M/S Gamle Mårøy is a protected vessel, built at Kaarbø’s mechanical workshop, Harstad in 1959. It is operated by Gamle Mårøy A/S, together with security crews in the association Gamle Mårøy’s friends. All operations and ownership are on a voluntary basis, and the number of members in the friends association in 2021 has exceeded 550 members.
The original name of the boat was M/S Mårøy. It was built as a day route vessel for Finnmark county shipping company and the route company is a combined passenger and cargo vessel and operated at local speed from 1959 to 1980. The boat has been used all over Finnmark, but in the period from 1970 to 1980, when it was sold, was the vessel is an important link between the municipal center Mehamn and the roadless villages in the Tanafjord.
In the period 1980 to 2000, under the name «Norvakt», and belonging to Myre in Vesterålen, it was in the service of the Coast Guard and formed part of the utility guard on the stretch between Ålesund and the border with Russia. Later it changed owners twice, and in the period 2003 to 2014, it was mainly used for whale watching and adventure trips in Nordland but was also used for the training of navigators, with trips, among other things. to Scotland and to Holland. Then under the name «Leonora»
In 2014, the boat was bought back to Hammerfest, and through more than 40,000 man-hours, as well as grants from the National Heritage Board, it has been gradually restored and has largely been returned as authentic.
The boat has not had major changes in exterior or interior and is a worthy representative of the last traditional local scheduled ships in this country – before the speedboats made their entrance. From a national perspective, there are few similar local scheduled ships left, which makes “Gamle Mårøy” very worthy of protection.
The boat represents coastal history and it is preserved through active use. It is primarily used for adventure trips in Finnmark, for trips with teams/associations and companies as well as for exhibitions, activities, and teaching, but is also well suited and has been used for local freight assignments and for freight assignments for vessels on assignments out in the Barents Sea. With the comforts and loading possibilities the boat has, it is suitable for emergency services that require catering and accommodation. Use for clearing marine litter in remote fjords, with large clearing crews over several days, is an example of its functionality, something both our crews and the boat have good experience with.
In ordinary traffic, the boat is certified for 84 passengers, and as a cargo ship, for 12 passengers. There are 10 guest cabins, with a total of 19 beds. This number can be adjusted slightly up, depending on the type of trip. Capacity in the cargo space is 90 m3, and lifting capacity in crane/boom is 2 tons. Meals can be produced onboard a newly renovated gallery, or delivered from one of our partners in catering, The boat has a license to serve with all rights. Seating in the lounge is 45.
