Boats
The Göran fishing trawler
Göran
The Göran, a British fishing trawler, was the last Viking boat to transport Estonian refugees to Canada.
On June 15, 1949, Stockholms-Tidningen Eestlastele announced that it would be possible to buy passage on board the Göran until June 20 for a departure date after July. Each share cost 750 Swedish kronor, plus an additional 300 kronor for passage-related expenses. The purchase of two shares covered a refugee’s “wife and family.”
However, Swedish authorities barred the boat from leaving the port in Göteborg and refugees who wanted to go to Canada joined the larger Sarabande and Victory ships. But the boat’s organizer, engineer A. Kasak, didn’t give up and tried again the following year.
Advertisement in Stockholms-Tidningen Eestlastele on June 14, 1949, to buy passage on the Göran
After being stopped again on July 1, 1950, the Göran finally left Göteborg on July 12 with 30 passengers, the maximum permitted by the Swedish authorities. But many more refugees had bought passage, and they secretly followed the Göran on a pleasure boat and boarded her in the darkness outside Swedish territorial waters. Soon there were 122 passengers on board: 41 men, 39 women, and 42 children. Bruno Marand was captain, Evald Koppel was the ship’s mate, and there were 13 crew members.
Following the southern route across the Atlantic Ocean, the Göran made its first stop July 29 at the port of Faial island in the Azores. After receiving a warm welcome from local residents and buying coal, the Göran continued its journey, reaching Bathurst, New Brunswick, in Canada on August 8.
The ship arrived with 123 passengers, one more than when it started, because Asta Liiberg had given birth to a daughter on board. A Catholic priest boarded the ship to baptize the baby, but no one was allowed to disembark. The Göran was directed to Quebec City, where it docked on August 12, 1950.
The Canadian authorities were prepared for the boat’s arrival and placed the refugees in quarantine camps until December 1950, when they were admitted to Canada.
Children from the Göran at the immigration holding center in Quebec City, Canada. Jaan Arro, 6, is in the top row, second to far right, next to his brother, Rein. Valdeko Novek, wearing glasses, is at the bottom left corner.
Known crew and passengers:
- Captain Bruno Marand
- Evald Koppel
- A. Kasak
- Asta Liiberg and daughter
- Rein Arro and brother Jaan, 6
- Valdeko Novek