Brandal

The Arctic ship "Brandal" was built at Knut Skaaluren's boatyard in Rosendal. It was completed in 1911, making it one of the first Arctic ships built specifically for seal hunting.

The customer of “Brandal” was Sigvald S. Brandal. The ship had these dimensions when new; 83,1 feet long and 20,6 feet wide. In the building contract we can read that the ship was to be between 85 and 90 gross tonnage. The ordered ship was to cost NOK 145,- per gross tonnage. When the ship was finished it had a gross tonnage of 90,71 and it was fitted with a 50 hp steam engine. In December 1919 the ship was transferred to a new owner, Peter S. Brandal. In February 1925 this company was converted into an AS. Later that same year the ship was transferred to AS Søndmøre Selfangere. In September 1932 there was another new owner, this time Peter S. Brandal & Co. AS. In January 1934 AS Polarbjørn is listed as the owner for a longer period until 1968 when the ship was transferred to Martin Karlsen AS.

The first seal hunting trip was in 1911. On this trip they had a total catch value of NOK 10.750. On the way home they took on board the crew of the "Union" which had sunk in the ice.

In 1918, the propeller shaft was bent when it hit ice. They tried to bend it back using the mizzen boom, but the boom broke. Then they tried using the jib boom, but the propeller shaft broke. The "Løftingen" managed to tow the "Brandal" out of the ice and they sailed to Iceland for repairs.

In 1928, the "Brandal" was sent on an expedition to search for Roald Amundsen. Officially, the ship was on a walrus hunt, but Peter S. Brandal, who was a friend of Amundsen, then led a private search operation.

In 1930, the ship broke its propeller shaft after hitting an ice floe. A whistle was blown for assistance, and "Jopeter" and "Aarvak" arrived. "Aarvak" had the strongest engine, so it towed "Brandal" out of the ice. Once out of the ice, the engine was started, but it turned out that they had a leak and the engine was stopped again, and they then sailed to Iceland for repairs. This went well, but the leak was quite large when they arrived.

In 1934, "Brandal" was rebuilt, and it now had a new engine, a Wichmann diesel of 90 hp.

1937 is "Brandal" in Southeast Greenland. Inspects the stations in Storfjorden and Trollbotten, and replaces the station crew. Sverre Aarseth with two assistants follows up, Ragnar Eggesvik returns with his two assistants. Left Ålesund 2 August, returned 17 September

The ship was requisitioned by the German Navy (KMD) in 1940. It was now named "Wasserhundt". In 1943, the ship sank during an assignment at Sandnessjøen. There it lay for almost a year, before Martin Karlsen sent two of his other ships on an expedition in January/February 1944 to try and raise the wreck. They succeeded. They filled the space with empty oak barrels and buoyed it up. The ship was towed to Ulsteinvik and put on a slipway at Hatløy mek. Here extensive reconstruction work began. Apart from a few parts in the hull, it was practically a completely new ship that was now being rebuilt. It took time to rebuild the ship. There was a shortage of materials, and both Martin Karlsen and Leif Hatlø went on several bicycle trips into the fjords to get hold of a log here and there. On March 13, 1947, we can read in Vikebladet that “The seal hunter “Brandal” went on a trial trip on Sunday – over 10,5 miles of speed during the trial trip. It is the most modern seal hunting ship in Norway that has now left the workshop”. The ship had now received a Crossley engine of 375 hp. The length was 101,6 feet and it had become 23 feet wide. In Vikebladet we can further read “that this is the largest boat Hatløy mek. has delivered to date, and that there were 150 people on the trial trip (!) who were all treated to plenty of coffee and sandwiches. All cabins are otherwise equipped with electric light and central heating”.

In 1949, "Brandal", together with "Flemsøy", is on its way home from the Vesterisen when they receive news that "Herøyfjord" has listed and is in difficulty just off the coast of Sunnmøre on its way home from Newfoundland. Also on board is the crew of "Polarbjørn" which had sunk in Newfoundland. The two ships immediately set course for the wreck, and together they rescued the crew of "Herøyfjord" on April 28. A great deal of seamanship was shown in this salvage in quite rough seas. The tugboat "Draugen" came along and took "Herøyfjord" in tow, but after a while the ship ran aground and sank into the sea.

Apart from the seal hunting trips, "Brandal" had many different missions. It was for a time an expedition ship in Greenland, various missions in the North Sea and various cargo missions. In 1967 it received a new engine, now a Wichmann 5ACAT of 750 hp. This was in the ship when it was condemned and sunk in Gangstøvika in the autumn of 1979.

In 1972 on assignment for the Geological Survey of Greenland, Copenhagen, at Discobukta and other locations in West Greenland.

In 1976, "Brandal" rescued the crew of "Kari" which sank in the Hjeltefjord.

In 1977, "Brandal" rescued crew members from "Flemsøy" which sank in the Vesterisen.

In 1979, the "Brandal" set out on its last trip to the Vesterisen. Just outside Runde on the way to the field, they noticed that the ship was leaking a bit, and the ship returned to Brandal and got extra bilge pumps. When the ship returned at the end of April, the leak was so big that the ship was met at the edge of the ocean by a helicopter with more bilge pumps. Boats that were nearby also came to assist. They made it to shore and were unloaded, and some time after this the old ship was condemned.

The mast and barrel were taken care of and rigged up at Brandal School.