Sjannoy

The name "Sjannøy" comes from Shannonøya in East Greenland. It was Helene Lindstøl who gave the ship this name when it was launched in January 1949.

It had its first trip to seal in 1949, but they were late and did not arrive in Newfoundland until April 3. After a few days of fishing, its propeller was damaged. A blade was broken and the shaft bent. But they continued at a slow speed. "Veslekari" towed the ship out of the ice when the season was over, then they sailed home, with careful support from the engine. They had caught about 4000 seals.

In 1952, "Sjannøy" picked up the crew from "Vestis" which had sunk in the Vesterisen.

In 1966, "Sjannøy" and "Furenak" collided in the Vesterisen.

In 1970, "Sjannøy" had a record trip with 3500 hats in just 16 days.

In 1975 the ship was sold to Paul Stark in Tromsø.

In 1980, the ship sets out on what will be its last voyage. On March 26, after only a few days of fishing, the drawbar breaks, preventing them from turning the propeller. A new drawbar was sent from Norway by plane and dropped over the Vesterisen. That same day, they had also suffered damage to some iron plates that were lying on the outside of the ice sheet in the waterline on the starboard side. A few days later, they also suffered damage to some ice sheet planks. The aid ship "Harmonie" comes to help them repair this damage. Just after midnight on April 16, the ship suddenly begins to take on water in the engine room. The ship had just come off the ice edge and into the open sea. All bilge pumps are started, but they are unable to keep out. Other ships in the vicinity are warned and "Polstjerna" and "Heimen" are the first to arrive. The first 9 of the crew had gone into the fishing boat. When the last three ships left, the water was far up the stern wall of the ship. Only the wheelhouse and the bow were above water. The crew from the wreck boarded the "Polstjerna" and were then picked up by the auxiliary ship "Harmoni". At 05:00, the "Polarfangst" capsized and disappeared into the depths, bow first. It then had a catch of 1320 seals aboard. The sinking occurred in position 69.26 north and 17.27 west.