Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane
Encyclopedia
Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane is a Norwegian
transport company. It is a subsidiary of the Fjord1 Nordvestlandske
conglomerate and primarily runs ferry, passenger and freight traffic in Sogn og Fjordane
.
The company was founded in 1858 under the name Nordre Bergenhus Amts Dampskibe and the first two ships D/S Framnæs and D/S Fjalir were purchased that year. The company was publicly owned as it has remained since. From 1896 to 1903 later Norwegian Prime minister Christian Michelsen
was director. In 1919 the company changed its name to Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane. In 1914 the two first motor ships were purchased. In 1937 the company built their last steam powered ship D/S Fanaraaken. In 1939 the first car ferry, Lærdal, was added to the fleet.
During the 1950s, '60s and '70s, the company grew along with the general post-WWII
expansion and improvement in Norwegian infrastructure. The company developed into its present form from the late 1960s when the first fast passenger boats were built. From the same period car ferries became a top priority. The bulk of the Fylkesbaatane fleet still consists of ferries from the period 1960–1980.
In 1971 the company opened a fast passenger route from Sogn og Fjordane to Bergen
. One of the ships used was the world's first commercial passenger catamaran
M/S Fjordglytt. Today there is one route from Bergen to Sogn
and one to Nordfjord
. The Sogn route is at its end stop in Øvre Årdal
6 hours and 15 minutes after leaving Bergen. The Nordfjord route is at its end stop in Selje
4 hours and 55 minutes after leaving Bergen. There are also several local fast passenger boat routes.
In 2001 Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane and Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar
created the company Nordvestlandske. The cooperation culminated in 2002, by the formation of the Fjord1 Nordvestlandske
group. This merger did not go down undisputed, as some of the decisions were seen as unfavourable to Møre og Romsdal. It was decided that the conglomerate headquarters should be located in Florø. It was also unpopular in Møre og Romsdal that Sogn og Fjordane county received a 59% majority share in Fjord1, thereby effectively seizing control of the company.
The ships of Fylkesbaatane have been a vital and major part of the lives of people living in the steep fjords and along the rugged coastline of Sogn og Fjordane. Before the transportation network was developed significantly from the 1950s they were the only means of transportation in the region. This has among other things been reflected by the Norwegian Postal Service issuing three stamps featuring the Fylkesbaatane ships Framnæs, Kommandøren and Hornelen. A few of the old legendary fjord ships are preserved by enthusiasts. Among them are Atløy http://www.atloy.no/, delivered in 1931, and Stavenes. Several books have also been written on the history of the company and its ships.
Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane has around 700 employees and its main office in Florø
.
The company is currently involved in a project to introduce Liquefied natural gas
(LNG) powered car ferries. Two such ferries are already in operation and more are under construction at Aker Yards
and BLRT Fiskerstrand.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
transport company. It is a subsidiary of the Fjord1 Nordvestlandske
Fjord1 Nordvestlandske
Fjord1 Nordvestlandske is a Norwegian transport conglomerate, formed in 2001 by the merger of Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar and Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane. The company itself is a holding company for its numerous subsidiaries. Company headquarters are located in Florø; however, the headquarters...
conglomerate and primarily runs ferry, passenger and freight traffic in Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
.
The company was founded in 1858 under the name Nordre Bergenhus Amts Dampskibe and the first two ships D/S Framnæs and D/S Fjalir were purchased that year. The company was publicly owned as it has remained since. From 1896 to 1903 later Norwegian Prime minister Christian Michelsen
Christian Michelsen
Peter Christian Hersleb Kjerschow Michelsen was a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of an independent Norway from 1905 to 1907...
was director. In 1919 the company changed its name to Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane. In 1914 the two first motor ships were purchased. In 1937 the company built their last steam powered ship D/S Fanaraaken. In 1939 the first car ferry, Lærdal, was added to the fleet.
During the 1950s, '60s and '70s, the company grew along with the general post-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
expansion and improvement in Norwegian infrastructure. The company developed into its present form from the late 1960s when the first fast passenger boats were built. From the same period car ferries became a top priority. The bulk of the Fylkesbaatane fleet still consists of ferries from the period 1960–1980.
In 1971 the company opened a fast passenger route from Sogn og Fjordane to Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. One of the ships used was the world's first commercial passenger catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
M/S Fjordglytt. Today there is one route from Bergen to Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
and one to Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
. The Sogn route is at its end stop in Øvre Årdal
Øvre Årdal
Øvre Årdal is a village in the municipality of Årdal in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is the larger of the two primary villages in Årdal. The village is situated at the northern end of the long lake Årdalsvatnet, with the village of Årdalstangen at the southern end...
6 hours and 15 minutes after leaving Bergen. The Nordfjord route is at its end stop in Selje
Selje
Selje is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The village of Selje is the administrative center of Selje municipality...
4 hours and 55 minutes after leaving Bergen. There are also several local fast passenger boat routes.
In 2001 Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane and Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar
Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar
Fjord1 MRF formerly called Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar, short form MRF is a regional Norwegian transportation company, part of the Fjord1 Nordvestlandske group. The company headquarters are in Molde....
created the company Nordvestlandske. The cooperation culminated in 2002, by the formation of the Fjord1 Nordvestlandske
Fjord1 Nordvestlandske
Fjord1 Nordvestlandske is a Norwegian transport conglomerate, formed in 2001 by the merger of Møre og Romsdal Fylkesbåtar and Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane. The company itself is a holding company for its numerous subsidiaries. Company headquarters are located in Florø; however, the headquarters...
group. This merger did not go down undisputed, as some of the decisions were seen as unfavourable to Møre og Romsdal. It was decided that the conglomerate headquarters should be located in Florø. It was also unpopular in Møre og Romsdal that Sogn og Fjordane county received a 59% majority share in Fjord1, thereby effectively seizing control of the company.
The ships of Fylkesbaatane have been a vital and major part of the lives of people living in the steep fjords and along the rugged coastline of Sogn og Fjordane. Before the transportation network was developed significantly from the 1950s they were the only means of transportation in the region. This has among other things been reflected by the Norwegian Postal Service issuing three stamps featuring the Fylkesbaatane ships Framnæs, Kommandøren and Hornelen. A few of the old legendary fjord ships are preserved by enthusiasts. Among them are Atløy http://www.atloy.no/, delivered in 1931, and Stavenes. Several books have also been written on the history of the company and its ships.
Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane has around 700 employees and its main office in Florø
Florø
is a town and the administrative centre of Flora municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is also a former municipality that existed for just over 100 years. The town was founded on the Florelandet island between the Botnafjorden and Solheimsfjorden by royal decree in 1860. In...
.
The company is currently involved in a project to introduce Liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted temporarily to liquid form for ease of storage or transport....
(LNG) powered car ferries. Two such ferries are already in operation and more are under construction at Aker Yards
Aker Yards
STX Europe AS, formerly Aker Yards ASA, a subsidiary of the South Korean industrial chaebol STX Corporation, is the largest shipbuilding group in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. With headquarters in Oslo, Norway, STX Europe operates 15 shipyards in Brazil, Finland, France, Norway,...
and BLRT Fiskerstrand.
Fleet
Car ferries
|
Combination ships
Passenger ferries
Fast passenger boats
|