The Pole Star

"Polstjerna" was delivered from the shipyard in February 1949 and immediately went on its first seal hunting trip. The hunt went very well, and they returned home with a catch of 3610 seals. After this, the ship went on a seal hunt every year until 1981. On this first Arctic voyage, "Polstjerna" rescued the crew of "Ægir" which sank in the Vesterisen on April 23.

6. On December 1952, the "Polstjerna" ran aground at Vestervågrunnen. They were on their way to Honningsvåg to deliver herring. By lightening the ship by moving the net onto the "Harmoni", the local ferry "Hornøy" managed to tow them away again.

In 1971, the gangways on "Polstjerna" were rebuilt and a new wheelhouse was installed in 1974.

In 1980, the "Polstjerna" picked up the crew of the "Polarfangst" when it went down in the Vesterisen.

The last seal hunting trip was in 1981.

In 1982, "Polarfangst" was in service as a utility guard. The Arctic Society took over the ship in 1981. In the following years, the ship was in utility guard and in a tourist context.

In 2003, "Polstjerna" was put ashore in dry dock at Polaria in Tromsø and a permanent house was built around the ship.