Nautilus strategic organiser Grant Mudie took a moment out from his usual industrial duties for a tour of a 114-year-old Norwegian steamship crewed by retired seafarers when it berthed in Scotland in May.
The SS Hestmanden, a historic Norwegian cargo ship, which is the only surviving vessel that was part of convoys in both First and Second World Wars, was visiting Aberdeenshire as part of a UK tour marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The 60m Hestmanden was built in 1911 in Bergen for Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab. In peacetime, the ship has mainly transported people and goods up and down the Norwegian coast. During both world wars, Hestmanden was used for the risky convoy service, but survived two world wars and gained a reputation as an exceptionally lucky ship. It played a vital role in transporting medicine, food, fuel, ammunition, and weapons during the war. It also formed part of a covert flotilla of fishing boats used to smuggle soldiers, agents and freedom fighters between Norway and Shetland, and on return trips helped to evacuate refugees and Allied soldiers.
Now a national treasure in Norway, it serves as a floating museum, preserving the memory of those who kept the supply lines open during wartime.
The Hestmanden had previously been in Lerwick, Scalloway and Kirkwall before Aberdeen, and then sailed on to Edinburgh and Newcastlebefore heading back to Norway.
- Read more about the ship's history
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