Brief History

Berntine is the oldest arctic ship still sailing.  

She has been declared worthy of preservation by the

Directorate of Cultural Heritage. Berntine was built in

Tromsø in 1890 primarily as a fishing vessel.

In 1905, she ended up in Vardø and received her first

auxiliary engine in 1913. She went hunting in harsh  

environments.

In 1920, she converted to shipping traffic along the Nor-

wegian coast.

In 1946 the artic rigging was taken down and the ship was

converted into motor coaster. The ship was renamed

"Havnøy".

In 1978, she was taken to Tønsberg. Here, she was    

converted into hermaphrodite brig and used as a school

ship in alternative youth work.

In 2008, the Berntine foundation was established.

Fulehuks venner (Friends of Fulehuk lighthouse)

and Loggen kystlag (the local association for coastal

culture preservation) took joint ownership of the ship

and gave her back her original name of "Berntine".  

Tonnage:

79 GRT

Length:

71.5'

Sail area:

212 m2

Photo: Jorgen Kirsebom