MS Trollfjord

MS Trollfjord is a Norwegian coastal express ferry and passenger vessel associated with the Hurtigruten fleet. Built by Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder in Rissa Municipality, Norway, the ship entered service in 2002 and was named after the Trollfjord, a narrow and visually distinctive fjord in northern Norway. Its name connects the vessel directly with the landscapes and coastal travel tradition that define Hurtigruten’s Norwegian operations. The vessel was developed as a combined passenger, vehicle, cargo, and coastal transport ship rather than as a pure ocean cruise liner. Its design supports the practical requirements of Norway’s long coastline, where coastal services historically carry people and goods between communities as well as serving leisure travelers. MS Trollfjord has four cargo holds and can transport general goods, coal, fuel, provisions, and vehicles in addition to passengers. The ship has capacity for approximately 822 passengers and 45 vehicles, with 309 cabins providing 652 berths. Construction began with the keel laying in April 2001. The ship was launched in October of the same year and entered service in 2002 under TFDS, the transport company that operated it during its early years. In 2006, operations moved to Hurtigruten Group ASA, after which the ship continued as part of the Hurtigruten coastal fleet. Its sister ship is MS Midnatsol, another vessel built for the same broad operating concept and later associated with Hurtigruten services. MS Trollfjord is a steel-hulled vessel measuring 135.75 metres in length and 21.5 metres in beam. It has a gross tonnage of 16,140 GT, a draft of 5.1 metres, ten decks, and seven passenger decks. Propulsion is provided by two Wärtsilä W 9L 32 nine-cylinder diesel engines, each rated at 5,630 horsepower. Two Rolls-Royce Aquamaster Contaz 35 azimuth thrusters and bow thrusters provide manoeuvrability in ports, fjords, and constrained coastal waters. The vessel has a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of approximately 15 knots. The ship’s principal operating area is the Norwegian coast, including the Bergen–Kirkenes route and waters around the Lofoten Islands and the Arctic. A full Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen round trip is reported to consume approximately 200 tonnes of fuel. The vessel’s home port is Tromsø, and its crew is reported as consisting exclusively of Norwegian personnel. Its combination of passenger accommodation, coastal cargo capability, vehicle transport, and scenic-route access gives it a hybrid identity: it functions both as a scheduled coastal ferry and as a tourism-oriented ship offering access to northern Norwegian landscapes. MS Trollfjord remains an in-service vessel. Public reference material identifies it as a Hurtigruten-operated ship, but the supplied materials do not establish a separate consumer brand architecture, ownership structure, current commercial itinerary, or current corporate executive roster beyond its association with Hurtigruten.

MS Trollfjord was constructed in Norway for coastal passenger and cargo service. Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder, located in Rissa Municipality, built the vessel. Its keel was laid in April 2001, it was launched in October 2001, and it entered service in 2002. The ship was named for Trollfjord, a Norwegian fjord whose name reflects the vessel’s connection with Norway’s coastal geography and maritime tourism. During its initial operating period, MS Trollfjord was operated by TFDS from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, operational responsibility transferred to Hurtigruten Group ASA, and the vessel became part of the Hurtigruten coastal fleet. The ship has a sister vessel, MS Midnatsol, which was built for a closely related role and also operated for Hurtigruten. Unlike a vessel designed solely for leisure cruising, MS Trollfjord was configured for mixed coastal service. It carries passengers in cabins and public areas while also providing space for vehicles and cargo. Its four cargo holds can accommodate general goods, coal, fuel, and provisions, reflecting the logistical role historically associated with Norwegian coastal express services. The ship can carry approximately 822 passengers and 45 vehicles and has 309 cabins with a total of 652 berths. The vessel operates under the Norwegian flag and has Tromsø as its home port. Its reported operating area includes the Norwegian coast, the Lofoten Islands, and Arctic waters, with the Bergen–Kirkenes route forming the central long-distance coastal corridor. Its dimensions and propulsion system are suited to regular coastal navigation and port manoeuvring: the ship is 135.75 metres long, has a beam of 21.5 metres, and uses twin Wärtsilä diesel engines with azimuth thrusters and bow thrusters. It has a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots. MS Trollfjord’s significance lies primarily in its continuing role as an operating ship rather than as a separately marketed consumer brand. It represents the modern generation of Hurtigruten coastal vessels that combine transportation, cargo logistics, and tourism. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of later refurbishments, ownership changes, named captains, commercial campaigns, accidents, scandals, or current itinerary changes. Accordingly, the documented history is limited to the vessel’s construction, entry into service, operator transition, technical role, and continuing association with Hurtigruten.

• 2006

  Transferred to Hurtigruten operations

  [1]MS Trollfjorden.wikipedia.org

  Operational responsibility moved from TFDS to Hurtigruten Group ASA, bringing the ship into the Hurtigruten operating structure.

• 2002

  Entered service

  [1]MS Trollfjorden.wikipedia.org

  MS Trollfjord entered coastal passenger and cargo service under TFDS.

• 2001

  Keel laid

  [1]MS Trollfjorden.wikipedia.org

  Construction of MS Trollfjord began at Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder in Rissa Municipality, Norway, with the keel laid in April.

• 2001

  Launched

  [1]MS Trollfjorden.wikipedia.org

  The newly built vessel was launched in October at its Norwegian shipyard.

A hybrid Norwegian coastal vessel combining scheduled ferry and cargo functions with scenic passenger travel in the Hurtigruten tradition.

• Coastal ferry and passenger transport · 2002

  MS Trollfjord coastal passenger service

  The vessel provides passenger transportation along the Norwegian coast, including the Bergen–Kirkenes corridor and routes serving northern and Arctic Norway. Its 309 cabins and reported capacity of approximately 822 passengers support overnight and multi-day coastal travel, while its shipboard configuration also accommodates the practical requirements of a scheduled coastal service.

• Vehicle and freight transport · 2002

  MS Trollfjord vehicle and cargo transport

  In addition to passenger accommodation, MS Trollfjord carries vehicles and freight. The ship is reported to accommodate approximately 45 vehicles and has four cargo holds for general goods, coal, fuel, and provisions. This mixed-use capability distinguishes it from a vessel dedicated exclusively to recreational cruising.

• Scenic maritime travel · 2002

  MS Trollfjord scenic coastal voyages

  The ship’s coastal itineraries also function as scenic voyages through Norway’s fjords, islands, and northern waters. Its name and route network link the vessel to the landscape-focused travel experience associated with Hurtigruten, while its underlying role remains that of a working coastal transport ship.

1. 1MS Trollfjorden.wikipedia.org