Vilhelm first owned or managed steamers in 1899.

In 1937 Dampsk-A/S Christian Bors, Dampsk-A/S Henrik Ibsen, Dampsk-A/S Marstenen and Dampsk-A/S Otto Sinding, amalgamated forming Skibs-A/S Vilhelm Torkildsen's Rederi.

This new company was at that time the registered owners of Marstenen (built 1915) and the then new Fana (1345 gross
tons), which would have been a sistership of Nyland. The various steamship companies named above were all managed/owned by Torkildsen.

As at 1930 and 1939 marine superintendent was Francis Konow, of Bergen; Know was also superintendent for the Bergen shipowner Olaf Orvig, but this latter arrangement had ceased by 1939. Konow was probably a self-employed superintendent.

In 1939 the firms address was Kong Oscarsgate 62, Postboks 38, Bergen.

Up to 1939, excluding war losses, Torkildsen had owned three vessels which had been sold elsewhere, and the companies that amalgamated in 1937 had together owned three vessels that had been sold elsewhere. During 1938 Marstenen had undertaken voyages covering the UK, Continent, Norway, Mediterranean, west coast of Africa and Canada.

As at 1948 superintendents were the firm of Lund, Mohr and Gidver-Enger

As at 1957 and 1961 the 'inspector' [superintendent] was Jorgen Seathern

As at 1963 the partners in the firm were Erling Tork and Wollert Holst

The following is a listing of vessels owned by Vilhelm Torkildsen and companies that were beneficially owned or managed by him and his successors.

Vilhelm Torkildsen's first ship was named GENOVA, and was bought by him in 1899.

Built at Mek Verk, Bergen

950 tons (not sure whether or not that is gross or net)

length 216.4 feet

steamer.

Built 1901 by Bergen's Mek Verk, Bergen, for Vilhelm Torkildsen (himself)

1119 gross tons

697 net tons

length 228.5 ft, breadth 35 ft 4 in, depth 15.9 ft

triple expansion engine, 101 nominal horsepower

6 August 1917 Struck mine (laid by German subm UC63) and sank 2.5m E of Inner Dowsing lightvessel, in about 53 21N 00 38W (voyage Rouen–Sunderland, in ballast)

Built 1901 by Hasseldalens Jernsk, Grimstad, for A/S D/S Rikard Nordraak (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

1123 gross tons

698 net tons

length 231 ft, breadth 34 ft, depth 13.5 ft

triple expansion engine, 97 nominal horsepower

2 May 1917 Torpedoed by German subm UB21 and sunk 9m S of Whitby, 2m from land (voyage Sunderland to Rouen, coal)

Built 1903 by Stavanger Støberi & Dok, Stavanger, for A/S D/S Edvard Grieg (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

989 gross tons

597 net tons

length 215.4 ft, breadth 32 ft 9 in, depth 12.7 ft

triple expansion engine, 103 nominal horsepower

2 March 1917 Captured by German subm U61 in the North Sea, crew allowed to leave vessel, and then sunk by explosive charge placed on board (voyage Newcastle–Skien, soda)

Built 1904

4048 gross tons

Probably sold about 1914-15

Built 1904 by Laxevaags Mask & Jernsk, Bergen, for A/S D/S Gimle (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

1131 gross tons

699 net tons

length 228.6 ft, breadth 36 ft 5 in, depth 15.9 ft

triple expansion engine, 132 nominal horsepower

4 November 1917 Torpedoed by German subm UB35 and sunk 4m off Scarborough, between T and I buoys (voyage Blyth–Caen, coal)

Completed June 1905 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, for A/S D/S Christian Børs (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

4306 gross tons

2788 net tons

7100 deadweight tons

Length 375.5 ft, breadth 51 ft, draught 22 ft 11 in

Triple expansion engine, 373 nhp, speed 10 knots

Signal letters LDUA

1937 Transferred to ownership of Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi

Completed December 1906 by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesbrough, for A/S D/S Henrik Ibsen (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

4578 gross tons

2960 net tons

7650 deadweight tons

length 383.9 ft, breadth 52 ft 10 in, draught 23 ft 2 in

triple expansion engine, 376 nominal horsepower

signal letters LCNY

1937 transferred to ownership of Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi

Built 1906

936 gross tons

8 September 1916 Sunk by German subm UB39 about 25m SW of Ushant in 48 03N 05 42W [some reports say 05 33W] (voyage Seville to Arklow with copper ore)

Built 1907

954 gross tons

14 March 1917 Sunk by German submarine UC21 3 miles E of St Pelier when on voyage from Huelva to Nantes with a cargo of ore

Built 1909

5268 gross tons

Probably sold about 1914-15

Built 1909

949 gross tons

31.8.15 Struck mine (laid by German auxiliary minelayer Meteor) and sunk 15m S of Cape Orloff, White Sea (voyage Archangel to Lynn [King's Lynn], sawn goods [timber])

