English
MS Atløy plyed the Bergen - Sognefjord and local routes in the years 1931 to 1974, and is one of the last surviving fjord boats built before World War II.
An enthusiastic and knowledgeable veteran boat team has, in collaboration with antiquarian authorities, modernized the engine, electrical system and other technical equipment, and returned the boat to its original condition.
From the spacious lounges to the officers' cabins and post office - Atløy is contemporary down to the smallest detail and forms a pleasant setting for larger companies in connection with day trips or transport to and from one of the many catering establishments around the islands and in harbours.
Atløy is equipped with three comfortable saloons and plenty of deck space to move about. Atløy is perfectly suited for all kinds of excursions, fishing trips or larger companies.
M/S Atløy came in the middle of the series of five motor ships that Fylkesbaatane in Sogn og Fjordane had built from 1925 to 1935. She was contracted in 1930, built by Bergen Mekaniske Verksted. Atløy was supposed to be finished on 1 May 1931, but was not delivered until 31 October of the same year due to a labor dispute.
The boat was a combined cargo and passenger vessel made of iron, and was a particularly fine boat, with a certificate for 120 passengers.
Atløy became a faithful toiler on the weather-hardened coast of Sogn og Fjordane. The newly built boat was first put into service between Bergen, Vadheim and Høyanger in correspondence with the Oslo train to and from Bergen.
In the summer, Atløy tourist routes ran between Bergen, Balestrand and Fjærland and between Flåm and Gudvangen. One night a week, the boat also went on a cargo route on the Sognefjord. The boat was then full of both cows and goats, and the crew had to flush and scrub after each trip to get rid of the cow dung and goat smell before the tourists came on board in the morning.
In the winter of 1935/36, Atløy was transferred to Sunnfjord to replace the old D/S Balder, which had proved to be too small. Atløy then got a wide route area: From Florø to Askvoll and Dalsfjorden, to Eikefjorden, to Bremanger and Kalvåg, and to the Måløy area and Selje.
When the war broke out in April 1940, Atløy was en route to Fjærland. The boat went on a few trips after 9 April, but was mostly at rest in Fjærland. Most of the crew were from the Florø area, and traveled home in pools. Some even rowed the 70 nautical miles from Fjærland to Florø.
Atløy was later directed to Nordfjord by the office that the FSF had set up in Førde in April 1940. The boat had been at Sandane for a few days, when the crew learned that the fighting in southern Norway had ended. The boat was soon filled up by Norwegian soldiers who came from Voss, some also with weapons. Atløy went further towards Nordfjordeid, Stårheim and Måløy.
In Måløy, British officers came on board who wanted the boat to transport them to England. But in Måløy there was also an armored whaleboat belonging to the Norwegian navy that was going to England. Atløy therefore did not take this assignment.
Atløy traveled the Åfjord route between Bergen, Gulen, Solund and Hyllestad during the war. Nevertheless, it was also often in storage due to fuel shortages.
England shipping from the Norwegian coast was now also at its most extensive. The liners carried many passengers who were going to the islands at the far end of the coast to cross over to England. It was usually clear to the crew who was going across the North Sea to England.
Atløy was once almost taken over by a group of young men who came on board in Bergen. They had plans to use the boat across the North Sea, and had previously placed oil drums along the road in the Skifjorden. Atløy was too late from Bergen, and it did not turn out that Atløy traveled to England this time either.
After the war, Atløy made many trips to Solund and Bulandet. Elsewhere, the boat also went on the route between Bergen and Dalsfjorden, on a local route on Norddalsfjorden and on a cargo route on Bremanger. In the 1950s, Atløy replaced many of FSF's other boats. For a long time, Atløy also had a post office and mail carrier on board, but this work was later taken over by the mate or driver.
In 1963, Atløy was upgraded and modernized. The boat had the wheelhouse extended onto the bridge wings, a new chimney and new gangways with plastic panes aft. The old two-cylinder Bolinder machine was also replaced with a new four-cylinder Wichmann engine of 240 horses. This was largely due to the fact that spare parts were no longer available for the old machines. The sister ships Nesøy and Værøy therefore also got new engines at the same time.
In the last years in FSF's service, Atløy ran a milk route between Florø and Førdefjorden, with one trip to Førde a week. Due to increased requirements for efficiency, speed and comfort, the boat was perceived as old-fashioned, and the boat was sold to private owners in Sunnmøre in 1974. There she was named LATØY, and was used as a holiday boat. The same owners had also previously bought the sister ship Svanøy, and used engine parts from Atløy to repair this. Latøy also later served as a shuttle boat for workers in connection with platform construction at Åndalsnes, with a certificate for 180 people. From 1978 to 1982, Latøy was published at Hareid.
The manager at Solund Mekaniske Verksted at the time, Jostein Eldøy, knew Latøy well. He suggested that this last iron boat after the FSF should be taken care of and restored. Eldøy received a good response to this idea, and after a professional inspection the boat was purchased for Solund. The boat was then very worn.
After the purchase, the boat was left at Solund Mekaniske Verksted, and stood for a long time under cover in the repair hall. From the outset it was clear that we were faced with extensive work. An active volunteer group continued until March 1983, but eventually both courage and strength began to wane, and people began to realize that the task was too overwhelming.
In Florø there were several people who had been crew on Atløy, and therefore had strong wishes that she should be taken care of. What still made the difference was that Ankerløkken Verft, - which was in some difficult times, was awarded funds earmarked for the restoration of Atløy. The county culture manager and other good forces were very committed here. The boat arrived in Florø in March 1983, and has been there ever since.
After a ferry sale, FSF released the name for the boat, and it was a big day when the letters on the bridge were changed from LATØY to ATLØY. The company also returned the ship's bell that had belonged to the boat.
The zealots kept going, and the boat eventually appeared in very good condition. For 3 seasons the boat was leased to FSF and followed a tourist route on the Nærøyfjord in Sogn. This Atløy steady income, but it was not enough. The boat was to have a crew all summer and the wear and tear was great. The winters were spent on maintenance and in the summer the boat was gone. This eventually caused the activity to die off, and there were eventually only a few zealots left. Although they made a huge effort, it was not enough.
Atløy was in bad shape when Atløys Venner took over the operation. The boat lacked a certificate, and you had to go for a dispensation from the Ship Control every trip. Several had also expressed their interest. Both United World College in Fjaler and Over Stokk and Stein in Bremanger would like to take over the boat and the operation. However, the will to operate the boat was present, and in the end they managed to keep Atløy in Florø by founding a friends' association.
In 1996, Atløy was recognized as worthy of preservation by the National Antiquities Authority. They based the period in the post-war period when the boat had a new wheelhouse and deck, where the boat represents the five ships the FSF had. In addition to marking the historical importance of Atløy, the recognition from the state has ensured that she has received a grant so that the zealous people who operate the boat have been able to preserve the history for the future.
After the purchase of Atløy, funds from the National Antiquities, donors and countless volunteer hours from enthusiastic enthusiasts have contributed to the boat being restored and returned to the way it was in the post-war era. Among other things, she has received:
Today it is possible to experience what it was like to travel with Atløy in the post-war period. The boat is recognized for being very well maintained, and is an important part of the defense fleet. It therefore feels like a little time travel when you board this well-maintained veteran boat.
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