English
%20%5B1280x768%5D.JPG)
MS Midthordland is a worthy representative of a type of boat that was common a short century ago: the Fjord bus.
It was quite a sight when the armada of gray and black fjord boats every Saturday afternoon stood together outside Vågen, fully loaded with goods and people, competing to be the first to get out of Byfjorden! Now Midthordland stands alone as the last of its kind. In return, she is like new, fully restored and ready for new assignments.
Midthordland is equipped with two comfortable saloons and plenty of deck space to move about. Aft, the deck is partially covered, and underneath it forms cozy seating areas for those who want to enjoy the view and feel the wind ruffling their hair at the same time. Midthordland is ideally suited for all kinds of excursions for larger companies.
There is great reason to thank the zealots for their idealism and courage. This is what has produced the result that can be experienced today every time the Queen of Bjørnefjorden visits her home villages.
In 1945, the Midhordlansk Dampskibselskap ordered a new boat for lokar routes. The boat was constructed by shipbuilder Knud E. Hansen in Copenhagen with a slender steel hull and light aluminum superstructure.
In December 1947, the Sjøbussen Midthordland came to Bjørnefjorden, and great expectations in the region were met. She was pretty, comfortable and reliable. The boat ran a local route between Bergen-Os and Tysnes together with the chartered local route boat "Aakrafjord". At times it also went on tours with tourists from the hotels in Godøysund and Solstrand.
On 30 January 1949, Midthordland ran aground at Sundvor in Samanger during a departure in stormy weather. She capsized and sank in shallow water.
Fortunately, however, Midthordland's history did not end here. In February 1949 she was raised and towed to Amsterdam for repairs. On 10 June 1949 she was already back in regular service.
On 1 January 1962, the ownership group Det Midthordlandske Dampskibsselskab merged with the Bergen-based transport group Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap ASA.
She was painted in new colors, but still continued in the same route.
In 1966, HSD redeployed the boats and sent the older local route boat Eidfjord to Bergen-Os-Tysnes. Midthordland then took over the Kvinnheradruten, which it ran in until it went into circulation at Marineholmen in Bergen.
On 13 June 1970, Midthordland was published at Marineholmen in Bergen. On 11 March 1971, the boat was sold to the Swedish company Ljungsvik & Carlsson AB, who renamed the boat Midland, to go on a route between Sweden and Denmark. Nothing came of this, and the boat was therefore again put up for sale.
In the summer of the same year, the boat was sold to the Swedish company Skagerak Kryss AB, who renamed the boat Marina, and put her on trips in the archipelago in Bohuslän. This company went bankrupt on 10 January 1973 and the boat was taken over by the creditor Forsikringsselskapet Dovre in Oslo.
The boat was sold in May 1976 to Torbay Sea Cruises in Brixham, England. Here the boat was again renamed Midland, but after a short time was sold to S. M. Ali and renamed St. Lucy. Later that year, the boat was sold to F.J. Pither & D. Latto and moved to St. Katharine's Dock in London and used as a floating demonstration center for workplace safety measures.
In April 1987, the boat was sold to Per Fagerlid-Olsen AS and renamed Sunrise II. Although the boat hadn't quite arrived home, it was now back in Norway and doing charter trips in the Oslo Fjord.
In 1991, the boat went ashore in Drøbak after the coup collapsed. The boat was repaired and continued to operate.
For many, Midthordland had been a symbol of quality of life, and several carried a dream that the boat would once again be looking at our fjord. The dream never let go, and thanks to zealots, the boat was bought by Stiftelsen Midthordlands Dampskibsselskab in 1994, and was again christened Midthordland.
As the first post-war vessel, the Midhordland was recognized as worthy of preservation by the National Archives. In addition to marking the historical importance of Midthordland, the recognition from the state has ensured that she has received a grant so that the zealous people who operate the boat have been able to preserve the history for the future.
After the purchase of Midhordland, funds from the National Antiquities, donors and countless hours of service from enthusiastic enthusiasts have contributed to the boat being restored and returned to its original standard, as it was when it was owned by Det Midthordlandske Dampskibsselskab. Among other things, she has received:
Today it can be difficult to understand the impact boats like Midthordland had on the local villages they linked together in their time. Nevertheless, it feels as if you are going on a little journey back in time when you board the boat, where you get to experience what it was like to travel between the villages in the post-war era.
Fill out the form to be contacted or contact us directly by phone or email. We're here to answer any questions you may have.
Get a fast and professional website for a fraction of traditional development:
