International Cruises, Hurtigruten

HURTIGRUTEN (NORWEGIAN COASTAL VOYAGE)

       Hurtigruten ("hurtig ruten" means "fast route" in Norwegian), sometimes known as Norwegian Coastal Voyage, is a Norwegian line that carries passengers and freight since 1893. Originally the ships were operated by two separate shipping companies, OVDS (Ofotens og Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskap) and TFDS (Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap). The two lines merged in 2006 to become Hurtigruten nowadays.

       11 ships in the Hurtigruten fleet operate daily sailings along the western and northern Norwegian coast. A roundtrip voyage lasts for 11 days, which includes 5 days northbound from Bergen to Kirkenes, and then 6 days southbound back. Altogether 34 ports are called. Passengers can choose to sail on a round voyage, a single northbound or southbound journey, or even a mini-trip which embark or disembark midway of the route. After the addition of the newest ship, Fram, to the fleet, passengers can also sail to some polar areas other than Norwegian coast, such as Greenland, South America and Antarctica.

       Today Hurtigruten still carries both passengers and freight from port to port, and the ships usually have their lowest decks that can accommodate vehicles. Most of the ships in the fleet have similar size and design and were built within the past 20 years. They have all the basic facilities that can be found on normal cruise ships. However two vessels in the older generation are still in operation as well.
 


Ship(s) in Operation

 

Ship

Fram

Trollfjord

Midnatsol

Entered Service

2007 May

2002 May

2003 March

Builder

Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A.,

Monfalcone, Gorizia (Italy)

Fosen Mekaniske Verksted, Rissa (Norway)

Registry

Narvik, Norway

Tromsø, Norway

Gross Tonnage

11647 tons

16140 tons

16151 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

114.0 x 20.2 x 5.0 (m), 373.9 x 66.3 x 16.4 (ft)

135.8 x 21.5 x 5.1 (m), 445.3 x 70.5 x 16.7 (ft)

Speed

13 knots, 16 knots (maximum)

15 knots

Passenger Decks

7

7

Number of Cabins
(Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)
136 (24, 106, 6)

304 (60, 239, 5)

Beds, Passengers

318, 318

646, 822

644, 1000

IMO Number, Call Sign

9370018, LADA7

9233258, LLVT

9247728, LMDH

History

2007- : Fram (Hurtigruten)

2002- : Trollfjord
     (Hurtigruten / TFDS)
2003- : Midnatsol
     (Hurtigruten / TFDS)

 

Ship

Finnmarken <III>

Entered Service

2002 April

Builder

Kleven Verft, Ulsteinvik (Norway)

Registry

Narvik, Norway

Gross Tonnage

15530 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

138.5 x 21.5 x 5.0 (m), 454.3 x 70.5 x 16.2 (ft)

Speed

15 knots

Passenger Decks

7

Number of Cabins (Inside/Oceanview/Balcony) 283 (35, 234, 14)

Beds, Passengers

628, 1000

IMO Number, Call Sign

9231951, LLRY

History

2002-2010: Finnmarken (Hurtigruten / OVDS)
2010-2012: Finnmarken (marine construction support vessel in Australia)
2012- : Finnmarken (Hurtigruten / OVDS)

 

Ship

Nordkapp

Polarlys

Nordnorge

Kong Harald

Richard With

Nordlys

Entered Service

1996 March

1996 March

1997 March

1993 June

1993 November

1994 March

Builder

Kleven Verft,
Ulsteinvik (Norway)

Ulstein Verft,
Ulsteinvik (Norway)

Kleven Verft,
Ulsteinvik (Norway)

Volkswerft, Stralsund (Germany)

