The Arctic ship "Aarvak"

Built in 1912

Author: Webjørn Landmark

Created: 05.03.2021 Last updated: 12.03.2021

"Aarvak" was built at Kristian Dekke's shipyard, Laksevåg near Bergen, in 1912. "Aarvak" was built for Bergens Sælfangere AS. Until the Second World War, Arctic ships were built with cutter hulls.

"Aarvak" was built with a cruiser-shaped hull. This helped make the boat special right from the start. "Aarvak" was one of the first purpose-built arctic ocean vessels in Western Norway. When new, "Aarvak" was 90 feet long, 21.6 feet wide, 10.6 feet deep and had a 74 ihk steam engine from Laxevaag Maskin & Jernskipsbyggeri. It probably got its name from Norse mythology. Årvak is the name of one of two horses that dragged the sun across the firmament.

Sold to Peter S. Brandal in 1915

Bertel Chr. Landmark from Brandal was employed as a supervisor during the construction period. He also continued to be the skipper of the ship for the first four years before the ship was sold to Peter S. Brandal in Brandal in 1915. Then his brother Vebjørn Landmark took over the skipper job on "Aarvak". The longest-serving skipper on "Aarvak" was Johan S. Brandal, who was the skipper on board for 30 years.

"Aarvak" was purchased from Brandal in the midst of the strong boom that the Arctic fishing industry had during the First World War. "Aarvak" was given the fishing mark M 8 HD. During the economically difficult times towards the end of the 1920s and in the 1930s, the ship changed hands several times. In 1925 the ship was transferred from Peter S. Brandal to Peter S. Brandal AS. In 1927 A/S Søndmøre Sælfangere took over the ship and in 1932 it was transferred to Peter S. Brandal & Co AS. In 1933/34 AS Polarbjørn is in control of the ship.

Aarvak in the ice in 1940.

Photos: Unknown

Catching in the West and East Ice Caps

This company remained the owner until the ship was sold to GC Rieber in Ålesund in 1968, and received the fishing mark M 81 A. Rieber sold it on the same year to Odd Bjørklo in Balsfjord. The ship now received the registration mark T 148 B. The ship was fishing in the West or East Ice every year until 1981.

Rebuilt several times

Aarvak in the ice in 1940.

Photos: Unknown

"Aarvak" was rebuilt several times. In 1948 the steam engine was replaced by a 400 hp Crossley diesel engine. The ship received a new stern in Risør in 1950, a new bow in Molde in 1953, and the hull was extended in Tomrefjord in 1956.

In 1964 the ship received a new engine, a Wichmann diesel 4ACAT of 600 hp, which is still on board. The ship now has these dimensions: 112.8 feet long, 22.8 feet wide, 10.5 feet deep.

From 1912 to 1981, "Aarvak" was in continuous active use for seal hunting, herring fishing, summer fishing in the Danish Strait, trawling, utility patrol and freight traffic. For many years, it was a regular for the Royal Danish Trade in Greenland every summer.

Last trip on the ice

In 1981, the ship was on its last seal hunting trip, this year in the Eastern Seaboard, and they returned home with 4471 seals.

After this trip, the "Aarvak" needed some renovation, and Odd Bjørklo then chose to condemn the ship. Time had now passed for the wooden ships. Local historical forces in Brandal and Hareid, led by Henrik Landmark, seized the opportunity to preserve the ship. Later that same year, the Ishavsmuseet took over the ship and had her protected as a cultural monument. The temptation was to set up a museum in the hold, and use the "Aarvak" as a floating museum. This quickly proved unsuitable. The temperatures and climate in the hold were not conducive, and the space quickly became far too small.

Tours in the Sunnmørsfjords

Aarvak At Sæbø 1992.

Photos: Webjørn Landmark

In the 1980s, the ship made many trips in the Sunnmøresfjords, rented out to various tasks and teams. In the 1990s, it became an increasingly difficult task to take care of the ship, with increasingly strict safety requirements. "Aarvak" thus had its last sailing under the Sunnmøres Alps in 1995. Now the requirements from the ship control became so extensive that the Ishavsmuseet was unable to meet them.

In dock and later defensive buildings

"Aarvak" in the Vernehuset.

Photos: Webjørn Landmark

By 1998, the condition of the ship had deteriorated to the point that further protection had to be considered. The Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Heritage could not find funds for repairs, but was willing to allow one million kroner to land the ship.

In December 1998, the "Aarvak" was docked at the new Ishavsmuseet in Brandal and made a permanent part of the museum complex. "Aarvak" is today the oldest surviving Norwegian Arctic ship of those that were specially built for sealing from 1910 onwards.

The protective building over "Aarvak" was opened in June 2009.