Before her positioning trip, the veteran cruise ship had been docked at Paljassaare/Tallinn to comply with all the necessary regulations. Renamed SUNNHORDLAND, the vessel left Tallinn on October 27 to arrive in her new homeport of Leirvik (near Haugesund) on November 03.

The 1.105 GT ship had been built in 1943 as a U.S. Navy vessel and was renamed KILCHERNAN for duties in the Royal Navy shortly afterwards. In 1947, it was sold to Hardanger Sunnhordlanske D/S (HSD) in Bergen and converted into a small overnight car ferry and mail steamer for Norwegian domestic services. As the SUNNHORDLAND it remained in Norwegian waters until 1974 when it became the Finnish KRISTINA BRAHE (and later BRAHE).

Under new ownership, the SUNNHORDLAND now is "ready for new missions", being offered for charter to host smaller and bigger events as well as for overnight and longer cruises in Norwegian domestic waters. The ship has a capacity for 200 passengers, 110 of which in 45 cabins.

© Shippax / Kai Ortel