"Hurtigruten" – a cruise on the Norwegian fjordam
At the end of the 19th century, Norway experienced serious transport difficulties, which were determined by a huge territory, harsh climate and the lack of transport links with the North of the country, which was actually "cut off" from civilization: many coastal areas north of Trondheim were generally not available. In 1891, the National Agricultural Adviser of August, Krigsman Gran proposed the idea of creating transportation between Trondheim and Hammerfest. Two shipping companies – "Nordenfjeldske DS" and "Bergenske DS" were offered plans of routes, but they refused to cooperate with the Grand Print, considering that the idea would be doomed to failure due to severe northern weather. The captain, politician and shareholder of BDS Vesteraalen took a challenge. Some people declared him crazy when he stated that transport links between cities would function in accordance with the clear schedule all year round, day and night. Wit applied for financial support to the Norwegian Parliament, since no shipping company could implement such a plan using only their funds.
And so, on May 18, 1893, a 4-year-old contract was concluded between the government and DS Vesteraalen, thanks to which Vita received financial assistance to organize a weekly flight between Trondheim and Hammerfest in the summer and Trondheim and Troms and in the winter. On the morning of July 2, 1893, the steamer "Vesteraalen" left the port of Trondheim and went to Hammerfest. He arrived at the destination 67 hours after leaving the Trondheim, the crew was met by a jealous crowd in all nine ports in which the ship visited its route along the Norwegian coast. Thus, it was found to start a new vehicle between the North and South of Norway. It existed before, but was very weak: ships were used not only for the carriage of goods, but also mail. For example, earlier delivery of letters from Trondheim in Hammerfest took up to 3 weeks in the summer and until six months in winter. "" Coastal Express "allowed to reduce this time to several days!
Subsequently, a regular message was expanded at its scale: two more shipping companies were joined to VITU. In 1898, Bergen was included in the route, and in 1907 and 1914 – Vadso and Kirkenes, respectively.
By the end of the 20th century, the "Hurtigruten" route becomes one of the most popular in Europe, and the company faces next issues. The fact is that the state decided to abandon the subsidies of the company: In 1990, the situation reached the critical state – the question was: to be a route or not to be. During the debate in the parliament, the parties came to the opinion that "Hurtigruten" is not just a company, this is the pride of Norway and its meaning in the image of a country cannot be expressed money. As a result, the state continued to finance "Hurtigruten", the fleet was updated.
In 2002, the company "OFOTENS OG VESTERAALENS DS" (the succession "BDS VESTERAALEN") refused government subsidies, and four years later, it was merged with another shipping company – "Troms Fylkes DS", as a result of which a new company appeared that exists before Show – "Hurtigruten ASA". In addition to the traditional "coastal express," cruises appeared in Greenland, South America and Antarctica.
Start route "Coastal Express" – In Bergen at 8 pm (in summer) or 22:30 in winter. Over the next seven days, Hurtigruten comes in 34 ports, including such major cities like Trondheim, Budo, Tromso and Hammerfest. The end item of the route is the minor city of Kirkenes, which is located near the border with Russia. After that, the steamer begins the return path to Bergen. It is curious that in those ports where the ship comes at night along the way to Kirkenes, in the opposite direction he comes in the afternoon, so passengers will be able to see all 35 ports. Duration of parking varies from 30 minutes to several hours. If you do not have a financial opportunity or time to do the full route, you can purchase a trip to one way (for example, from Bergen to Kirkenes, and then fly away from the plane in Oslo or by bus to Murmansk).
(Full route: Bergen – Foreo – Mole – Torviu – Oleesund (with an occasion to Heirangrefjord in the summer) – Moldova – Kristiansund – Trondheim – Rurvik – Brongneysund – Sannesheren – Nesna – Budø – Stamsund – Svolvere – Stockmarknes – Solvelan – Risoshamen – Harstad – Finnsnes – Tromso – Skinjoy – Eksfjord – Hammerfest – Javlyunn – Honningsvog – Collopjord – Mehamn – Berlevir – Botsfjord – Vardo – Wadso – Kirkenes)
Current cost On the route "Bergen – Kirkenes – Bergen" is two and a half thousand euros, one way – about one and a half thousand euros. As previously noted, the services of the company can use those who want to simply get from point A to point B according to the Norwegian coast.
Ticket costs for some directions
Bergen – Alesund, The cost of one-way ticket – 70 euros, travel time – 13 hours;
Bergen – Trondheim, One-way ticket cost – 150 euros, travel time – 31h;
Trondheim – Tromsoye, The cost of one-way ticket – 135 euros, travel time – 50 hours;
Next year the company "Hurtigruten" The 120th anniversary will be celebrated, on this occasion, the company offers all those who boost a trip to both parties from April to September 2013, a discount of 120 pounds sterling.
Today is the court company "Hurtigruten" For most tourists appear as luxurious liners, but in fact they perform not only cruise flights, but also ordinary passenger and freight transportation, being part of the everyday life of the inhabitants of Norway’s coast. Courts deliver food and goods to many settlements, which are almost completely isolated, and their existence depends largely on the shipping company. Every year, the steamers "Hurtigruten" are transported about 600 thousand people.
