Norwegian Rescue Ship

Hjalmar Bjørge was built in 1963 at Skudenshavn, Norway. She is one of thirteen 22.85 meter Norwegian Rescue Ships, heavily built and comprehensively fitted out as a liveaboard, ocean-going, towing and fleet support vessel for the Norwegian fishing fleet. She worked as Rescue Vessel No. 69 until 1996 for NSSR (Norsk Selskab til Skibbrudnes Redning or Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue). She was stationed at various sites during the 60’s and 70’s including Måløy (Sogn og Fjordane) and Vardø (Finnmark).

After decommissioning, Hjalmar Bjorge was sold to an American owner who renamed her “Sunrise” and painted her a Danish blue colour. He kept the vessel in Ireland and added a bow-thrust and stabilizers but she was little used during this time. She was sold to Mark Henry’s the Northern Light cruising company in February 2002.

The Bjørge family is a well-known Norwegian shipping family and this boat is named after Hjalmar because, unusually, when the boat was being manufactured for the Rescue Service, the family donated around half the cost of the build. They were proud patriotic Norwegians who, during the Second World War, refused Hitler’s request to return their vessels to port so they could be sequestered by the Nazis. For this refusal they were imprisoned for the remainder of the war.

The correct Norwegian pronunciation for Hjalmar Bjørge is”YAL-MUH B’YOR-GAY. Mark Henrys, Hjalmar’s owner from 2002-2022, says that he was aware that the pronunciation of the boat’s name might have given his guests some difficulty and he and considered changing the name but whilst ‘swithering over alternatives, we came across the original lettering that sits across the curved wheelhouse. Decision made – honour the vessel’s heritage and stick with the given name’

To this day Hjalmar Bjorge has an endless amount of nicknames and bizarre pronunciations including Ha-jalmar Be-Jorgey and Pyjama Bejabee. She remains a little boat with a big heart and a suitably big name.

During 2002 – 2003 an extensive refurbishment saw the superstructure of the vessel extended backwards, the top deck enlarged, the addition of “wings” at the side (providing covered walkways) and extra guest cabins. Hjalmar Bjorge is constantly being kept up to date with refits and redesigns whilst, we hope, remaining authentic to her roots as a  beautifully, designed seagoing vessel.