ELSA LAULA RENBERG © Brødrene Aa

Boreal set to keep Nordland's express boat routes for another decade

High-speedBoreal Sjø has been recommended as the winner of Nordland County Council's new ten-year contract for Nordlandsekspressen and Helgelandspendelen, keeping the Norwegian operator on two of the region's key high-speed passenger services.
The contract, announced on 10 September, is worth around NOK 2.5 billion over its term and combines what were previously two separate assignments into a single operation.

Boreal already runs both services: Nordlandsekspressen (NEX), which currently links Bodø with Sandnessjøen and Svolvær, and Helgelandspendelen, which serves the island communities off the Helgeland coast.

According to Nordland County Council (Nordland fylkeskommune), the cost of the two services will rise by around 17 per cent compared with today, which it describes as roughly in line with expectations. The contract also includes an option for an expanded summer timetable on NEX2, at an annual cost of about NOK 3.5 million.

"We greatly appreciate the trust that has been shown in us. We know the routes well and know how much they mean for everyday life along the coast. We now look forward to maintaining this important public service in the years to come," says Dan Gunvald Nikø, executive vice president of Boreal Sjø.

County-owned fleet

The tender was based on a two-part model in which the county provides the main vessels: ELSA LAULA RENBERG, REGINE NORMANN and FREDRIKKE TØNDER-OLSEN.

ELSA LAULA RENBERG and REGINE NORMANN were delivered by Brødrene Aa in 2019 for the current NEX contract. The 44.2-metre, 583 GT sister catamarans each carry 193 passengers and are powered by four MTU 10V 2000 M72 engines driving Kamewa waterjets, giving a service speed of around 32–33 knots. FREDRIKKE TØNDER-OLSEN, a 43.6-metre, 196-passenger catamaran also built by Brødrene Aa, entered service on Helgelandspendelen in 2021.

Boreal first secured the NEX contract in 2018, under an agreement running until the end of February 2027. The company says it will carry the experience gained over that period into the new contract.

"Our employees at sea and ashore stand up every day for the passengers and the local communities along the coast. We will build on the expertise in our organisation and work purposefully towards good and stable operations in the years ahead," Nikø adds.

Nordland county council leader Marianne Dobak Kvensjø highlights the importance of continuity for coastal residents: "The people along the coast deserve as stable and predictable a service as possible."

sep 15 2026