out onboard in the spring and a few years later the old boiler had to be replaced causing new heavy expenses, which were met with more voluntary work and subscriptions from all over the country.
When in 1983 Mariefred rebuilt after the fire and with a brand-new boiler for almost a million SEK sailed out on her first voyage on May 8, there were huge crowds on every bridge and landing on her route to Mariefred waving flags, cheering and rejoicing. She was now 80 years old, a record hard to beat. On that same day, eleven years later no one cheered or waved flags.

The Radio News that morning announces:

"The famous steamboat Mariefred was ravaged by fire last night as she was fourteen years ago .The fire brigade was quickly on the spot but the damages are considerable. Karl Dingertz, representative of the owners, a non-profit organisation: 'The dining saloon is completely burnt down and so is the aft saloon on upper deck, which was in original and almost mint condition yesterday'."
Mariefred seemed to be a burnt down skeleton and a ninetyone year old saga seemed at an end. But once again, idealism can make a wreck sail again. That same day 5 000 SEK were collected on the quay by the wreck - a first contribution of a reconstruction which lasted for eight weeks and amounted to roughly a million and a half SEK.
The 2nd of July 1994 s/s Mariefred made her first voyage of the season to her home town. We quote from a jubilee pamphlet published by the company:
"People came in full force to greet the steamer, as had they done in 1903, in 1980, 1983 and in 1993. But July 2nd 1994 is beyond doubt the greatest moment in the ship´´s history. Thousands of people in Mariefred, who had all contributed to her renewal applauded when their steamboat once more returned to her home town. After much sorrow and distress the ship was once more back on her route, as every summer since 1903."