Polar bear

"Kvitbjørn" was delivered from the shipyard in January 1968, and a month later went on her first trip to seal in Newfoundland. The catch this first year was 16000 seals. While walking in the ice that year, they suffered damage to the propeller system, but a serviceman from Liaaen in Ålesund flew to Canada and with the help of an icebreaker the man was transported aboard "Kvitbjørn". 12 days after the damage occurred, the ship was ready for fishing again.

"Kvitbjørn" was built for AS Rieber & Co. Rieber had been a co-owner of several dozen Arctic ships over 50 years, but "Kvitbjørn" was probably the very first Arctic ship Rieber built for his own account without other co-owners.

In 1978, the ship went to Kragerø verft og dokk AS to have a shelter deck added, and the net bin was made larger.

In 1979, just before the ship was to return from Vesterisen, the towbar broke, and the casualty had to be towed home by "Kvitungen".

In 1985, another rebuild awaited "Kvitbjørn". This time at Johan Drage AS, Rognan. Now, among other things, a new wheelhouse and some new instruments were installed.

In 1988 the ship was sold to Chile by Pesquera Sopesa-Alimar SA Valparaiso. The boat was now named "Alcantara", was lengthened in 1994 to 43.15 meters and is said to have been fitted with a MaK engine of 2393 hp. The last known owner is Alimentos Marinos SA Alimar, and it is said to be in use as a well boat.