Boats

The Astrid and Eugen Oder (right). Göteborg. June 1948

Astrid

The Astrid was the first Estonian refugee ship to reach Canada on August 14, 1948, following a 40-day journey with 29 people on board. Herman Vilu, a 1942 graduate of Tallinn Maritime School, was hired as captain of the 45-foot-long (13.7 meters), 15-foot-wide (4.8 meters) herring fishing boat. Eugen Oder, who organized the trip, paid a down payment of 7,000 Swedish kronor to bring the boat to Lysekil from the Norwegian border. The 34-ton boat cost 23,000 Swedish kronor and another 12,000 kronor was spent preparing it for the Atlantic voyage, which included purchasing fuel, water, provisions, and navigational aids. 

Passage on the Astrid was expensive, according to Mr. Oder, because the captain excluded himself and his family, and the mechanic August Pirso and his wife, from the overall costs. The other 22 passengers each paid 1,600 kronor, but Oder noted the same shareholders split the proceeds when the ship was later sold for 5,000 Canadian dollars.

In the 1980 Canadian essay series, Rehvitud purjedega (With Furled Sails), Captain Vilu wrote that to make the Astrid seaworthy the crew added a third sail, installed tanks for fuel oil and drinking water, and built sleeping berths into the sides of the ship.

Departing from Sweden.

After being cleared for a “short fishing trip” by the Swedish authorities, the Astrid departed Göteborg, Sweden, on July 5, 1948. Fishing nets were left attached to the mast to avoid suspicion that 29 people were packed inside the hold. The journey began in fine weather, but soon heavy winds turned into a storm. It took seven days to cross the North Sea, and the ship encountered strong currents before docking on July 12 in Stornoway in the Scottish Hebrides. Local residents warmly welcomed the refugees, and even the mayor visited the Astrid and arranged baths for passengers at the local hospital. A kilted piper visited the boat daily and townspeople brought gifts, especially for the children. Fishermen brought herring, which was salted in a barrel. The locals couldn’t believe that such a small boat was going to cross the Atlantic Ocean. 

Passengers from the Astrid in quarantine camp.

The Astrid departed Stornoway on July 17, 1948. In a 1985 interview, passenger Eduard Kolk recalled that the journey had some scary moments, including drifting in the North Sea, losing radio contact, and encountering a storm in the Atlantic. When the storm subsided, a heavy fog settled, and crew members were on constant lookout for dangerous icebergs. When the fog lifted, they spotted Newfoundland. On July 31, the Astrid docked in St. John’s, having crossed the Atlantic in just two weeks. 

On August 8, the boat continued sailing toward the St. Lawrence Bay, finally reaching Quebec City on August 14. Elfride Vilu, the captain’s wife, recalled, “When Astrid had docked, after being escorted by a pilot boat twice its size, an astonished official exclaimed, ‘No one, except the Vikings, has come in such a small boat!’”

The Astrid is sold to new owners. Quebec, October 1948. 

Immigration authorities didn’t know how to respond to the visa-less refugees and ordered them to turn back within three days. With the help of immigration officials, a petition was sent to Ottawa, and after two weeks in quarantine at the Quebec immigration detention barracks, where medical examinations were conducted, the refugees received permission to stay in Canada.

By August 31, all the passengers’ Swedish-issued refugee passports were stamped “landed immigrant” and the Estonians entered Canada. “You are all silver to Canada,” immigration officials told Elfride Vilu.

 News articles from The Bulletin in Scotland and the Daily Star in Toronto. 

Known crew and passengers:

  • Captain Herman Vilu, 42, and Elfride Vilu, 38, and their children Tiiu, 10, Maire, 8, and Lauri, 6
  • Eugen Oder, 31, and Emilie Oder, 36, and their child Juta, 4
  • August Pirso, 41, and Elli Pirso
  • Konstantin Küng, 36, and Amanda Küng, and their child Tõnu, 6
  • Aleksander Kuura, 31, and Ella Kuura, 26, and their child Aimi
  • Arnold Saunik, 35, and Hilja Saunik, 28, and their child Maaja, 7
  • Otto Pintmann, 50, and Erna Pintmann, 40
  • Richard Paesüld, 26, and Laine Paesüld, 22
  • Harri Vilu, 28, and Amanda Vilu, 26
  • Eduard Kolk, 28, and Ksenja Kolk, 25
  • Mart Mägi, 22
  • Villu Pint, 36

Photographs reproduced with permission from the Estonian Maritime Museum.