S outh America WE ARE PROUD OF OUR MARITIME TRADITION
SAILING IN THE WAKE OF GIANTS
The 2,500 nautical-mile coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes was a busy route for all sorts of shipping, from steamers to sailboats. But services were unreliable, infrequent and rarely sailed at night, making the journey from north to south a long and arduous experience.
The Norwegian government wished to remedy the situation and invited shipping companies to submit tenders to operate an express route between Trondheim and Tromsø or Hammerfest depending on the season. At that time, there were only 28 lighthouses north of Trondheim, making night-time sailing very risky. But despite the dangers, the owner of a newly-formed com- pany showed an interest in the route.
In 1893, Captain Richard With’s steamer, DS Vesteraalen, was brought into regular service along the coast of Norway, and a regular sea link was established. The service offered several weekly departures, first from Trondheim to Hammerfest and later from Bergen to Kirkenes in only seven days. He
HISTORY 1893-08
called this important connection “hurtig- ruten,” which simply means “the fast route” in Norwegian.
In 1896, Hurtigruten launched the Sports- man route to Spitsbergen, the beginning of our Explorer voyages that have since ex- panded to visit Iceland, Canada, Greenland and Antarctica.
Hurtigruten’s eleven coastal ships still carry freight and passengers along the coast of Norway, and our captains use their extensive maritime expertise to ensure that guests and goods are safely carried from port to port. As they have done for more than 120 years, our ships remain the best way to explore the Norwegian coastline.
Captain Alf Korneliussen on DS Lofoten (1932)
1910-45 1910-1912
Roald Amundsen and his team cross the Ross Sea on Fram, and become the first humans to set foot on the Geographic South Pole.
1922 1898 1893
Captain Richard With establishes the Hurtigruten steam ship service to link northern and southern Norway. On 2 July, the first Hurtigruten steamship DS Vesteraalen travels from Trondheim to Hammerfest.
1896
Hurtigruten starts the “Sports Route” between Hammerfest and Spitsbergen using DS Lofoten. Captain With ships his hotel from Trondheim to Spitsbergen on board the Raftsund steamer. Otto Sverdrup, captain of the original Fram ship, serves as honorary captain.
The route along the Norwegian coast is extended to the south and now includes Bergen. There are three departures each week.
1908
Kirkenes, near the Russian border, becomes the northern turning point of the coastal voyage.
1925
DS Dronning Maud is the first ship of a new generation. She is about one and a half times as large as her predecessors. For the first time, all cabins have running water and a separate ventilation system.
The archipelagos of Lofoten and Vesterålen become the latest ports of call along the Norwegian coast.
1932
Hurtigruten arrange ship races from Bodø to Svolvær, and “DS Princess Ragnhild” wins the “Vestfjord’s Blue Ribbon” when she clocks in at 3 hrs. 44 min. In normal traffic today the trip takes 6 hrs.
1936
A ship now leaves Bergen every day. Each year more than 230,000 passengers travel on board the fleet, which comprises 14 ships.
1937
All Hurtigruten ships are equipped with a sonar depth finder, an electronic logbook and a radio transmitter.
1940 – 45
Several ships take over transport services for the Norwegian government during World War II.
1945
The reconstruction of Hurtigruten after World War II is given the highest priority. New ships are built.
10
Captain Richard With
© Hurtigruten/Museum Nord-Vesterålsmuseet
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