S/S Godthaab (Danish name for Nuuk) was built in 1897–98 at C. Christensen ship yard, Sandefjord, Norway, for the Royal Greenland Trading Department and was the company's first steam ship. The main task for the ship was sailing on the east Greenland settlement Angmassalik (now Tasiilaq) and was built for that purpose with a 240 HP engine and reinforced hull. Godthaab served as base for several expeditions in the Arctic, most notably the expeditions by Lauge Koch between 1926 and 1934. Godthaab sailed for the Royal Greenland Trading Department until it was sold in 1953 to the Faroe Islands. Here it was refitted for herring fishery and renamed Hvitabjørn (polar bear). It was sunk in 1984 after being badly damaged by fire.