Registry

Narvik, Norway

Tromsø, Norway

Narvik, Norway

Tromsø, Norway

Narvik, Norway

Tromsø, Norway

Gross Tonnage

11386 tons

11341 tons

11386 tons

11204 tons

11205 tons

11204 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

[Nordkapp] 123.3 x 19.5 x 4.9 (m), 404.4 x 64.0 x 16.1 (ft)
[Polarlys] 123.0 x 19.5 x 4.9 (m), 403.4 x 64.0 x 16.1 (ft)
[Nordnorge] 123.3 x 19.5 x 4.9 (m), 404.4 x 64.0 x 16.1 (ft)

121.8 x 19.2 x 4.9 (m), 399.5 x 63.0 x 16.1 (ft)

Speed

15 knots

15 knots

Passenger Decks

6

6

Number of Cabins
(Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)

218 (21, 197, 0)

225 (21, 204, 0)

214 (21, 193, 0)

230 (21, 209, 0)

223 (21, 202, 0)

226 (21, 205, 0)

Beds, Passengers

464, 691

479, 737

457, 691

483, 691

466, 691

475, 691

IMO Number, Call Sign

9107772, LASQ

9107796, LHYG 9107784, LCJI

9039119, LGIY

9040429, LGWH

9048914, LHCW

History

1996- : Nordkapp (Hurtigruten / OVDS)

 

1996- : Polarlys (Hurtigruten / TFDS)

 

1997- : Nordnorge (Hurtigruten / OVDS)

 

1993- : Kong Harald (Hurtigruten / TFDS)

 

1993- : Richard With (Hurtigruten / OVDS)

 

1994- : Nordlys (Hurtigruten / TFDS)

 

 

Ship

Vesterålen

Lofoten Nordstjernen

Entered Service

1983 February

1964 March 1956 March

Builder

Kaarbø Mekaniske Verksted,
Harstad (Norway)

Aker Mekaniske Verksted,
Oslo (Norway)
Blohm + Voss Shipyards,
Hamburg (Germany)

Registry

Narvik, Norway

Narvik, Norway Tromsø, Norway

Gross Tonnage

6261 tons

2621 tons 2191 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

108.6 x 16.5 x 4.6 (m)
356.2 x 54.1 x 15.1 (ft)

87.4 x 13.2 x 7.4 (m)
286.7 x 43.3 x 24.3 (ft)
80.8 x 12.7 x 4.5 (m)
264.9 x 41.5 x 14.8

Speed

15 knots

15 knots 15 knots

Passenger Decks

7

5 4
Number of Cabins
(Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)
143 (54, 89, 0) 81 (25, 56, 0) 74 (22, 52, 0)

Beds, Passengers

302, 510

155, 400 149, 400

IMO Number, Call Sign

8019368, LLZY

5424562, LIXN 5255777, LATU

History

1983- : Vesterålen
     (Hurtigruten / OVDS)

1964- : Lofoten
     (Hurtigruten / OVDS)
1956- : Nordstjernen
     (Hurtigruten / TFDS)

 

Former Ship(s)

 

Ship

Narvik

Lyngen <II>

Entered Service

1982 December

1982 December

Builder

Trondhjems Mekaniske Verksted,
Trondheim (Norway)

Ulstein-Hatlö AS, Ulsteinvik (Norway)

Registry

Narvik, Norway

Tromsø, Norway

Gross Tonnage

6257 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

108.6 x 16.5 x 6.4 (m), 356.2 x 54.1 x 20.8 (ft)

Speed

15 knots

Passenger Decks

7

Number of Cabins (Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)

148 (59, 89, 0)

146 (57, 89, 0)

Beds, Passengers

310, 500

310, 500

IMO Number, Call Sign

8019344, LLNV

8019356, LLMH

History

1982-2007: Narvik (Hurtigruten / OVDS)
2007- : Gann (Rogaland Sjøaspirantskole)

1982-2003: Midnatsol <III> (Hurtigruten / TFDS)
2003-2005: Midnatsol II (Hurtigruten / TFDS)
2005-2007: Lyngen <II> (Hurtigruten / TFDS)

2007-2008: [laid up]
2008- : National Geographic Explorer
     (Lindblad Expeditions)

Back to International Cruises