Built 1910 by Bergens Mek Verk, Bergen

1110gt

length 229.1 ft, breadth 34 ft 4 in, depth 15.8 ft

triple expansion engine, 106 nominal horsepower

31 March 1916 Sunk by German subm U44 off Ushant (voyage Cardiff to Oran, cargo coal)

Built 1910 by Laxevaags Mask & Jernsk, Bergen, for A/S D/S Otto Sinding (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

948 gross tons

572 net tons

1460 deadweight tons

length 214.3 ft, breadth 32 ft 3 in, depth 12.8 ft

triple expansion engine, 101 nhp, speed 9 knots

Built 1915 by Fredriksstad MV, Fredrikstad, for A/S D/S Marstenen (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

1832 gross tons

1114 net tons

3050 deadweight tons

length 265 ft overall, breadth 42 ft 2 in, depth 17.9 ft, draught 17 ft 7 in

triple expansion engine, 188 nhp, speed 10 knots

1937 transferred to ownership of Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi

Built 1915 by Union Iron Works Co, San Francisco, and believed delivered to A/S D/S Pacific (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

6034 gross tons

4381 net tons

9350 deadweight tons

length 399.7 ft registered, 418 ft overall, breadth 56 ft 3 in, draught 25 ft, 4 in, depth 29.4 ft

one steam turbine, 498 nhp, speed 10.5-11.0 knots

1922 sold to Argonaut Line Inc, New York

1940 passed to ownership of Ministry of Shipping, London

1941 passed to ownership of Ministry of War Transport, London (manager John I Jacobs & Co, London)

1 March 1941 Torpedoed by German subm U95 when in convoy HX109 and sunk 180m WSW of Sydero Islands, Faroes (crew 34 lost, 1 survivor)

Built 1939 by Nylands Verksted, Oslo, for Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsen's Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

1375 gross tons

760 net tons

length 250.9 ft, breadth 41 ft 4 in, depth 14.8 ft

compound 2-cylinder engine with low pressure turbine, 54 nominal horsepower

Built 1940 by Nylands Verksted, Oslo, for Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsen's Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

1375 gross tons

760 net tons

length 250.9 ft, breadth 41 ft 4 in, depth 14.8 ft

compound 2-cylinder engine with low pressure turbine, 54 nominal horsepower

Built 1949 by Fredriksstad MV, Fredrikstad, for Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

2168 gross tons

1021 net tons

3600 deadweight tons

speed 14 knots

could carry 7 first class passengers

Built 1949 by Blyth Drydock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Blyth, for Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

2458 gross tons

1376 net tons

3600 deadweight tons

draught 18 ft 10 in

could carry 6 first class passengers

triple expansion engine, speed 13 knots

Built 1950 by Blyth Drydock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Blyth, for Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

2458 gross tons

1376 net tons

3600 deadweight tons

draught 18 ft 10 in

could carry 6 first class passengers

triple expansion engine, speed 13 knots

Built 1948 by Fredriksstad MV, Fredrikstad, for another owner (and under another name)

2303 gross tons

1152 net tons

3550 deadweight tons

draught 18 ft 9 in

steamer, speed 14 knots

Bought by Vilhelm Torkildsen about 1954

Built 1938 by Framnaes MV, Sandefjord, for another owner (and under another name)

2494 gross tons

1471 net tons

4050 deadweight tons

draught 19 ft

could carry 12 first class passengers

Sulzer diesel engine

Built 1943 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow, for another owner and under a different name

Bought by Vilhelm Torkildsen and jointly owned by Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi and D/S A/S Flint [not a Vilhelm Torkildsen copany]

7490 gross tons

4421 net tons

10,103 deadweight tons

draught 27 ft 2 in

could carry 12 first class passengers

diesel engine

Built 1959 by Cantieri Navali Dante Itoyz, Viareggio, for Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen)

4267 gt, 2456 nt, 6200 deadweight tons (shelter deck tonnages)

2499 gt, 1357 nt, 4900 deadweight tons

length 374 ft overall, breadth 50 ft 10 in, draught 25 ft

6-cylinder diesel engine Ansaldo/Fiat, speed 15 knots

Signal letters JXBS

1960 renamed BUKKEN (for charter)

1962 renamed MARSTENEN

Built 1955 by Öresundsvarvet AB, Landskrona, for Anders Jahre, Norway, and named JAKARA

Bought by Skibs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen) in 1961 and renamed UTSIRA

7798 gross tons

4503 net tons

12,430 deadweight tons

length 483 ft 1 in overall, breadth 59 ft 2 in, draught 27 ft 6 in

7-cylinder Götaverken diesel engine, speed 13 knots

Built 1957 by Forges & Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne, for Skibs A/S Viator (manager CH Sørensen & Sønner, Arendal) and named ARICA

Sold to Skbs A/S Vilhelm Torkildsens Rederi (manager Vilhelm Torkildsen) 1962 and renamed UTVIK

9999 gross tons

5056 net tons

13,594 deadweight tons

length 490 ft 1 in overall, breadth 64 ft 1 in, draught 30 ft

8-cylinder diesel engine